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Minutes before a scheduled arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla., today, the Brewers and right-hander Shaun Marcum agreed to a one-year deal for $7.725 million -- the midpoint of figures filed by the sides.

Marcum had requested an $8.7 million salary and the Brewers submitted a figure of $6.75 million when numbers were exchanged last month.

Because the dates of arbitration hearings are kept confidential, it was not known that the Brewers and Marcum were scheduled for a hearing today. This is not the first time a settlement has been reached just before the hearing took place.

All of the parties were in place at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg for the hearing but some clarity came for the midpoint signing when the Cubs' Matt Garza signed earlier in the morning for $9.5 million. Another comparable pitcher in terms of service and production, Miami's Anabal Sanchez, went to a hearing when no agreement could be reached.

Brewers negotiator Teddy Werner said he had "productive and cordial" discussions with Marcum's agent, Rex Gary, but added, "There were some things out of our control. We had to see how other things played out.

"We were prepared to go to a hearing if necessar but they certainly weren't contentious negotiations," added Werner. "Sometimes, you just have to let it all play out. It's sort of the way the process is. The goal is to always reach a settlement rather than go to a hearing. Nobody likes that process."

Marcum is in his final year of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent after the season. He made $3.95 million in 2011, his first year with the Brewers. In 33 starts, he went 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA.

Marcum's signing leaves only reliever Jose Veras in arbitration with the Brewers.

Under general manager Doug Melvin, the Brewers have gone to just one hearing -- with Corey Hart in 2010. But it sounds like they might be going to another with Veras. Werner said there has been "no progress" toward reaching a deal with him. Veras filed for $2.35 million, with the club offering $2 million.

The Brewers also announced the signings of several young players on their 40-man roster -- infielder Eric Farris, infielder Mat Gamel, infielder Taylor Green, right-hander Santo Manzanillo, outfielder Logan Schafer and infielder Zelous Wheeler.