The Brewers at the Winter Meetings

What will the Brewers do next week? Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

When the Winter Meetings begin on Monday, many fans will wonder what Milwaukee Brewers’ general manager Doug Melvin has planned. Of course, it’s a been a slow offseason for the Brew Crew, but perhaps things could change in the coming week.

A couple days ago, Melvin made his intentions clear that the Brewers were going to try and make a deal with a first baseman. Whether or not that first baseman is Corey Hart remains to be seen, though there aren’t many other options out there.

"“Obviously, first base is the one area of focus,” Melvin said. “We talked about a maybe a bullpen piece or so. But we’re still always open to [other ideas].” – via Brewers.com"

First base will remain to be the team’s top priority for now, but Melvin indicated that the club is open to continue trading players. Norichika Aoki was traded yesterday to the Kansas City Royals for left-handed reliever Will Smith, so that’s one move completed by Melvin. Khris Davis will taking over a starting role in either left or right field.

The bullpen is also another area that the Brewers could be looking to add on to. With the departures of Mike Gonzalez and Burke Badenhop, the team will need a couple more arms in the bullpen. With the addition of Smith, he and Tom Gorzelanny now make up the only two left-handed pitchers on the 25-man roster. That said, Smith could now be that bullpen piece the Brewers needed, but with his starting potential, they should continue to look for at least one more reliever.

Honestly, I don’t expect the Brewers to do very much, if anything, at the Winter Meetings next week. Perhaps they may work out something with Hart and maybe add another bullpen piece, but that will probably be it for now. The Brewers don’t exactly have the budget to splurge on free-agents, but they should keep some in mind.

Let us know in the comments below what you would like to see the Brewers do next week.

With all the moves that have happened this week, here are some points of interest from around the league:

• Baltimore Orioles traded for second baseman Jemile Weeks from Oakland.
• Boston Red Sox signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski (1yr/$8.25MM) and reliever Edward Mujica (2yrs/$9.5MM).
• Chicago Cubs signed reliever Wesley Wright to a one-year deal for $1.425MM.
• Chicago White Sox re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko (1yr/$2.5MM) and signed reliever Ronald Belisario (1yr/$3MM).
• Cincinnati Reds re-signed reliever Manny Parra for two years and $5.5MM.
• Colorado Rockies signed first baseman Justin Morneau for two years and $13MM.
• Detroit Tigers signed closer Joe Nathan to a two-year deal for $20MM.
• Houston Astros traded for outfielder Dexter Fowler and send Jordan Lyles and Brandon Barnes to Colorado.
• Los Angeles Angels signed reliever Joe Smith to a three-year deal for $15.75MM.
• Los Angeles Dodgers signed starting pitcher Dan Haren for (1yr/$10MM) and re-signed reliever Brian Wilson (1yr/$10MM).
• Miami Marlins signed catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3yrs/$21MM) and shortstop Rafael Furcal (1yr/$3MM).
• Minnesota Twins signed starting pitchers Ricky Nolasco (4yrs/$49MM) and Phil Hughes (3yrs/$24MM).
• New York Yankees signed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (7yrs/$156MM) and INF Kelly Johnson (1yr/$3MM).
• Oakland Athletics traded for closer Jim Johnson, outfielder Craig Gentry, relivers Josh Lindblom and Luke Gregerson and signed starting pitcher Scott Kazmir
• San Diego Padres traded for outfielder Seth Smith from Oakland.
• San Francisco Giants re-signed starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong for one-year, $5MM.
• Seattle Mariners signed infielder Willie Bloomquist for a two-year deal worth $5.8MM.
• St. Louis Cardinals signed shortstop Jhonny Peralta to a four-year deal worth $52MM.
• Tampa Bay Rays traded for catcher Ryan Hanigan and reliever Heath Bell.
• Toronto Blue Jays signed catcher Dioner Navarro for two-years and $8MM.
• Washington Nationals traded INF Steve Lombardozzi and pitchers Robbie Ray and Ian Krol to Detroit for starting pitcher Doug Fister.