Brewers Done Until After Holidays

No surprise there since Christmas is one day away. I expect most of the free agent market to be signed after New Years.

I guess the Brewers management is frustrated because they can't get anything done (early exit for the Holidays). Like all small market teams, Milwaukee has to hope a Ty Wiggington, Koji Uehara or Rocco Baldelli wants to sign with their team, or throwing a third of the payroll to one player with the bourdon of carry 'em. I'd love for the Brew Crew to sign Fuentes. While wide open Milwalkee's wonderful, it's not Southern California to some people, the cable companies aren't making a fortune selling the team's games, and the arts aren't banging the door down to fascilitate as much of a well rounded exposure as some bigger cities.

I think part of the problem is that the hype of the deal on some sides and sites is more pertinent than the meat of the matter. The only way for Milwaukee and Minnesota and the very few other profitable and competitive small market teams to compete is to find value. I wholeheartedly agree that there was some amount of pandering to the offer made to CC Sabathia. Melvin knew that to not make an offer would be reprehensible. But they made a sound offer with true value. CC Sabathia is worth around $100 million to take the ball every five games. Unfortunately he is NOT worth $161 million. God, we all love him, but you are talking about a pitcher. He can still only play one position. And no matter how much the hype would let you believe he was an all or nothing hitter, so that was not an extra bonus.

On an aside. As a lifelong BrewTown resident, we do have a very vibrant arts scene, an amazing beer history, and ethnic history. The Calatrava (art museum) is often listed as one of the most striking buildings in the world, and it is not filled with crap either.

brewersfan09,

I think CC, along with enormous pressure from the players union, made it very clear what it is actually about, $$$$$$$$$$

with no exceptions.

The Brewers will sign a mid to lower level starter or two and some bullpen arms but we simply can't expect much more than that with economic outlook simply not getting better in the next year.

This is an opportunity for some smaller market teams to make a splash with overall salaries being commanded droping (with the acception of those targeted by the NY Yankees). However, the risks involved with signing long term deals this year may outweight the rewards for most GMs.

This is a bad year to turn down arbitration, which so many have and will inevitably regret.