The Brewers declined their $6.5MM mutual option on pitcher Braden Looper, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. They'll instead pay a $1MM buyout. Looper posted a 5.22 ERA in 194.6 innings this year; the same kind of financial commitment can probably snag the Brewers someone better. Looper is a Type B free agent, but an arbitration offer is highly unlikely.
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said he'd still consider Looper but wanted to gain flexibility.
