The Brewers have until tonight (11:59 PM on 12/1) to offer Tony Graffanino arbitration.
Why would they want to do that? Because he's a Class A free agent and as such would net the Brewers his new employer's first round draft pick, plus a supplemental first round pick.
Why wouldn't they want to do that? Because Graffanino might accept the offer and then they'll be stuck with him.
Part of me wants to shake the front office's cage and ask them why, if they were concerned about possibly having to keep Graffanino after offering him arb, didn't they just wait on Craig Counsell? Of course, that begs the question of why involve Counsell in this at all, but whatever.
Counsell is an overpaid backup, something Graffanino has stated he doesn't want to be (the second part in particular; I doubt he'd mind being overpaid). Thus, he's not going to accept the offer because he knows the only position likely open in the Brewer infield is standing in foul territory near third base to counteract Prince Fielder's gravity.
Hopefully Team Canada has also realized this truth and makes the correct decision. Those two first-rounders, if nothing else, will provide hours of fun speculation and analysis come June. Of course, so might Jorge de la Rosa...