As many of us are, i am anxiously waiting for this winter activity to start rolling. Arguably the most interesting time of year for alot of fans, November/December gets my juices flowing as well. Then i put myself in the position of Brewers GM and make decisions based on what i think is best for my team. But this offseason, it is hard for me to make decisions on who stays, goes, and comes in. The Brewers are now considered 'contenders' and not just building for the future. This in turn brings up issues for a medium-sized market team in the midst of contracts exceeding $150,000,000 on the market. If a team like the Brewers offer a contract of this monstrosity, then we have little money left over for other needs that may need to be addressed. Arguably the best pitcher in the game, who the brewers had for the last cpl months of the '08 season, will require this kind of money to be had. I love CC as much as the next guy, and i know the marketing revenue he will bring in will be huge, but me, as the GM of the mid-sized market Milwaukee Brewers, does not want to be the guy who gives this kind of money to one player.

The Brewers have holes to fill, and if we throw all of our eggs into one basket, we will go into the season with holes that are glaring in need of talent. So i want this post to be a place to discuss the options that the GM has this offseason.

In my opinion: Pitching staff

1. CC goes  2. We offer sheets arbitration, only one year is worth the risk  3. Forget all about guys like Burnett and Lowe. 4. I was going to talk about offering Mike Hampton a 1-yr contract, but apparently the Astros have beat me to the punch http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/12/astros-sign-mik.html 5. I would like to see a trade made to bring in a guy that can be a #2 starter for us.

So our rotation would take shape of:  YoGa, #2 starter, Parra, Bush, Suppan  (unless sheets accepts arbitration, then he is our numero uno until he breaks a nail and is gone for 2 mo's)

Shouse = gone, Gagne - i have this feeling that makes we want to give him another shot in the 8th inning role. (sorry gagne haters, but he still throws 95 and has nasty movement on his pitches)

Bullpen - Stetter, Swindle, Gagne, Villanueva, Riske, McClung, DiFelice/Dillard, one FA signing - this bullpen does not look as bad to me as i know it does to many other ppl out there.

I really dont want to get into specific trade talks (Prince, Hardy), because they would all be arbitrary at this point in time, but to tell u the truth, i would not mind seeing Hardy in another uniform. (if the return is right)

Prince, Weeks (it's his breakout year, we've all heard that one before, but it is what i believe), then some combo of Escobar/Hardy/Hall/FA signing/trade return to play SS, and 3B.

Kendall/Rivera

Outfield gets interesting for me. I would like to trade Cam for a young starter. (maybe team Cam up with a youngster n get that #2 starter i was talking about, or straight up for potential *phil hughes) then we can sign a FA CF, say Taveras (comeback player award year) or trade for DeJesus, and make them our leadoff hitter. LF is easy. Corey Hart on a short leash manning RF.

"My GM" Lineup Overview:

1-Taveras 2-Rickie Weeks (more of a power hitting approach) 3-Braun 4-Fielder 5-Hardy 6-Hart 7-Hall/FA 8-Kendall 9-Pitcher

1-Sheets 2-YoGa 3-Parra 4-Bush 5-Suppan/Hughes

I'd like to believe a team such as this can warrant 86-89 wins. Leave your thoughts and ideas on what the team should do over the course of the next cpl of months..