Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Thursday that the team's projected payroll for 2009 already was at the level of a year ago, making it unlikely that an established starting pitcher will be acquired before spring training.
"The problem is, if we add a starter now and get up in the mid- to high 80s (in millions) in payroll, if you have some negative events, you wouldn't then have flexibility," Attanasio said during a "state of the Brewers" media session at Miller Park. "That would be a first for us. We don't want to put ourselves in that position. So, we're kind of weighing that."
The Brewers began the 2008 season with a payroll just above $80 million. By the end of the season, they had reached $90 million, thanks to the additions of left-hander CC Sabathia and second baseman Ray Durham through trades in July.
Projecting contracts still to be negotiated and bonuses earned, Attanasio said the Brewers' payroll already was "between $80 million and $85 million."
Attanasio said the money cleared through the free-agent losses of Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Eric Gagn? and others was consumed by raises for arbitration-eligible players as well as those with multi-year deals, and the addition of closer Trevor Hoffman. And, though the Brewers' ticket sales have gone well this winter, he said all teams were concerned about the declining economy.
"The concerns over the economy have kept us somewhat muted this winter," Attanasio said. "We have to be concerned as we get into the season with problems affecting us here.
"So, you can have maybe an $80 million to $85 million payroll, then you can have flexibility."
General manager Doug Melvin acknowledged that the Brewers were very thin in the starting rotation with only five returning pitchers: Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush and Seth McClung. Melvin said he was still looking at other options but didn't anticipate a significant move.
"The thing we're going through right now is, do we want to go out and go after someone now and maybe take away the flexibility we'd have during the course of the year, not knowing if the economy is going to impact our season?" Melvin said.
"Last year, we kept our flexibility and you saw what it allowed us to do, bring in CC, bring in Ray Durham. Seven million dollars we used to acquire those players.
"That's the balancing act we're analyzing or thinking through right now. Do we want that individual now? Do we want to wait until the season? Spend your money now or go with what you have?"
Counsell might return: Because the Brewers have no veteran backup infielder on their roster, Melvin was asked who would be this year's Craig Counsell, who served in that role the last two seasons.
"It might be Craig Counsell," replied Melvin, drawing laughter in the media room.
Melvin revealed that the Brewers had been talking with the Whitefish Bay native about returning, and said, "We might know something (today)."
The Brewers did not exercise Counsell's $3.4 million option for 2009, making him a free agent. He reportedly received only one other offer, from Seattle (former Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik is GM there now), but wanted to explore the possibility of staying at home.
Counsell, 38, appeared in 110 games last season, including 30 starts at third base. He batted .226 with one home run and 14 RBI, with a .355 on-base percentage.
The family business: Melvin's son, Cory, has joined the organization as a professional scout in Florida. Cory, 22, a recent Marquette University graduate who had helped in the club's scouting department in the past, will be relocating to Tampa next week.
"He's excited about it," the proud papa said. "He's been interested in doing this and it's a good opportunity for him."
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