With an off-season highlighted by banner moves such as signing 57-year-old closer Trevor Hoffman and getting a single second-round pick for CC Sabathia, one would expect the Brewers to continue to explore options to improve the club.
But it is apparently unlikely.
Melvin wouldn’t reveal his exact budget for 2009, but including projections of the team’s six looming arbitration cases, the signing of Hoffman ($6 million) pushed the Brewers close to the $80 million payroll level at which they began last season. Thus, they’d have to stretch their finances to sign a starting pitcher of any note.
“I do like to keep some (payroll) flexibility in the case of injuries,” said Melvin. “And teams are going to move players at some point.
“Right now, I don’t anticipate (a major signing of a pitcher).” JSOnline.
So it’s looking like the Brewers will trot out a rotation that looks something like:
- Manny Parra
- Yovani Gallardo
- Jeff Suppan
- Dave Bush
- Chris Capuano
Is that the rotation of the Cubs’ stiffest (ha) competitor in the National League Central?
The article also notes that the Brewers are unlikely to trade Mike Cameron to the Yankees for Nick Swisher, as had been rumored. Yawn.