Some things to read while making sure everyone keeps warm.

The transaction wheels are starting to spin, but we still don't know to what end. The Brewers outrighted Omar Aguilar to the minors yesterday (FanShot), clearing a spot on the formerly full 40-man roster to potentially make another move. Meanwhile, Gord Ash told Tom Haudricourt no move is pending and Adam McCalvy says the Brewers are up against their budget.

It's tough to tell what's happening here, but there's a good chance some posturing is taking place. You might remember similar quotes about being up against the budget before the front office miraculously discovered the cash to pay Braden Looper last spring.

It's been a while since Ken Macha's name has come up this offseason, but here's another complaint about him: He was easily the worst manager in baseball last season at issuing bad intentional walks, as defined by FJB. Twenty three of Macha's 60 intentional walks last season were BIBB's, Only one other manager (Joe Torre) had more than 13.

Baseball Musings' Players A to Z series continues, and came across Todd Coffey yesterday. Dave Pinto credits improved platoon splits as the primary reason for Coffey's career year in 2009.

In the minors:

• Matt Hagen of The Hardball Times ranked the top ten prospects in the Brewer organization. If you check out the list, one name should stand out: He ranked Caleb Gindl as the organization's third best prospect.
  
• The Rockford Register Star caught up with Cody Scarpetta, as he spends his offseason working with his dad, uncle and cousins teaching the next generation of pitchers (h/t Rattler Radio).
• Meanwhile, things must be pretty quiet around Time Warner Field, because the Timber Rattlers' staff had time to go on a road trip for this week's edition of The Offseason.

If you don't have time to shoot sitcom parodies, rosterbation is a pretty common offseason time-killer. Wisconsin Sports Tap has their Opening Day roster projection, which includes Mat Gamel in AAA, Hernan Iribarren, Adam Heether and Chuck Lofgren and Chris Narveson on the roster, and an opening day roster with 26 players. Oops.

If you're looking to project your own roster, this might help: Bernie's Crew has a rundown of the Brewers that do and don't have options remaining.

They're in the middle of a busy offseason at Brewers Enterprises, and Caitlin Moyer gives you an inside look at some of the things they've done, and others they're continuing to work on.

We're down to the final hours in the voting for the final roster spot on our BCB All Decade Team. You have until 4 pm today to cast your ballot for our final pitcher. As of this writing Trevor Hoffman has opened up a commanding lead over Dave Bush and Brooks Kieschnick.

You also have until 4 pm today to vote for prospect #1 in our BCB Community Prospect Rankings. Today's vote for #2 could be interesting, with Mat Gamel and Brett Lawrie squaring off.

Around baseball:

Mariners: Signed infielder Chris Woodward to a minor league deal.
Phillies: Signed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong to a minor league deal.
Twins: Signed pitcher Clay Condrey to a minor league deal.
Yankees: Avoided arbitration with pitcher Sergio Mitre, who will earn $850,000 in 2010.

Elsewhere on the hot stove, the Phillies have reportedly been in touch with Ben Sheets' agent. That sounds much better than having him as a Cub.

Here's one way to save for retirement: Matt Holliday's new deal with the Cardinals includes deferred money stretching all the way to 2029.

As you might have heard, the BBWAA announced their Hall of Fame voting yesterday and disappointed a fair number of hopeful fans by inducting Andre Dawson while leaving Bert Blyleven, Robbie Alomar, Barry Larkin, Tim Raines, Edgar Martinez and others out. Here are some quick notes on the voting:

• Craig Calcaterra has a roundup of some of the best reactions from around the web.
• Brian McTaggart notes that Jeff Bagwell, Rafael Palmeiro, Larry Walker and Juan Gonzalez will be eligible for the first time next year.
• Home Run Derby has a look at the four players that received no votes this year, and the history of voteless players.

If you hear a beeping sound, it's just today's truckload of birthdays backing up:

• Former Brewer manager Jim Lefebvre turns 68.
• Eric Gagne turns 34.
• Kevin Mench turns 32.
• 2009 Nashville Sound and Huntsville Star Chris Cody turns 26 today.
• So does Carlos Corporan, and his 1.000 career batting average.
• Diminutive shortstop Michael Marseco, who split 2009 between Wisconsin and Helena, turns 23.

Oh, and today's Mug is late (and the Thinker may be too) because of this Mario/Tetris mashup (h/t C. Trent Rosecrans).

That's all I've got for you today, unless you wanted to read Bob Scanlan's blog (h/t Gaslamp Ball).

Drink up.