"After doing a little more digging today, I was able to determine that the Milwaukee Brewers have not yet officially been awarded the negotiating rights to Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki.

That doesn't mean it's not going to happen. It sounds as though the Brewers are in good shape to win his rights, in fact. But until the posting process officially concludes and the involved teams are informed of the outcome by the commissioner's office on Thursday, nothing is for certain.

Reports over the weekend, beginning with one out of Japan, suggested that the Brewers were the winner with a $2.5 million bid on the Yakult Swallows outfielder. But the process is a blind one, and since it's not yet completed, it's obviously premature to say the Brewers have already won."