Gallardo to miss 4 weeks after knee surgery

This was reported By Tom Haudricourt:

"

Phoenix -- Right-hander Yovani Gallardo indeed does have torn cartilage in his left knee and will return to Milwaukee tomorrow to have arthroscopic surgery.

Gallardo is expected to be sidelined four weeks, virtually guaranteeing he will open the season on the disabled list. That would leave just two weeks in camp, not sufficient time for the 22-year-old right-hander to get ready for the regular season.

The official diagnosis on Gallardo is a lateral meniscus (cartilage) tear in the knee.

Gallardo apparently suffered the injury during a throwing session a few days ago. He experienced swelling in the knee afterward, and was examined by team physician William Raasch today as pitchers and catchers took physicals at the outset of spring camp.

Raasch will perform the arthroscopic surgery on Gallardo's knee on Tuesday, and he will return the next day to do his rehab with the club.

Gallardo was expected to assume one of the top spots in the Brewers' starting rotation this season after going 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 20 outings (17) starts last year as a rookie. He was one of eight candidates for five spots in the rotation, so that number already has been reduced to seven before the first official workout Monday.

"That's why you've got to be careful (about having extra pitching)," said general manager Doug Melvin. "You never want to trade somebody and have one injury, and you're too short (of pitching)."

And it appears catcher Lou Palmisano is headed for a similar fate. Palmisano will undergo an MRI examination Monday to confirm a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee."

This is not a good start to spring training for the Brewers it would be nice to get Yovani in some spring training games before the season starts so we can see how much he improved from last year.

Hardy's deal is for $2.65 million

Reported By Tom Haudricourt

"J.J. Hardy and Doug Melvin won't have to go to Florida this weekend after all.

The Brewers and Hardy just agreed on a one-year deal that will avoid an arbitration hearing Monday in St. Petersburg. I haven't gotten details of the contract yet but last I heard the sides were just below the midpoint of figures filed, which was $2.725 million.

Hardy had filed a salary arbitration request of $3.05 million, with the Brewers offering $2.4 million. Negotiations had stalled somewhat in recent days and Melvin, the club GM, was preparing to go to Florida for the hearing.

Now, Melvin keeps his record intact of never going to an arbitration hearing as Brewers' GM. Hardy had been the last player in arbitration with the club.

Hardy, 25, batted .277 with 26 homers and 80 RBI in 151 games last year and made the National League all-star team.
Just learned the details of J.J. Hardy's new one-year deal with the Brewers. He signed for $2.65 million.

Hardy filed for $3.05 million and the Brewers originally offered $2.4 million, so the midpoint was $2.725 million. Hardy signed for $75,000 less than that figure but certainly got a nice raise from his $400,000 salary of a year ago.

The sides appeared at odds Thursday night but the Brewers sweetened their offer a bit today to avoid a hearing in Florida on Monday."

This is great for the Brewers to get this out of the way now J.J. Hardy can concentrate on baseball and not his contract Negotiations.

Weeks' brother boosts his stock

As Reported by Tom Haudricourt
This is a article that Milwaukee Journal Sentinals Tom Haudricourt wrote about Rickie Weeks younger brother:

"When Rickie Weeks went undrafted as a high school senior, he went to Southern University and blossomed into one of the top players in the country. The Brewers took the second baseman with the second pick in the 2003 draft, which showed just how much Weeks improved over those three years.

Apparently, Weeks' brother, Jemile, has experienced a similar boost in ability and status by going to college.

The Brewers drafted Jemile Weeks, who also is a second baseman, in the eighth round of the 2005 draft out of high school. But he had a scholarship to the University of Miami and decided that was the best course for his future, so the sides amically broke off negotiations.

In its latest issue, Baseball America ranks Jemile Weeks as the No. 17 college player in the country. The magazine also includes Weeks in its 2008 Pre-Season All-America Team. Accordingly, depending how his season goes with the Hurricanes, Weeks could emerge as a first-round pick in June.

This is what BA says about Jemile Weeks, who is in his junior season at Miami:

"Weeks isn't as physically talented as his older brother, but he's not lacking for tools. He has 70 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale and unlike Rickie, he's a quality defender who leaves no doubt that he can play second base. His bat isn't as dynamic as his brother's, but he projects as a leadoff hitter and has occasional pop."

As I noted in an earlier blog today, the Brewers have six of the first 62 picks in the June draft. Wouldn't it be interesting if they used one of those picks to re-draft Jemile Weeks?

Of course, his path to the big leagues at second base would be blocked by his brother, so the Brewers might decide not to select Jemile. But scouting director Jack Zduriencik's philosophy is to draft the best player remaining on his board, so you never know."

Too bad the Brewers could not sign Jemile Weeks when they drafted him maybe they will have another shot at him in next years draft.

The Brewers picked up Ned Yosts option for 2009

The Milwaukee Brewer's picked up Ned Yost option for 2009. This is what Doug Melvin had to say, He's not on the last year," said Melvin. "I don't think it's good practice having people on the last year of their contract, having them perform that way." "(Owner) Mark (Attanasio) is in agreement with that." I still think if Yost has the finish like he did last year he will still get the boot from Melvin. Melvin was just trying to take some of the pressure off of Yost in my opinion.

Brewers signed Dave Bush to a 1 year $2.55 million deal

The Milwaukee Brewers avoided salary arbitration with Dave Bush today and signed Bush to a 1 year $2.55 million deal. Bush was seeking $3 million so I think the Brewers got the better end of the deal. Bush was the second last player to be signed now the brewers’ shortstop J.J. Hardy is the only remaining Brewer that needs to be signed to avoid arbitration. Bush will still have to fight his way into the starting lineup this year in spring training with the Brewers being so deep with starting pitching this year that is why I think they got this deal done without going before the court.