Brew Crew Ball, a Milwaukee Brewers community

Tom H is not sure if there are any incentives. We have the power to block the option next year, so there's no harm involved there. Assuming there are not crazy incentives, this deal looks pretty nice. For us to break even on a $4.75 million, 1 year deal, Looper has to have a 4.80 ERA over 150 innings, and almost all projections think he'll be better than that.

Shouse is a Type B free agent. With Stetter and Swindle in the fold for 2009, it sounds like the Brewers are content to let him go and take the sandwich pick. UPDATE: It's done.

Buster Olney (via MLB Trade Rumors) reports the Brewers will be among the teams watching Kris Benson throw on Saturday, and they'll likely also watch Mark Mulder throw the first week in February.

He's the odd man out with the Giambi signing. Should he be a Brewer again?

And there was much rejoicing: It sounds as though the Yankees will not be getting Mike Cameron to play centerfield next year. That could change, of course, but I just got off the phone with Brewers GM Doug Melvin. He said: "Nothing new. At this point, I don't anticipate it's something that we would (do). ... I haven't talked to Brian (Cashman) since last week." (h/t Al)

Because...wait for it...The Yankees want more. Via Rosenthal: The Brewers are asking for a second player in addition to Melky Cabrera. The Yankees want the Brewers to pay a portion of Cameron's $10 million salary. Milwaukee is not inclined to fulfill that request at a time when the Yankees are on the verge of paying over $200 million for pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.

A trade could have gone down overnight with Cameron going to NY for Melky Cabrera. Also heard it reported on ESPN this morning.

Not a big surprise but I think we were all holding out hope that he would stay in Milwaukee. Thanks for the memories and the end to the playoff drought big man!

The speculation is that Lamb will platoon with Hall at third. It looks like we're paying Lamb the minimum, with the Twins sheepishly picking up the rest of the $3 million they owe him.