The Orioles, along with another mystery team (the Padres?), met with Doug Melvin today regarding Geoff Jenkins & Kevin Mench:
In return, the Brewers are seeking pitching, preferably starters. Meanwhile, the Brewers themselves continued Monday mulling Finley and Lofton as options for center field.
"I don't think we're going that road, but we have the right to change our minds later," Melvin said. "If you could put the two of them together, it would be nice. That's the problem; Finley is a good defensive guy, but his offense has gone the other way. Kenny is the other way around -- he fits the mold of a top-of-the-order guy, but he struggles defensively."
I am, of course, troubled that they're even still "mulling" the FA options for their perceived CF hole. Brady Clark is going to be just as good as Kenny Lofton and blow the doors off Steve Finley, and that's before even considering the 800 lb. pink Bill Hall in the room.
Despite the fact that the Red Sox are interested in Derrick Turnbow, Melvin is "not motivated" to trade him, nor can he apparently fathom getting off the couch to move Damian Miller:
Update [2006-12-5 13:46:18 by battlekow]: The Journal Sentinel article on the trade talks casts a Mench trade as a fait accompli:
...
The Phillies might be willing to part with veteran right-hander Jon Lieber in a deal involving Mench. Lieber, 36, who is signed next season for $7 million, went 9-11 with a 4.93 ERA in 27 starts for Philadelphia last season.