"I just spoke with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and he said he couldn't say on the record that he reached an agreement with Trevor Hoffman not to accept salary arbitration.

"That has to come from the agent," said Melvin.

I have a call in to Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman, but it's safe to say that Hoffman won't accept arbitration from the Brewers. You could tell a deal had been worked out by talking to Melvin.

So, because Hoffman is a Type B free agent, the Brewers kept intact their right to receive a supplemental first-round draft pick in 2011 should he sign with another club. If the 43-year-old Hoffman doesn't sign with another club and retires, it's no harm, no foul."