Some things to read while waiting in line.
Unless NASA announces they've found aliens, today's big story is likely to be tonight's 10:59 deadline for the Brewers to tender contracts to their eight arbitration-eligible players. Here's one last look at what people are saying about the possibilities:
- Adam McCalvy and Tom Haudricourt both have player-by-player looks at the decisions to be made.
- MLB Trade Rumors is still listing Joe Inglett and Todd Coffey as non-tender candidates, but not Carlos Villanueva, Carlos Gomez or Manny Parra.
- Brewers Daily makes the case for bringing back Coffey.
Yesterday I asked for your opinions on what the Brewers should do. Here are the results:
| Player | Tender | Non-Tender | Undecided |
| Todd Coffey | 40% | 47% | 13% |
| Joe Inglett | 45% | 46% | 8% |
| Carlos Gomez | 54% | 38% | 8% |
| Carlos Villanueva | 58% | 30% | 12% |
| Manny Parra | 78% | 15% | 7% |
| Kameron Loe | 92% | 6% | 2% |
| Prince Fielder | 95% | 4% | 1% |
| Rickie Weeks | 98% | 2% | 0% |
The Brewers are still interested in working out a long-term deal with Weeks, but apparently they're having a hard time getting his agent (Greg Genske) to answer the phone. As such, the team knows Weeks is interested in discussing a deal but don't know what he's looking for in terms of money.
Earlier this week I mentioned Ryan Braun's nomination for Best Play in the This Year in Baseball Awards. As it turns out, I missed something important there: John Axford points out that he's a nominee for Top Rookie, Trevor Hoffman is a nominee for Best Moment and Casey McGehee is a nominee for Breakout Performer.
Elsewhere in awards: Matt Klaasen of FanGraphs named Corey Hart and Casey McGehee as Honorable Mentions in his 2010 Carter-Batista Awards, given annually to the players whose RBI totals most distort their actual value.
In the minors: Congratulations to Helena first baseman Cody Hawn, who made Topps' All-Star team for short season and rookie leagues.
Around baseball:
Astros: Re-signed pitcher Nelson Figueroa to a one year, $900,000 deal.
Diamondbacks: Signed outfielder Wily Mo Pena to a minor league deal.
Giants: Re-signed outfielder Pat Burrell to a one year deal.
Padres: Signed outfielder Chris Denorfia to a one year deal, avoiding arbitration, and will non-tender outfielders Scott Hairston and Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Pirates: Signed infielder Andy Marte, pitcher Fernando Nieve and catcher Dusty Brown to minor league deals.
White Sox: Infielder Alexei Ramirez has declined his player option for 2011. The team still holds an option for $2.5 million.
Yankees: Re-signed pitcher Sergio Mitre to a one year, $900,000 deal.
Relevant to nothing: I think "Dusty Brown" might be one of the more fitting names I've ever seen for a minor league catcher.
Today in former Brewers:
- Brian Shouse is calling it a career. Despite appearing in just 13 major league games before his 33rd birthday, Shouse finished his career with 467 appearances over ten major league seasons with six teams.
- Jim Edmonds, meanwhile, is stretching the decision out a little more. Edmonds' agent told Jon Heyman that his client's 2011 plans change week to week.
Looking for a reason to oppose plans to expand the playoffs to ten teams in 2012? Here's an easy one: Big League Stew has the list of teams that would have made the playoffs over the last sixteen seasons under this format, and the Brewers didn't net one extra appearance.
Projection season won't be quite the same this year, as we're going to be forced to do it without CHONE. As Bucs Dugout noted, CHONE creator Sean Smith has signed on with an unnamed team and won't be releasing his forecasts this year.
Looking for an internship for this spring? The Brewers are looking for one to work with their Community Foundation.
Happy birthday today to Helena Brewer Michael Melillo, who turns 23.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to looking at things. (h/t Dave Brown)
Drink up.