splitterpfj

I'd definitely prefer Jennings to Vargas, and I want one more starting pitcher, depth is good. Jennings can walk in a year, that may hold the offers down a little, if we could do something with Jenkins, or maybe Jenkins and Clark for Jennings and another body....why not? Maybe we'd end up with a platoon of Gross and Mench in left, I know some of you want to see Mench traded to Mars, but that might work out ok.

Mulder's got 6-8 teams after him, I think that'll make the price too high for a guy coming off shoulder surgery.

"Hello Padres, this is Brewers. Good, and you? Great, and the kids? Good, good, say, we want Roberts and you want Graffanino. (chuckle), Sorry about that whole Counsell thing. "Say, how about we both offer these players arbitration, then you sign our guy and we sign yours, Elias rated Graffanino at 66.667, Roberts and 66.000, it's a wash. Then, we get your first pick, you get our second pick, and we both pick up a sandwich pick in the deal. This way, you're trading down from your first pick to our second pick, but you get an extra pick, and you get to tell the Giants to go pound sand."

The Sox are playing this very well, if they wait until Zito, Schmidt, etc sign somewhere, the teams who missed out will most likely come calling with improved offers. It's just like Manny suddenly being affordable and Jenkins looking downright inexpensive when the bats dried up. I think the Sox will wind up with a very nice deal if they sit for just a few more days, which Williams seems to be doing. Somebody's likely to give up a better prospect or one extra player once they've run out of free agent options.

This helps, if you think the Brewers might want either guy... chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-061130sox,1,4902832.story?coll=cs-whitesox-headlines

I still expect him to be a Giant, but that update doesn't surprise me. If this deal was "done" last weekend, why is it still being ironed out?

I've been a big fan of Finley's for a long time, but he'll be 42 before next season, I think this show is over. I would project about 10 homers and an OPS right around .700 if Finley plays again next season. I certainly don't think Finley should be a starting outfielder at this point, and there are multiple bench options already in place for the Brewers. I have to vote a respectful no one this one.

Today's rumor updates..... Baltimore is looking for a left fielder with power, they are considering Cliff Floyd and Luis Gonzalez, BUT, they would prefer a right-handed hitter, since their other outfielders bat lefty. Gonzalez is also talking with St Louis and Seattle. Cleveland will sign Roberto Hernandez, unless he is offered arby, he is a Type A free agent. Padres, are talking to Mr Graffanino, but are also watching to see if the Brewers offer arby. The article I saw really didn't elaborate beyond that, ESPN says the Brewers ARE expected to offer arbitration. Joe Borowski failed a physical with the Phillies, their doctor did not like something on an MRI. They may still offer a one-year deal, but have pulled any multi-year consideration. Mark Mulder got the red carpet treatment in AZ yesterday, nothing imminent, lots of teams in that mix. Yankees have interest in Andy Pettitte if he wants to go one more season. Gil Meche and Ted Lilly interest NY, but (are you ready for this) the Yankees think this year's market went a bit too far, pricing these pitchers a bit too high as they begin to look at cost cutting. Shea Hillenbrand is also a possibility for the Yanks. Ray Durham, may have to move to LF to find a new home. Teams like his bat, but not his glove, or his contract demands thus far.

My shot at the top 20 1. Ryan Braun- When the GM says you're next "if" Koskie goes down, you're up. 2. Yo Gallardo- I think Braun will hit Milwaukee first, that's the only thing that separated them. 3. Will Inman- Dominant results, any GM would want him. 4. Carlos Villanueva- Looking like a great trade with the Giants. 5. Zach Jackson- I like his mix of pitches, I do think he's been rushed up the ladder a bit, I'd like to see a full season in AAA. 6. Angel Salome- He's still a long ways from Milwaukee, but it's nice to have a real prospect at catcher. 7. Mark Rogers- This wasn't who I wanted when he was drafted, I'm still a skeptic, this ranking is purely on potential. 8. Charlie Fermaint- Great skills, I think Charlie will take a big step forward in '07. 9. Jeremy Jeffress- This pick also makes me nervous, but the potential is obvious. 10. Cole Gillespie- Could beat Rogers and Jeffress to Milwaukee. 11. Manny Parra- Look away when he's pitching, keep fingers crossed. 12. Brent Brewer- This one was the toughest one for me, he's all tools and who knows what? I could see him taking a big step in either direction. 13. Tony Gwynn Jr- I think 07 is pivotal for Jr, he surprised me at AAA, can he take one more step up, or is he a career bench player? 14. Dennis Sarfate- Stay in the strike zone Dennis, I think you could do very well from the pen in Milwaukee. 15. Tim Dillard- All results so far, I feel bad about having him this low, this player will cause much debate on this site when he reaches the Brewers. 16. Alcides Escobar- Where's the guy who had everyone so excited? .306 slugging percentage? A slow start will cause a freefall on anyone's list next season. 17. Hernan Iribarren- The offensive potential is surely there, but there's a pile of caught stealings, and a corked bat. 18. Lorenzo Cain- This was a 17th round pick, now 18th on my list. 19. Yohannis Perez- I've never seen him play, but why not? 20. Mat Gamel- Maybe someday Braun will move to the OF, and maybe this is why. If Carlos V has to come out, put Pascual at 20 for me.

I thought this was at least an interesting story, does anyone have any detail on this guy? twins.scout.com/2/594547.html

Who cares if the pick for Ohka is lower than we think, it's still a pick before the start of round two....what's not to like? Being a team that HAS TO grow most of its own talent, I'll take a couple of these every year forever please.

I agree Peavey, I think there are several other teams looking at Tomo too. If he does end up in Pittsburgh, I'll assume the Brewers showed no interest.

Yes, and assuming those picks are awarded based on last year's records, it should be among the first few of these picks.

I didn't stick the link in here because Damian was one sentence within a full page, but a Chicago writer today mentioned him as a possible target for the White Sox.

www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers29nov29,1,5111005.story?coll=la-headlines-sports I didn't see the need for links to every one of these because most of them are just a sentence or two, but... Pittsburgh is after Ohka Cleveland is after Foulke Cincinnati is after Weathers

Drew close to 70 million dollar deal. I suppose it's time to stop saying "That's too many years, they'll be sorry"....except it clearly is, and they will be. www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/11/29/sox_drew_close/

The Brewers are angling for Counsell as a jack-of-all-trades infield reserve, and Stewart, who is limited in what he can do now, but is a good contact, OBP type when his body allows him to be. One can spell an infielder who needs a rest, one could become a pinch hitting specialist. Could it be that Cirillo is moving on?

I don't see why Counsell coming here would mean Hardy or Hall would go, Counsell should fill a utility role, shouldn't he? I suppose it's possible Hall or Hardy could go, but an addition of Counsell doesn't indicate that to me. Shannon Stewart is the part that mixes things up, I hope that doesn't happen.

I'm not a fan of this, I think Finley is done. It's not just Finley, I'm not thrilled with the pursuit of Stewart either. If I have to have one of these guys for a year, make it Lofton, I prefer none of the above. This is the one angle I disagree with Melvin on, I would like a good leadoff guy who can steal a bag, CF seems like a logical defensive position for this....but only if it fits, don't reach for a stereotype.

Stewart is confined to LF due to a poor arm, and now his feet are hurt all the time......I'm completely disinterested. This WAS a good player, but that's not today.

This article says the Giants are talking with Durham and are hopeful of brining him back, it does not sound as though he is signed for '07. sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/28/SPGJ4MKSHF1.DTL

Or maybe Zaun right back to Toronto.... mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061127&content_id=1746723&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp For those of you who rooted against a Dave Roberts signing, you see how these things can happen. What was it that Yogi Berra said?

If this happens, shame on the Angels, but beyond that, Pods would absolutely be out of Chicago. I know Konerko, Thome and Dye give them some nice pop, but can you imagine a team going with two guys with that lack of power?

Maddux wants 22M for two years.....never mind.

Does Aquino have any options left, if not Sarfate may be odd man out in that scenario. That may be, but to acquire a starting pitcher, the Brewers may have to add one of their existing arms to the deal. It's possible Vargas or one of the bullpen guys could go in a move to get a better SP.