Milwaukee Brewers, Shaun Marcum Making "Good Progress"

The Milwaukee Brewers and right-handed starting pitcher Shaun Marcum have made "good progress" in salary arbitration talks, Brewers negotiator Teddy Werner tells Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel. The Brewers traded their top prospect in third baseman Brett Lawrie to the Blue Jays for Marcum.

Marcum, 30, posted a 3.54 ERA across 200 2/3 innings of work along with a 7.1 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. The 30-year-old righty reached the 200 inning mark for the first time in his career.

According to the Associated Press (via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com), Marcum filed for $8.7 million and the Brewers are requesting $6.75 million. For what it's worth, Marcum earned $3.95 million last year.

With nearly a $2 million difference, it won't be easy for the two sides to reach an agreement before a salary arbitration hearing. However, this is Marcum's last go at arbitration and is set to his free agency after the 2012 season. It wouldn't be surprising if they worked out a multi-year deal.