Straight from the Bill James Handbook, these are the current Brewers 40-man roster and Spring Training Invitees projections for 2009. Take it as it is. As you can see, roughly half of the team have no projections, but such is life. I hope you enjoy looking at this as much as I enjoyed typing it in. If you would like to know the Bill James projection for any player, just ask in the comments.

Note: If a player is added to any list, the projections will be added with them. I apologize for the lengthy space at the bottom, it simply won't go away.

The Brewers tendered contracts to Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Dave Bush, and Seth McClung. Prince, arbitration eligible for the first time along with Hart, Weeks, and McClung, is in for a big raise.

However, most notably left off the list is starting lefty Chris Capuano. After a second Tommy John surgery, who knows what he is capable of doing. However, if he can somehow return even close to the 18-win form he was in 2005, clearly he would be an asset to a team currently deprived of starting pitching due to recent free agent departures.

Per MLB.com, courtesy Adam McCalvy.

Edit 9:24 PM: Ty Wiggington has become available through a non-tender from the Astros. A solid 3B pickup, that'd be nice eh?

The Green Bay Packers Press is reporting the release of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Justin Harrel was activated from the PUP list to take his place.

Most of the experience and depth on the line is now gone. What was Ted thinking? KGB was a valued and hardworking player and now is counting on his young 'uns to step up again. Thompson counting on his younger players has become more and more evident in his managerial style.

Not new to baseball but to the trade market, Jake Peavy is the hot new item. The two time allstar and 2007 NL Cy Young winner has been available by the Padres' front office. Peavy's repertoire includes the command of several different two-seam fastballs (88-90 mph) and a four-seam fastball (93-97 mph), a hard slider (83-88 mph), a change-up (80-84 mph), and sports an occasional curveball (74-76 mph).The burning question has become who will land this true ace? The current front runner is the Atlanta Braves, but no team has fully announced their intentions.

The real winner in this derby: The Milwaukee Brewers.

San Diego has been known to be searching for a center fielder and young pitching in this deal. Who better to match up with than the Brewers? Tony Gwynn Jr, son of former major leaguer Tony Gwynn Sr. (of course), has been coveted by the Padres for some time now. Matching Gwynn with a young pitcher plus a throw in or two might just get this deal done. Most noteably would be Jeremy Jeffress, though I'm sure Doug Melvin would be reluctant to trade him. CC Sabathia was an amazing addition to the team, why not try another star pitcher? However, the prospects given up may not be worth the pitcher coming in. With the lowest WHIP in baseball since 2004, Peavy would certainly be a noteworthy asset to the team. The prospects may be worth giving up for this 27-year old pitcher not  even to the peak of his career. As always, lets get the comments going!

So Ted was a little busy today...per packers.com...

The Green Bay Packers have signed punter Derrick Frost and long snapper Brett Goode and released punter Jon Ryan and linebacker Abdul Hodge.

Now I ask, why release possibly the fifth or sixth best linebacker instead of Breno Giacomini, superbackup O-line or Tracy White, who can be replaced easily on special teams. Jon Ryan, who had a  reat 34-yard run against the Titans demonstrating strong athletic ability, was released in favor for a punter who was released from the Redskins after getting beat out by a rookie. Ryan, who has shown B.J. Sander-esque inconsistency on occasion, has the potential to boot 50+ punts at any given time.

With only 34 games (at the time of writing) and the postseason left to the season, the off-season will be here before we know it. Some say it's too early for an off season debate, but I say neigh, its an off day, lets get something productive done!

At last count, the Brewers have fourteen "key" players that have contracts expiring after the 2008 season. They are: 2B Ray Durham, 3B Russell Branyan, U Craig Counsell, U Joe Dillon, CF Mike Cameron, OF Gabe Kaplar, SP CC Sabathia, SP Ben Sheets, SP Chris Capuano, RP Derrick Turnbow, RP Guillermo Mota, RP Brian Shouse, CL/RP Saloman Torres, and CL/RP Eric Gagne. (I'm sure I'm missing some, so if I see any in the comments or anyone with the power to edit, feel free to add them to the list.)

Both Cameron and Torres have team options for the 2009 season, a $10MM option with a $750K buyout and a $3.75MM option with a $300K buyout. At the time of writing, it seems as though both will be exercised, leaving the Brewers without five position players, three starting pitchers, and four relievers.

I will attempt now to make a 25-man roster out of the best free agents available this winter. Bear with me; this might get a little hairy. I'm sure some will disagree, but I'm basing this on current and past performances. If someone is most likely to go back to the team they came from, they will be off this list.

2008-2009 Free Agent All-Star Team

Catchers: Jason Varitek and Ivan Rodriguez

First base: Mark Texeira and Richie Sexson

Second base: Orlando Hudson and Mark Ellis

Shortstop: Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera

Third base: Hank Blalock and Joe Crede

Outfield: LF/RF Adam Dunn, LF Manny Ramirez, LF Milton Bradley, LF Pat Burrell

Starting Rotation: CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett (has an option to opt out of contract, it is presumed he will), Jon Garland, and Oliver Perez.

Relievers: Francisco Rodriguez, Brandon Lyon, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, Eric Gagne, Will Ohman

That team might win a few games, eh? Compared to the 2007-2008 off-season crop, this is a gold mine. Solid players across the board at all positions. Now, what are the Brewers to do? Lets assume all of the non-free agents stay put. There's a good chance that Kaplar and Branyan stay with the team, so that brings the total to missing: three infielders, three starting pitchers, and four relievers. What to do?

In regards to the infielders, the play from third base has been less then spectacular, and free agency may address that problem. Players like Hank Blalock, Joe Crede, and Casey Blake would fit the mould nicely. Nomar Garciaparra, who has played all over the infield, including first base, could provide the Craig Counsell bat with a little more pop. Perhaps the minors can shove some players up. Mat Gamel has proven he can handle a bat but apparently not a glove, so he may be looking to move to a less precarious position (See Braun, Ryan). Alcides Escobar, apparently a better shortstop than Mr. Hardy, can provide gold glove defense in the middle shifting J.J. over to third or second. Speaking of second, the Rickie Weeks experiment has yet to reach its lofty potential. Veteran guys like Mark Ellis and the switch-hitting Orlando Cabrera can provide the stability Brewer fans have been looking for. If Ray Durham sticks around he has shown he can still play and provides the lefty platoon bat for Mr. Weeks.

Looking at starting pitching, Brewer fans hope for the possibilities of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets signings. Sheets would be easier to attain; as a part owner of the Milwaukee Admirals along with great chemistry with the team provides the beginning of a hometown discount that would allow him to stay with the team. Mr. Sabathia on the other hand is a different story. During the short time he has been in Milwaukee, the team has molded around him and he seems to be clicking with the whole team and seems to really enjoy Milwaukee, especially Jason Kendall, who has expressed interest in retiring as a Brewer. However, CC is a big time pitcher, and he comes with the big time markets. Teams like the Yankees, Angels, Mets, and Braves will be hot on his heels, along with smaller market teams in need of pitching, such as the Rangers and Phillies. Mark Attanasio has given Melvin the O.K. to open the wallet and spend money on players, but will this small market team be able to afford his big time pitching? If Sheets and Sabathia are unavailable, guys like A.J. Burnett and Oliver Perez can eat some innings and hopefully fill the big void less. Project pitchers are also available, like Mark Prior, Mark Mulder, and Matt Clement, and would be available at a discount for Mike Maddux to tackle. The old inning eaters are also available, the likes of Randy Wolf, Odalis Perez, Derek Lowe, Josh Fogg, Paul Byrd, and Randy Johnson, just to name a few. The youth in Manny Parra, Yovani Gallardo, Carlos Villenuava, and Seth McClung may struggle if forced to hold down the rotation with Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan.

The bullpen has been the Brewers Achilles heel for quite some time, with inconsistency reigning supreme. However, great players are finally available in the coming off-season. Francisco Rodriguez, K-Rod, is running away with the saves lead this year but will demand a premium price in free agency, most likely a record deal. Could he be the big money pitcher Attanasio and Melvin look at? If not, other solid closers and set-up men are out there. Brian Fuentes, Brandon Lyon, and Kerry Wood are all solid closers and have performed well for the team. Trevor Hoffman, Eric Gagne, Todd Jones, and Jason Isringhausen have been great closers in their career, but do they have enough in the tank to keep performing? Set-up men like Will Ohman and Juan Cruz have been stellar and would provide the key 8th inning role the Brewers have been looking for. The Brewers seem to have a gaggle of average to above average middle relievers; can one of them step up and perform to an elite level?

Of course the season has over a month (hopefully more for the Crew) until the 2008 season comes to an end. Of course there will be debate over what to do all the way until the beginning of the next. There will be bargains (Everyday Jason Kendall) to the blunders (Eric Gagne, is he turning it around, and not making that 10M look so bad?). Until then, enjoy the comments, hopefully there will be many, good luck to the Crew to finish out the season to get that first Series win for the franchise, and when the season is finally over, it's your move, Mr. Melvin.

I've heard discussions about Robinade a couple of times around here, some saying it tasting like Robin's sweat and others saying its the milk of heavan. My question is this: Where are ya'll finding the stuff? I seem to recall talk of it being at a Pick n' Save, but I haven't been able to find it. Anyone who also lives in the Racine/Oak Creek area able to help here?

As the trading deadline nears, many teams in baseball will be looking to buy or sell, depending on recent success.

As we all have hoped, the Brewers are competing quite well and are in the market as a potential buyer. With the farm system stocked with prime players (thanks to wonderful scouting and drafting), the Brewers hold several valuable trade chips that could just bring in the missing piece to the 2008 Series puzzle.

The question is this: What should the Brewers do? Hold tight to the prospects or make a move to finally overtake the Cubs and pound them into submission? C.C. Sabathia, as you all know, will most likely become the most coveted prize of this summer's trading frenzy. Will he be too overpriced and the better option may be to go for a smaller name, like Rich Harden, but just as effective, or break the bank and go for it all with Sabathia?