Some things to read while picking up flowers.
We're 36 days away from spring training, and the Brewers have crossed another item off their pre-season checklist: Yesterday they reached agreement with Manny Parra on a one year, $1.2 million deal, avoiding arbitration (FanShot). Parra also made $1.2 million last season while rehabbing various injuries.
With Parra's deal done the Brewers now have five arbitration-eligible players remaining: Kameron Loe, Shaun Marcum, Nyjer Morgan, Francisco Rodriguez and Jose Veras.
Meanwhile, here's another small adjustment for your 2012 payroll projections: It had been previously reported that Carlos Gomez will receive $2 million in 2012, but he's actually getting $1,962,500.
Mat Gamel is facing the most important spring training of his career in 2012, and Adam McCalvy has a story noting that he's saying and doing all the right things to make sure he's ready for it. I remain surprised the Brewers haven't brought in a veteran to push him in camp, but I guess they still could.
Yesterday I mentioned that Ryan Braun will attend "Brewers On Deck" at the end of the month, and it would be his first major public appearance since news broke about his possible suspension. The former is true, but the latter is not: Jon Heyman says Braun is also planning on attending the New York BBWAA dinner to receive his NL MVP Award. He will not, however, be giving interviews at the event.
Here are today's Prince Fielder notes:
- The Nats Blog is comparing Prince Fielder's free agency to Adam Dunn's period in limbo before the 2009 season, which ended with him taking a short term deal from the Nationals.
- Lookout Landing has a look at what a sales pitch from Scott Boras to the Mariners might look like and, of course, PRINCE FIELDER WATCH 2012.
- Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports says he's hearing the Blue Jays are not serious contenders for Fielder's services.
- MLB Trade Rumors and David Fung of Beyond the Box Score both noted the significant difference between Fielder and the rest of the remaining free agents.
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN points out that Fielder may have been more valuable to teams if he'd signed a couple of months ago so the excitement would help with season ticket sales.
Good news, everyone! Zack Greinke won the voting at NotGraphs and has been assigned the nickname "Science or Bravery?" I learned that while perusing the nominees for their next vote, "Dionysus with Rabies."
In the minors:
- Baseball America is reporting the Brewers have signed Venezuelan catcher Kevin Moscatel to a minor league deal. Moscatel is 20 and received $350,000 to sign with the Cardinals as a 17 year old, but has appeared in just 121 minor league games over four seasons since and only hit .225/.301/.314 while playing for Batavia in the (short season A) New York-Penn League in 2011.
- Bullpen Banter is the latest site to rank the Brewers' prospects: They have Jed Bradley and Taylor Jungmann splitting the #1 spot on their two lists.
- Erick Almonte picked up two more hits and Juan Perez pitched another perfect ninth for the save as Gigantes beat Aguilas 6-4 in the Dominican playoffs. You can read about that and more in this morning's Winter League Notes.
- Appleton received roughly six inches of snow in the last 24 hours. Rattler Radio has pictures of the carnage from yesterday, and will presumably have more today.
The effort to rename the pedestrian bridge near Miller Park "Bob Uecker Way" has hit a snag: The Wisconsin DOT says they don't have the authority to rename the structure, and has sent the matter back to the legislature.
Around baseball:
Indians: Signed pitcher Chris Ray to a minor league deal.
Rays: First baseman/outfielder Luke Scott will make $5 million in 2012 with a $6 million club option for 2013.
Yankees: Re-signed pitcher Cory Wade to a one year, $500,000 deal.
Here are today's former Brewer notes:
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs looks at the reasons why Francisco Cordero is still on the market.
- David Schoenfield of ESPN remembers Ben Oglivie's career year in 1980...and the fact that he somehow finished 13th in AL MVP voting.
Yesterday I mentioned an Eno Sarris FanGraphs post discussing how pitchers' strikeout rates decline over time. Today he has an interesting follow-up looking at the differing curves for various hitting skills.
In baseball economics: The Mets' financial woes remain a top story around baseball as their projected Opening Day payroll is $90 million, a $53 million drop from last season. (h/t @eddymk)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm not done getting told.
Drink up.