Brewers sign Braun to $45 million deal

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Milwaukee Brewers have signed left fielder Ryan Braun to an eight year $45 million contract, the team said on Thursday.

"It's a very good contract for both the ballclub and Ryan," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said on the team's website (http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com)

Braun hit .324 with 34 home runs last season.

The 24-year-old Californian would not have been eligible for arbitration until the 2010-11 off-season and for free agency until 2013-14.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; editing by Alan Baldwin)