Some things to read while waiting for bread to rise.

Perhaps the biggest Brewer news today is the ending of news: The Brewers reportedly aren't actually interested in Derek Lowe or Mark Mulder. It's always possible Doug Melvin is just throwing reporters off the track in an effort to look mysterious, but it seems more likely that Boston Globe reporter Nick Cafardo, the same guy who reported the Brewers were "close" to signing Braden Looper, has led us off the trail again. As noted in the comments in Rumorville, it may be time to stop giving any value to rumors that start in the Boston Globe.

Also included in the first link, though, was the first real optimism I've seen this offseason in regards to potentially bringing back Ben Sheets. FanGraphs projects Sheets at 3.4 wins next season, and thinks someone should sign him for 2 years/$28 million with a vesting option for a third year, which is relatively close to what 67% of readers voted for over a month ago. Brewers Bar thinks Melvin should start a conversation with Sheets ASAP. On the flip side, The Grand National Championships expects a healthy return from Chris Capuano, the emergence of Todd Coffey as a closer, and sudden precipitation involving $100 bills.

Meanwhile, Melvin appears to have Trevor Hoffman on speed dial. News popped up in Rumorville yesterday that the Brewers have been talking with Hoffman about closing in Milwaukee. The Dodgers offered Hoffman a one year deal, but can't guarantee him the opportunity to close, which Milwaukee might. Tom H. thinks the Brewers could learn their fate with Hoffman as soon as today.

More fun with rankings: Tiger Tales has Hardy tied for fifth place among defensive shortstops, right around a win above average. That seems a little low.

Around the minors:

• Jonathan Lucroy was one of three catchers to receive an invitation to spring training yesterday. Carlos Corporan and Martin Maldonado were both also invited.
• With a few hours left in the voting, Cole Gillespie leads Cutter Dykstra by 25 votes in the race for #10 in our Community Prospect Rankings. A new poll will open at noon today.

There's only one other former Brewer on the hot stove today: The Rays are reportedly trying to scrape together the cash to sign Gabe Kapler. It seems like they already have enough outfielders, though.

Elsewhere on the hot stove:

Cardinals: May not have as much money to play with as previously reported.
D-Backs: May be interested in former National Chad Cordero.
Indians: Signed Carl Pavano to a one year deal.
Mariners: Signed Tyler Walker to a one year deal for $750,000.
Mets: Are believed to have made an offer to Tim Redding.
Nationals: Are reportedly interested in signing Randy Wolf, so he can teach their young pitchers how to win. Commence banging head on desk.
Orioles: Signed Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara.
Padres: Have expressed interest in both David Eckstein and Omar Vizquel.
Phillies: Signed Chan Ho Park and Marcus Giles to deals for 2009.
Rays: Signed Randy Choate to a minor league deal.
Reds: Reportedly will re-sign Jerry Hairston for 2009.
Yankees: Signed Angel Berroa to a minor league deal, and also signed Jason Johnson and designated Shelley Duncan for assignment.

For a lot of aging veterans (including Ray Durham), the market never really opened up this winter. As a result, a player like Garret Anderson could end up accepting a non-roster invite to spring training.

Sometimes winning a sweepstakes isn't the best possible outcome. The Transaction Oracle isn't real excited about Derrick Turnbow's 2009 chances. The whole thing is worth a read, but the money lines are, "Absent a miracle, I think I'd rather have hepatitis than Turnbow," and their prediction of a 73 ERA+.

If you thought NL hitters would see an increase in their stats when Shea Stadium was torn down, think again: It turns out Citi Field may be even more of a pitcher's park.

Apparently Reds OF Chris Dickerson is spending his offseason increasing his value...to planet Earth. Follow the link for more on what Dickerson wants the Reds to do to go green.

That's all for today. I'm off to the gym.

Drink up.

Some things to read while avoiding having "the talk" with your kids.

As noted in the FanShots, the Brewers and Yankees continue negotiations on the Cameron/Cabrera deal, but it now seems relatively certain the deal will include Kei Igawa, with the question being how much of his remaining $12 million contract will be eaten by the Yankees. True Blue LA has an unattributed quote that makes it sound like tensions have run relatively high in the negotiations. A quote from Tom H.'s blog still makes it sound like the Brewers are getting bullied here: There's likely not any truth to the rumor that Doug Melvin has refused to make the trade until Brian Cashman agrees to send over all of his disappointing players.

Meanwhile, the seeming inevitability that Melky Cabrera will be a Brewer has upset Claire, and that rarely ends well.

Even without mentioning the Cabrera/Cameron deal, Jon Heyman ranked the Brewers among the losers at last week's winter meetings.

Apparently there's also a rumor circling the web that the Brewers have offered a package including Alcides Escobar to the Padres for Jake Peavy. It seems unlikely, but it is interesting.

The Brew Town Beat has a plan for the Brewers offseason that involves signing Bobby Abreu, Brad Penny and Juan Cruz to three year deals and starting Seth McClung's 2009 season in AAA. Speaking of Abreu, FanGraphs has a closer look at what the future may hold for him.

Signing Abreu would likely require the Brewers to either trade Corey Hart or move him to center. The Hardball Times thinks Hart is poised to have a nice rebound season in 2009.

Among the players non-tendered on Friday was former Astros 2B/3B Ty Wigginton. I've seen a few comments suggesting the Brewers should be interested, but it looks like the Twins, Giants, Pirates, Indians and Reds are already involved. Elsewhere on the hot stove:

Angels: Have reportedly offered Mark Teixiera $160 million for seven years. The Nationals previously offered $160 million for eight.
Braves: May be interested in Japanese right-hander Kenshin Kawakami.
Cubs: Re-signed Chad Gaudin and Neal Cotts.
D-Backs: Acquired Scott Schoeneweis from the Mets for P Connor Robertson.
Dodgers: Non-tendered Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban and Angel Berroa.
Mets: May be looking at Randy Wolf as an option for their rotation.
Nationals: Re-signed Willie Harris for two years, $3 million.
Orioles: Will reportedly bring Chad Moeller into spring training to compete for their Opening Day catcher's job.
Pirates: Are reportedly among half a dozen or more teams interested in Derrick Turnbow, who will throw for teams in January in the hopes of getting a major league deal.
Reds: In addition to Wigginton, they're rumored to be interested in Willy Taveras and Aaron Miles. They also signed Laynce Nix.
White Sox Signed Cuban infielder Dayan Viciedo to a four year, $10 million deal.

Here's a relatively complete list of players non-tendered on Friday. Leave a comment if you have a more complete one and I'll swap the link.

While there's a lot of money being thrown around this offseason, 2009 will be another season of peanut butter and jelly for minor leaguers, as MLB has rejected a proposal that would have raised their daily road meal allowance from $20 to $25 per day. It's estimated the league will save $750,000 by rejecting the measure...which is roughly what A.J. Burnett will make per day on the DL.

As Jack Zduriencik continues to overhaul the Mariners, he's about to get a bunch of help: As things stand right now, the Mariners would have three first round picks along with two more in the top 60. They're also apparently taking their advance scouts off the road and bringing the entire operation in-house, to be done via video.

I've heard a lot of big leaguers like to spend their winter someplace warm and put their feet up for a bit. Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima went someplace warm...and ran the Honolulu Marathon. The Red Sox don't sound too thrilled about it.

Oh, and WeAreFanatics.com wants to see you in your Brewers gear.

Drink up.

Here are some things to read before rushing out to get John Hodgman's new book. If you rush out fast enough, perhaps you'll see me there.

Tom H. says the Brewers likely will not announce their new manager until after the World Series. View From Bernie's Chalet hopes it's Ken Macha and not Bob Brenly. MetsBlog notes that Willie Randolph is also a candidate and if the Brewers hire him, it will save the Mets $2.25 million he is owed if he doesn't manage in 2009.

Yesterday I noted that the Brewers hope to have Mike Maddux back as pitching coach in 2009. It appears they're not the only team interested in his services. The Dallas Morning News is reporting Maddux could be a candidate for Texas' pitching coach vacancy.

Welcome back to the debate on the value of Rickie Weeks. Beyond the Box Score lists Weeks as 2008's 14th best second baseman, and actually credits him with saving 4 runs in the field. Ray Durham was 20th, creating 22 extra runs with the bat and costing his teams 9 in the field. If Weeks really is +4 runs in the field, then he's better defensively than all of the following:

• Dan Uggla
• Ian Kinsler
• Mark DeRosa
• Akinori Iwamura
• Kelly Johnson
• Joe Inglett
• Kaz Matsui
• Howie Kendrick
• Ray Durham
• Orlando Hudson
• Asdrubal Cabrera
• Aaron Miles
• Jamey Carroll
• Jeff Kent
• Alexei Ramirez
• Mark Grudzielanek

MLB Trade Rumors reports that Mike Cameron could be a Type B free agent if the Brewers decline his option for next season. I still expect him back.

This has already been Rec'd a whole bunch of times so most of you have probably seen it, but if you haven't yet check out TheJay's calendar of important offseason dates, which answers at least 12-15 of the questions I've posed in this blog over the last couple of weeks.

Today's Sabathia Smorgasbord is more of a light breakfast. CC was a nominee, but did not win the MLBPA's National League Ooutstanding Pitcher award, which instead went to Tim Lincecum.

If this isn't resolved soon, I'm going to need a witty alliteration for Jake Peavy, as well: Bernie Miklasz says the Cardinals are out of the running for Peavy. It is about the money, stupid says the Astros are out as well. Texas seems like a long shot to land him, but Lone Star Ball has compiled some reasons why they should try.

Elsewhere on the hot stove, the Dodgers have declined Angel Berroa's 2009 option, making him a free agent. The Cardinals have also declined the option on Mark Mulder, who has thrown just 12.2 innings over the last two seasons.

So I'm becoming a fall/winter league nerd, I'll admit it. Yesterday I traded a few emails with an ESPN employee with his finger on the pulse of the minor leagues, and he had this to say: I think that accurately sums up why we should be paying more attention to these games. If you're interested in the personal side of it, check out Indians minor leaguer Randy Newsom's blog from Venezuela.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you need a laser level?

Drink up.

We haven't had a Mug or Cup for a few days, so I figured I'd put something together.  It'll be short, but it'll be something.

• BR Box Score
• FanGraphs Win Probability Chart

Marty feels Yosted.

To file under "Guys you thought would never be valued enough by any team to get traded," Angel Berroa is now a Dodger.  In a further shock, he may be called up.  To the big league team.

Sidney Ponson made an ass of himself, and now he's looking for work again.

If you're looking for what battlekow calls a "datagasm," check out splits and situational stats on all college players selected by the Brewers in this year's draft.  As battlekow points out, Evan Bronson's numbers are ridiculous...they should also be taken with a grain of salt, since he pitched in Division 3.  Same goes, to some extent, for Brandon Rapoza of Flagler.  Flagler is D2, though it plays a reasonably difficult schedule for the level.

Game time is 7:05 CT.  See y'all back here then.