Braden Looper has the Brewers' lone 2010 option. It's a $6MM mutual option, plus performance bonuses. There's a $750K buyout if the club declines. Looper has done about as expected this year, with a 4.47 ERA in 50.3 innings. I can see the Brewers going either way on this one, but I lean toward a decline.
Notable free agents after 2009: Mike Cameron, Trevor Hoffman, and Jason Kendall. The team also has important arbitration cases in J.J. Hardy, Dave Bush, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, Jody Gerut, Seth McClung, Todd Coffey, and Carlos Villanueva. Deft payroll management on Doug Melvin's part will be required, and it wouldn't be surprising to see a few offseason trades.
