Invader3K

Yep, it definitely seems like teams aren't going to be spending lots on questionable players. One nice effect is that we seem to be seeing less of the ridiculous contracts paid out for mediocre or slightly above average types. I doubt we will see too many Suppan-esque deals this winter.

The timing of this latest snow fall is pretty bad. We're supposed to be leaving tomorrow to go up north to see the wife's family for Christmas. Not sure if that will even be possible with all the snow we're supposed to be getting between today and tomorrow.

I'd like to see Melvin lock up JJ and Corey too. It's not like he hasn't tried already. Who knows...maybe we'll get into next season and we'll hear an announcement about one of them signing a contract, like with Braun.

Right...if that was the case, he would have probably accepted arbitration...of course at that point, he probably thought he'd have a few offers by now.

Yeah, I was thinking earlier that Jeter was supposed to be the one moving to 1B eventually. A-Rod is probably a bit better defensively at this point than Jeter anyway.

Well, it seems more likely we could get Lowe at this point than Sheets...but I think neither of them will realistically be playing in Milwaukee in '09.

You're right it is quality. Looper is probably a more solid starter than three or four of those arms at this point.

Time to invest in a flame thrower, it sounds like.

Unless it's a reclamation project like Gagne, then Milwaukee is just fine.

It's not that we don't value those guys...we do. It's just you can't assume that they are going to be impact player immediately. Yes, Fielder, Braun, and to an extent Gallardo, were great players immediately. Can you say the same for Hardy, Weeks, and Hart? Up until last year, some people were saying we should give up on Hardy. I'm just saying, if you throw away this year, and wait for '10...what happens if Escobar and Gamel struggle? Then you trade Fielder or Hardy or whoever, and keep building, while the other guys get closer to free agency. It's a very dangerous propsition, in my mind.

Like I said earlier, Dunn makes a lot of sense for the Brewers. Just seems like if Melvin had any real interest, we would have heard more by now. Hopefully he doesn't go to some other team in the NL Central.

If he ends up with the Red Sox, and Manny ends up with the Yankees, I am going to go out on a limb and pull out the "bad for baseball" line.

But if you agree with my perspective on the brewers' chances in 2009, i really don't understand how you think keeping Cameron is a good idea. I'd take a bucket of batting practice balls in return if that was the best offer and the whole 10 million Cameron will be paid this year is off of the brewers' books. The 10 million doesn't need to be spent this year. It could be spent next year, the year after, or the year after that. There's no salary cap its just the owner's pockets. Taking a step back this year and saving money will give the owner a bigger profit at the end of the year and make him more willing to go into the red for a season if a serious shot at playoff run in a future year presents itself. I think with the addition of Gamel and Escobar plus whatever you get in trading Hardy and/or Fielder will make 2010 or 2011 one of those years.The other poster is right that teams don't usually carry over the "extra" payroll money year to year. It just doesn't work that way in pro sports, generally. I get your premise about the Brewers possibly not making the playoffs. I think right now their chances could be characterized as very shaky at best. However, I don't see what good trading Cameron for "a bucket of balls" would do. He's worth much more than that at this point. We don't need to be a feeder team for clubs like the Yankees. Also, I am surprised how many people bank on Gamel and Escobar being the future. Neither of them have much experience at AAA as of right now. I'm not saying they will be busts, but it can be dangerous expecting every prospect to be an impact player, especially right away. It seems like we heard the same thing for years, up until last year..."Wait for the young guys to come up! Then we'll win!" Well, all the guys we were waiting for are up right now. I don't see what good putting things off for a year will do...then we'll just be hearing, "Well, we just traded Fielder, so we have to give Gamel a year to adjust," (or whatever). Kind of like building for a future that never happens.

Yeah, exactly. For all we know, this isn't even happening. That aside, our total payroll for the entire starting rotation right now is relatively low. Adding a few million to that shouldn't be that big a deal.

Patrick, in the late '80s example I think you were referencing, it was pretty obvious they were colluding, since basically every free agent did not get a single offer from any team but their own. The players union sued, and the owners had to pay something like $200 million to the players in compensation. So yes, it was basically proven.

I agree, Ennder. I'd rather have McClung in the pen (ditto Villy), with the option of putting him into the rotation if needed. Adding Looper gives the Brewers a lot of flexibility in that regard.

I like it if it happens (assuming the price isn't insane). He's not a world beater, but a solid enough arm, and will give the Brewers a lot of flexibility as far as rotation and bullpen options.

I'd laugh if the player's union tries to cry about collusion. You could just as well say that they have colluded in the past to drive the price paid for talent into the stratosphere. It's sports, and if you want to play and make all that money, you have to accept the business end from both sides. It has to be a give and take.

twobrewers, to be honest, that would have just been called an empty gesture by a lot of people. I don't think a rental stint with a team (memorable as it may have been) obligates every player to tearfully say good bye to the fans of that area. I know he did take out an ad in the Cleveland paper after he was traded, so you can't say he disregards the fans after leaving. I just don't know how much he could have said..."Thanks for having me for three and a half months! See you in New York!"?

Sheets may be thinking that the Brewers will be his fall back if he can't get a satisfactory offer from any other team. That said, I don't think he wants to come back, based on what has been reported. I still think he ends up with the Rangers or somewhere else.

Call me crazy, but I think I would take a chance on Lowe. I think 50 million would be a bit high, but if we could get him for 3 years, and 12-13 million per year, I think it could be worth it. I don't recall him having much of an injury history, and he's definitely solid. You can't expect him to be a #1 at this point, but he could be a solid #3 type going forward.

No, there is no actual proof. It's just one of those things that certain people here on this board have repeatedly suggested, so many take it as fact. I guess the general consensus is that if a move goes well, then it was Melvin being a good GM. If the move goes bad, then certainly our meddlesome owner must have orchestrated it.

"Rickie Weeks- Year 4 ( put up or shut up year)" That was last year.

That's pretty good, ewizabeff.

I liked the idea of MLB implementing a "franchise tag" system like the NFL has. Won't happen, but it would solve some issues without introducing a salary cap.