Monday's Frosty Mug: No News Is No News

Some things to read while turning the tables.

If it feels like it's been a while since we've had Brewer news, it's because it has been: Brewerfan.net says the Brewers haven't made a transaction (except the 40-man roster additions) since signing Zack Kroenke on November 15. Even Adam McCalvy hasn't tweeted (not counting retweets) since lamenting the demise of Hostess on the 16th.

We'll continue to look ahead, though, as we slowly approach another transaction deadline: Jaymes Langrehr of Disciples of Uecker has a look at the decisions the Brewers will have to make when deciding whether or not to offer 2013 contracts to their five arbitration-eligible players. The most interesting choices pertain to Chris Narveson and Manny Parra.

Speaking of Parra, we profiled him on Friday as part of our Lesser Brewers series. His future with the organization remains uncertain, but a small sampling in an informal Twitter poll last night suggested he's more likely to be a 2013 Brewer than Zach Kroenke. Kroenke, by the way, is on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Lesser Brewers series continued this morning with a profile of Alex Gonzalez.

In free agency:

• Buster Olney is still banging the "Josh Hamilton to Milwaukee" drum, but only if the bidding doesn't approach Prince Fielder-type levels. One agent told him a four year offer could get a deal done.
• Meanwhile, Zack Greinke is now widely expected to become the highest-paid right-handed pitcher in major league history (surpassing Matt Cain's five year, $112.5 million deal), and may also get more than Cole Hamels' six years, $144 million.
• Dan O'Donnell of WTMJ says this should end speculation about Greinke returning to Milwaukee.
• Orioles GM Dan Duquette told MLB Network Radio "never to say never" on his team being a player for Greinke, but said he doesn't expect any high-ticket items this offseason.
• As of this writing Greinke is third in MLB Trade Rumors' poll asking readers to predict the next top ten free agent to sign. B.J. Upton is the clear leader.
• Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune told his readers that Shaun Marcum is the Padres' "secondary pitching target" if they can't work out a deal with Dan Haren.
• Rant Sports wonders if the Brewers should consider former Rays reliever J.P. Howell.

In the minors: Noted leisured gentleman Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs listed Brewer pitching farmhand Donovan Hand as one of the Venezuelan Winter League leaders in his SCOUT stat.

Around baseball:

Blue Jays: Are expected to hire former Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale as their new bench coach.
Phillies: Signed third baseman Josh Fields to a minor league deal.
Rays: Signed third baseman Evan Longoria to a $100 million contract extension to run through 2022.
Reds: Signed pitcher Todd Redmond to a one year, $490,000 deal.
Twins: Signed catcher/first baseman Jeff Clement to a minor league deal.

In former Brewers:

• Bless You Boys has a look at Carlos Villanueva, who is currently a free agent.
• Former Brewers Jose Valentin (manager at low-A Fort Wayne) and Bronswell Patrick (pitching coach for AAA Tucson) will work in the minors in the Padres organization next season.
• Chris Mehring of Rattler Radio noted that Hank Aaron and Mike Caldwell were two of seven former Brewers in his late 70's Hostess card collection.
• One writer at Bluebird Banter says Jim Bouton's Ball Four is his favorite baseball book of all time.

Today in baseball economics:

• Tom Tango of The Book Blog wonders if baseball should have an auction instead of a draft now that MLB has limited draft spending.
• There's speculation going around that players may try to front-load their new free agent contracts because of fear the tax rate will go up in coming years.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks the seventh anniversary of the Brewers signing Wily Peralta as a 16-year-old amateur free agent. Today also would have been 1901 Milwaukee Brewer Hugh Duffy's 146th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his 29 career HBP are tied for the fourth most ever for a player born on November 26.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a band aid.

Drink up.