October 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers are willing to do most anything this winter to improve their pitching staff. Anything except trade Prince Fielder or Ryan Braun. Despite continuing speculation - mostly from national pundits - that the Brewers will have to trade one of their two sluggers to acquire a quality starting pitcher, general manager Doug Melvin made it clear Wednesday he isn't entertaining such thoughts. At his annual season-review news conference at Miller Park, Melvin said he might have to sacrifice some offense to improve his woeful starting pitching. Melvin then was asked if that meant sacrificing either Fielder or Braun. "That would be a tough one," said Melvin. "I didn't mean it that ..."
October 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Trevor Hoffman was unable to convert his final save opportunity of the year Sunday for the Brewers, but it looks as if he'll be getting plenty more chances in the future. After the Brewers topped St. Louis, 9-7, in 10 innings, Hoffman revealed he is in the final stages of negotiating a deal to return to the club in 2010. "I think we're pretty close," said Hoffman, who suffered only his fourth blown save of the season by allowing a run to the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth. "We're in discussions. The fact that we're discussing things is good." Assistant general manager Gord Ash confirmed that the club is in talks with Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman of the Beverly Hills Sports Council. ..."
September 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Brewers owner Mark Attanasio just said that any speculation that general manager Doug Melvin's job is in jeopardy is "ridiculous." Attanasio also said it will be completely up to Melvin as to whether manager Ken Macha is back to serve the second year of his contract. That bodes well for Macha because Melvin has made mostly supportive comments about him of late. Attanasio admitted the season has been "disappointing" but said he has not lost faith in Melvin, who has three years remaining on a contract that was extended last fall. "The temptation when things go bad is to change everything," said Attanasio, who noted that he learned not to do that in his money management business. "You need to ..."
September 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Giving Yovani Gallardo nine days of rest didn't work, so the Brewers' decision-makers began discussions Wednesday that could lead to shutting down the young right-hander for the season. "We're not addressing it today," said general manager Doug Melvin. "If we do anything, we'll talk to him first." Because Gallardo missed most of last season with a knee injury and is among the league leaders in pitches thrown (3,125), the Brewers have tried to ease his workload in the final weeks of the season. He was given nearly a full turn off before pitching ineffectively Tuesday night in a 13-7 loss to the Cubs. Unable to find a consistent release point, Gallardo (12-12, 3.84) allowed seven hits, five ..."
September 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Curtailing Yovani Gallardo's innings isn't something the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander wants. But he understands that it might be best for his future. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash, manager Ken Macha, head trainer Roger Caplinger and Gallardo met Sunday morning to discuss a course of action for the 23-year-old and determined they will skip Gallardo's next start. Gallardo won't take the ball again until Sept. 15 at Wrigley Field, and the Brewers are still unclear what the plan will be beyond that outing. The reason is to cut back on Gallardo's innings and pitches since the Brewers' playoff hopes are about officially dashed. The Brewers won't completely shut ..."
August 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Doug Melvin has been mum in the past week about shuffling his roster. The rules of Major League Baseball don't allow executives to comment on players on waivers, so the Milwaukee Brewers general manager can't give any inkling about those rumblings. But he did say clubs have called him, including two Friday, about certain players. When asked general questions about if he planned to make a trade before Tuesday's deadline for players to be eligible for post-season rosters, Melvin has been just as tight-lipped and careful. "I don't think so," Melvin said before Friday night's game. "But you don't know." That has been Melvin's standard answer lately, but the fact he's been so quiet could mean ..."
August 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Barring something unforeseen, right-hander Jeff Suppan will come off the disabled list Tuesday and start against the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park. Brewers manager Ken Macha confirmed that assignment after Suppan threw a bullpen session in the indoor batting cage Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park. Rainy weather prevented a session outside in the bullpen. "He felt fine," said Macha. "He's good to go." Suppan has been on the disabled list since July 28 after suffering a left oblique strain swinging the bat in a game. He did not fare well in minor-league rehabilitation assignments with Class A Wisconsin and Class AAA Nashville (seven innings, 13 hits, nine runs) but has recovered ..."
August 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Despite the Brewers' stunning free-fall out of the playoff race, general manager Doug Melvin said Friday he has no plans to sell off players before September. In only 12 days, the Brewers went from five games behind St. Louis in the NL Central to 10 ½ games out, all but eliminating any hopes of vying for the playoffs. Teams can trade players if they clear waivers or work out a deal when claimed before Sept. 1 and still have them eligible for the postseason. The Brewers have veteran players who probably would draw interest, such as centerfielder Mike Cameron, closer Trevor Hoffman and catcher Jason Kendall. But Melvin said he isn't in a housecleaning mode and doesn't need to trim salary. ..."
August 14
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin again declined to admit Thursday he put in a waiver claim on Arizona left-hander Doug Davis. At the same time, Melvin indicated he didn't expect to put Davis in a Milwaukee uniform. "I'm not engaged with conversations with Arizona," said Melvin. SI.com first reported late Wednesday night that the Brewers had claimed Davis on waivers. After July 31, teams routinely place players on waivers to see who will clear and what clubs are interested. The Brewers tried to trade for Davis before the July 31 deadline but were not willing to meet Arizona's demands. Because Davis (7-10, 3.62) can be a Class B free agent after the season, Melvin said the ..."
August 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Right-hander Dave Bush might not return to the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation as soon as hoped. After throwing breaking balls at close to maximum effort for the first time during this rehabilitation stint in a bullpen session Friday, Bush experienced some tightness in his forearm Saturday. Whether that sets him back was not certain. "I wouldn't really call it a setback," said Bush, who already had one of those when his first rehabilitation stint was shut down after he experienced arm fatigue during a July 15 outing with Class AA Huntsville. "It's just a little sore, a little tight. I threw breaking balls for the first time. Just like spring training, when you step it up a little, you ..."
July 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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I was just told that the Brewers have reacquired right-hander Claudio Vargas for minor league utility man Vinny Rottino. Vargas is obviously a stop-gap measure to try to get the Brewers through their current crisis, with Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan on the DL. I haven't been told yet that he'll be starting tomorrow, and as already blogged, right-hander Mike Burns was summoned from Class AAA Nashvile. Vargas, 31, posted a 1.64 ERA in eight relief outings for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent much of this season on the DL with elbow tendinitis."
July 31
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Brewers need a starting pitcher for Saturday in San Diego but general manager Doug Melvin told me this afternoon that he didn't expect to pick one up via trade. "It has been pretty quiet," said Melvin. "I put calls out this morning but there doesn't appear to be anything active. I'm not waiting for a call or anything like that." The Brewers lost their starting pitcher for Saturday when right-hander Jeff Suppan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique, suffered swinging the bat in his last start Monday against Washington. Melvin said he talked to clubs about "10 or 12" starting pitchers this week without coming close to a trade. He checked in one last time ..."
July 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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With the Brewers going backwards for several weeks, a debate has raged among fans as to whether the club should be a buyer or a seller on the trade market. General manager Doug Melvin said Tuesday he still was in a buying mode in what he noted was a somewhat thin pitching market. "We're still looking to see if we can find pitching that makes us better," Melvin said. "There's still a lot of baseball left, if we can get guys back on track. It's not like we're 6, 7, 8 games back." After losing 16 of 23 games in July, the Brewers are two games below .500 and 4½ games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central Division. Melvin's thinking was that one pitcher might help bolster ..."
July 27
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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There was an optimistic tone in Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha's voice Sunday when he spoke of general manager Doug Melvin's ongoing efforts to acquire a starting pitcher. "The trading deadline is coming," Macha said. "Doug's trying to help the club. I don't want to create expectations but he's trying to make the club better and I'm sure if he finds a starting pitcher who can help out, it's something he would do. "The starters that are available are kind of limited and expensive (in terms of players included in a trade). I just know how much effort is being put into trying to look at our needs as a whole and fill those needs. "Typically, the farther away you are from the (July 31) ..."
July 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Milwaukee Brewers need a fifth starting pitcher again on Tuesday, three days before the trading deadline. As of Wednesday, general manager Doug Melvin said an internal candidate looked more likely to make that start than a trade acquisition. "There's not much pitching out there that's available," said Melvin. "We go over the list every day. It doesn't change." The Brewers have shown interest in the top pitcher available on the market, Toronto ace Roy Halladay. On Sunday, Melvin said he had not made an offer for Halladay and didn't know if he would. But Melvin declined Wednesday to specify his current interest in Halladay, who has a no-trade clause and would require an extensive package ..."
July 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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I was just informed that Dick Groch, the top scouting assistant to Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, was on hand in Toronto last night to watch Cleveland lefty Cliff Lee pitch against Toronto. Groch had to like what he saw as Lee pitched a complete-game seven-hitter for the Indians in a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays. As we all know, the Brewers are looking for a starting pitcher. Groch also saw Toronto's Roy Halladay pitch on Sunday but the price for acquiring him is extremely high. The price to acquire Lee also would be high. For one thing, he's much cheaper than Halladay, with a $5.75 million salary this year and club option for $8 million for 2010. There was some thought weeks ago ..."
July 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Here are four reasons the Milwaukee Brewers won't make a move for Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay: 1. Any deal likely would have to include shortstop Alcides Escobar and lefty Manny Parra, and perhaps 2008 No. 1 pick Brett Lawrie, a Canadian who would be popular in Toronto. Don't look for the Brewers to move those players. 2. Halladay has a no-trade clause and might shoot down the Brewers from the start. He supposedly wants to go to a team that trains in Florida, where he lives. 3. Halladay could demand a trade after the season for being dealt in the middle of a multi-year contract. Thus, instead of having him through his contract next year, the Brewers could lose him after the season ..."
July 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Friday that he had talked to the Toronto Blue Jays about ace right-hander Roy Halladay, who is being shopped around to potential suitors. Melvin wouldn't say whether he thought those talks could lead to anything. He often reveals when he doesn't have a match with a team but he wouldn't say that, either. "We've had a conversation with them," Melvin said. "I don't want to get into the details. I don't want to characterize it at this point." The Blue Jays have made it known it would take a substantial package of players to acquire Halladay, one of the top pitchers in the majors who is signed through 2010 and has a no-trade clause in his ..."
July 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If Brewers general manager Doug Melvin had not placed the initial telephone call to the Cleveland Indians last season to ask about CC Sabathia, one of the best midseason trades in major-league history would not have been made. With that in mind, Melvin said Wednesday he would make a call to Toronto's J.P. Ricciardi, who announced he will listen to offers for ace Roy Halladay. "When a general manager says he is listening to offers, yeah, I'll call," said Melvin. "I haven't called yet. "The guy has a no-trade (clause). You try to wait to see what's coming out of it. Are they doing it for an extension or whatever? They're going to identify the people that they think have enough talent (to ..."
July 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Milwaukee Brewers manager Ken Macha announced Tuesday that right-hander Jeff Suppan would start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. But what about Thursday? "We'll let you know (Wednesday) who's pitching on Thursday," Macha said. "It's a day-by-day thing." Barring the unforeseen, all signs point to the return of left-hander Manny Parra to start the series finale against the Cardinals. Parra's next scheduled turn with Class AAA Nashville should be Wednesday but he was not listed when the Sounds announced their probable pitchers for the rest of the week. Asked specifically about "Manny," Macha pretended the question was about Manny Ramirez, who shows up later in the week with the ..."
July 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Mark Bradley
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Here are six, as listed by Buster Olney of ESPN.com, who assumes the Braves are looking to trade Yunel Escobar and Javier Vazquez. (And didn't someone we know suggest the Vazquez thing two months ago? Why, yes he did.) Since this is an ESPN Insiders thing and the link requires registration, I'll again quote extensively: Boston: "In order to make a deal for Escobar, the Red Sox would probably have to engage a third team, and here's the thing - they are perfectly suited to do this, because they have the commodity that everybody else want: pitching. In theory [and what immediately follows is pure speculation], they could engage the Brewers about Corey Hart, or the Indians about someone like ..."
July 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Ryan Braun has said it before. And after the Milwaukee Brewers lost three of four games at Wrigley Field, the newly minted two-time all-star said it again Sunday. He'd like Brewers general manager Doug Melvin to make a trade to improve the club, although he is aware the trade market has been bleak to this point. "We're at the point right now where it would be important for us to go out there and acquire somebody," Braun said. "I know (Melvin) is trying to make our ballclub better. I know he recognizes the importance of making a move and making it soon, but at the same time I think everybody's recognized there's a lot of teams that are still in the race. "With that being said, it would be ..."
July 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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It is no secret Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is exploring his options to add a player via trade before the July 31 deadline. There just aren't many options. Based on what the Brewers are looking for (probably established pitching) and what potential sellers would want in return (probably younger pitching), Melvin said there are fewer than 10 teams that could potentially "match up" with the Brewers. That is what happened when Melvin inquired about Mark DeRosa, then with the Cleveland Indians. Melvin was told by Indians GM Mark Shapiro the Brewers didn't have what his club was looking for and shipped DeRosa to St. Louis. Translation: It could be difficult to make any kind of ..."