The Brewers, seeking to improve their offense from the left side of the plate and perhaps tab the 2008 version of Gabe Kapler, signed veteran outfielder Trot Nixon to a minor-league contract today.
"Trot is a veteran player who brings energy and experience to our ball club," said Melvin. "He is a valuable left-handed batter who could see time in left field, right field and first base."
Nixon, 34, has a .274 career batting average with 137 homers and 555 RBI over 12 big-league seasons with Boston (1996-2006), Cleveland (2007) and the New York Mets (2008).
Nixon has appeared in 42 playoff games during his career, batting .283 (39-for-138) with 6 HR and 25 RBI. He was a member of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.
The Brewers also signed outfielder Chris Duffy to a minor-league deal. Duffy, who was invited to big-league camp, spent parts of three seasons with the Pirates from 2005-07. He split last season between Class AA Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis as he recovered from left shoulder surgery.
Below is an updated spring training non-roster invitee list (nine players):
RHP Joe Bateman
LHP Chris Capuano
LHP Lindsay Gulin
LHP Sam Narron
LHP Chris Narveson
INF/OF Jason Bourgeois
OF Chris Duffy
OF Trot Nixon
1B Scott Thorman
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
