Elias Free Agency Classifications

CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets qualified as Type A free agents while Mike Cameron, Eric Gagne, Brian Shouse, and Salomon Torres qualified as Type B free agents. Type A free agents mean that the Brewers will receive a draft pick from the signing team (second half of the first round or first half of the second round) and a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of the draft. Type B free agents mean the Brewers will receive a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of the draft, but no pick from the signing team.

In order to get the compensation picks, the Brewers have to offer arbitration to the free agents and the free agents have to sign before December 1st. As such, it's highly unlikely the Brewers will receive any compensation for Eric Gagne. Also, it is likely the Brewers will pick up a team option on Salomon Torres and might on Mike Cameron as well. However, expect the Brewers to offer arbitration to CC, Sheets, and Shouse.

Brewers Coaching Staff Comes Into Focus

In the last week, the Brewers named Ken Macha manager and announced Dale Sveum would be the hitting coach in 2009. Add them to First Base Coach Ed Sedar and Bullpen Coach Bill Castro who will return to the same roles they had in 2008. The Brewers third base coach, bench coach, and pitching coach are still up in the air. Currently, an offer is out to Mike Maddux who is deciding whether or not to return as the pitching coach.

Manager Ken Macha brings a fresh perspective to a team that has limped to the finish the last two seasons. He looks to fill the remaining roles with quality candidates with fresh perspectives. Also, Dale Sveum's move from Third Base Coach/Manager to Hitting Coach is an important change for the Brewers. Last season, the Brewers were plagued by a poor team OBP and were very reliant on the longball. We'll see whether or not the Brewers will make more contact and draw more walks.