Some things to read while playing the stairs.
Here's a rumor that came out of nowhere: Roughly a week after Doug Melvin told reporters they're most likely done adding pieces to the 2011 roster, Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Brewers have expressed interest in free agent outfielder Mark Kotsay. Kotsay is 35 years old and spent the 2010 season with the White Sox, hitting .239/.306/.376.
I'm not entirely sure why the Brewers would have interest in Kotsay at this point. Last season for the White Sox he was almost entirely limited to 1B/DH duties, playing just eight games in right field. Even if he was still physically capable of playing center, I'm not sure his upside is higher than Jeremy Reed's. Jaymes Langrehr of The Brewers Bar agrees that Kotsay is far from the best option.
Takashi Saito will turn 41 in February, but he's in a much better position to help this team. He told Japan Today that he's hoping to make 60 appearances this season, which would be his most since 2007.
Today's graph(s) of the day is over at Red Reporter, where they've broken down the six 40 man rosters of the NL Central by how players were acquired. The most striking difference may be draft picks: The Cardinals, Reds and Brewers have drafted 22, 18 and 15 members of their 40 man roster, respectively, while the Cubs selected just eight.
The Brewers have also built a fair portion of their roster via free agency, but they were in the minority this offseason: MLB Trade Rumors notes that they're one of just eight teams that didn't sign a free agent to a multi-year deal this winter.
At Pocket Doppler, this week's edition of A Simple Kind of Fan takes a look at defensive metrics and expresses a concern many have previously shared: Team defense could be a major issue for the Brewers this season.
In the minors:
- D' Vontrey Richardson was one of the more controversial players in our recent Community Prospect Rankings. As Battlekow noticed yesterday, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus said Richardson's upside is excellent, but his chances of reaching it are slim.
- If you're vocally talented and like baseball, then maybe you should apply to sing the national anthem at a Timber Rattlers game.
Back at MIller Park, Adam McCalvy has more photos from the construction of the new scoreboard, which is nearing completion. He also notes that it won't have a pink stripe down the middle like the old video board.
If you've been waiting to plan your 2011 road trip, wait no longer: The Brewers have finalized start times for all of their road games this season.
For the second time this week I'll give you one link about the Super Bowl before moving on: Miller Park Drunk's fan fiction looks into the relationship between the Brewers and Packers.
Around baseball:
Astros: Signed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez to a three year, $34 million extension.
Athletics: Avoided arbitration with pitcher Craig Breslow ($1.4 million).
Cubs: Signed pitcher Todd Wellemeyer to a minor league deal.
Mariners: Signed reliever Chris Ray to a minor league deal.
Orioles: Signed pitcher Clay Rapada to a minor league deal.
Rangers: Acquired catcher Mike Napoli from the Blue Jays for reliever Frank Francisco.
Twins: Avoided arbitration with pitcher Kevin Slowey ($2.7 million).
Here are today's former Brewer notes:
- In today's runner-up for graph of the day, Lefti (at Beyond the Box Score) juxtaposed career WAR graphs for Robin Yount and Norm Cash.
- Alyson Footer of Astros.com talked to Nelson Figueroa about his professional career to date. Figueroa will be in camp with the Astros this spring.
Today's baseball economics note: Jesse Wolfersberger of FanGraphs takes a shot at predicting the inflation rate of baseball salaries for the next couple of years and concludes that it's impossible to know for sure.
Happy birthday today to:
- Brevard County Manatee Josh Prince, who turns 23.
- Bob Uecker, who turns 76.
Now, if you'll excuse me, the tiger can't hear me.
Drink up.