--RHP Seth McClung, who shuttled back and forth between the rotation and bullpen in 2008, was a candidate to fill the closer's role until the Brewers signed all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman. Now, McClung is targeted for a starting staff that also should include RHP Yovani Gallardo, LHP Manny Parra, RHP Jeff Suppan and RHP Dave Bush.
--RHP Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee's newly signed closer, is a flyball pitcher coming to a hitter-friendly ballpark. However, he often restricts homers to bases-empty blasts because he allows few baserunners. The Brewers were encouraged by his 1.59 ERA in 18 second-half appearances in 2008 and the fact that he converted 19 of his last 20 save opportunities. He was seldom used down the stretch because the Padres had few late-inning leads and wanted to look at younger pitchers. --1B Randall Simon, who played last year in Mexico, is one of the former major-leaguers invited to an open tryout by the Brewers in Arizona during the week of Jan. 12-18. Simon last played in the majors for Philadelphia in 2006.
--RHP Chad Cordero, the former closer for the Nationals, has staged throwing sessions in California for interested teams, including the Brewers. Cordero, 26, had major shoulder surgery last July and subsequently was let go by the Nationals. He is not expected to be ready to pitch in the majors at the start of the season, but the Brewers have interest in signing him to a minor league contract.
--CF Mike Cameron, who played with RHP Trevor Hoffman for two seasons in San Diego, helped recruit him to Milwaukee by telling him how much he enjoyed his first season with the Brewers. "I told him, 'Trevor, to be honest with you, it's one of the best-run organizations I've ever played in,'" Cameron said.
--C Jonathan Lucroy, C Martin Maldonado and C Carlos Corporan, all players in the Brewers' farm system, were invited to big-league spring training as non-roster invitees. Lucroy is considered one of the top prospects in the organization.
BY THE NUMBERS: .892 -- Career conversion rate of saves (554-for-621) for all-time leader Trevor Hoffman, the best in major league history.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Some people might not think so, but chemistry is important, and they've put together a group there that's tight-knit." -- RHP Trevor Hoffman, after signing a free agent deal with the Brewers.
