- LHP Chris Capuano - Capuano, who has missed the majority of the past two seasons following "Tommy John" surgery on his pitching elbow in May 2008, has re-signed with the Brewers organization to a minor-league deal for 2010 that includes an invitation to Major League spring training. The 31-year-old southpaw carries a 42-48 record and 4.39 ERA in 124 career Major League games over five ML seasons (Arizona in 2003, Milwaukee from 2004-07). Capuano spent most of 2009 on the disabled list before posting a combined 0-0 record and 3.00 ERA (3er/9.0ip) in six late-season appearances between the Arizona League Brewers and rookie-level Helena.
- INF Luis Cruz - Cruz, 25, was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates in early December. He appeared in 27 games during two stints for Pittsburgh last season, batting .214 (15-for-70) with two RBIs as a shortstop and a second baseman. Making his first career Opening Day roster, he started 18 games, including 14 starts at shortstop and four at second base. Cruz was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 4/17, and returned to Pittsburgh on 7/10, where he finished the season. He hit .253 (58-for-229) with three home runs, 15 doubles, and 23 RBIs in 66 games while appearing at every defensive position except catcher at Indianapolis. The Navojoa, Mexico native participated in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico in 2006 and was rated by Baseball America as the best defensive infielder in San Diego's minor league system prior to the 2007 season.
- RHP Marco Estrada - The 26-year-old Estrada -- who was claimed off waivers by the Brewers from the Washington Nationals on February 3rd -- spent most of the 2009 season at Class AAA Syracuse, where he went 9-5 with a 3.63 ERA in 27 games (25 starts). In 136 innings, he allowed 133 hits and 33 walks with 98 strikeouts. A sixth-round draft pick in 2005 by the Nats, the right-hander made four appearances (one start) last season in the majors, going 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA. In 15 games with Washington (one start), he is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. Estrada, who was coached last season by new Sounds pitching coach Rich Gale, has two Minor League options remaining.
- LHP John Halama - The veteran left-hander agreed to a minor league contract in late November that includes an invitation to Major League spring training. At 38 years old, the southpaw will attempt to return to the majors for the first time since 2006. Halama began last season in the independent Atlantic League and was 8-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 69 innings, before being signed by the Atlanta Braves. At Triple-A Gwinnett, Halama was 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 13 starts and three relief appearances. He had a 3.69 ERA in his starts. In nine Major League seasons, he carries a 56-48 record and 4.65 ERA in 262 games (119 starts) for Houston, Seattle, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Boston, Washington, and Baltimore. Halama possesses Pacific Coast League significance as one of only three pitchers in the circuit's 100+ year history to toss a nine-inning perfect game (for Tacoma in 2001); the other two PCL perfect games were authored by Sounds (John Wasdin in 2003, Manny Parra in 2006).
- OF Norris Hopper - Hopper, who batted .321 in 121 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, was signed in January as a minor league free agent. The 12-year veteran, who will turn 31 in March, split last season among three clubs in the Triple-A International League, hitting a combined .281 (115-for-409) with 30 RBIs, adding 23 stolen bases in 31 attempts in 106 games with Louisville (AAA-Reds), Charlotte (AAA-White Sox), and Syracuse (AAA-Nationals). He underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow in July 2008. Hopper has posted a career .316 average in 168 ML games with the Reds from 2006-08 and carries a .289 mark over 1,002 minor league contests since 1998, when he was drafted in the 8th round by the Kansas City Royals.
- INF/OF Joe Inglett - Inglett, 31, was claimed off waivers by the Brewers from the Texas Rangers on January 27. He batted .281 with six RBIs in 36 games with Toronto last season. He made 23 starts (12g in LF, 9g in RF, 2g at 2B) during three stints with the Blue Jays. Inglett also appeared in 40 games at Triple-A Las Vegas in the PCL, batting .360 with three HRs and 25 RBIs. He is a versatile player who has seen most of his action at second base but also can play the outfield corners as well as third base and shortstop. He runs well. Inglett owns a career MLB batting average of .293 with five home runs and 68 RBIs in 211 games during parts of four seasons with Cleveland (2006) and Toronto (2007-09). Inglett was previously claimed off waivers this off-season by Texas from Toronto on December 4.
- C George Kottaras - The 26-year-old backstop was claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox in mid-November. Kottaras was Boston's backup catcher in 2009 and batted .237 (22-for-93) with one home run and 10 RBIs in 45 games, while also logging a 10-game stint at Triple-A Pawtucket. He spent the majority of the previous two seasons with Pawtucket, where he batted .243 and belted 22 home runs in 103 games in 2008. The Ontario, Canada native originally signed with the Padres in 2003 after being a draft-and-follow selection the previous June and was rated by Baseball America as San Diego's 2nd-best prospect prior to the 2006 season.
- RHP Kameron Loe - Loe , 28, was signed to a minor league contract in December. The right-hander spent his entire professional career in the Texas Rangers organization prior to last season, where he owns a career Major League record of 19-23 with a 4.77 ERA in 107 games (47 starts) with the Rangers from 2004-08. The 2004 Nolan Ryan Minor League Pitcher of the Year, he has a career 29-25 record and a 3.64 ERA (193er/477ip) in the minor leagues. The 6-foot-7 Loe pitched last season in the Japanese Pacific League with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.
- INF Anderson Machado - The 29-year-old switch-hitting utilityman has appeared at every position except catcher and pitcher throughout his 12-year professional career since he was signed by the Phillies in 1998. Last season, Machado split time between the Pirates and Cubs minor league systems, combining to hit .181 (27-for-149) in 56 games among three clubs, including Iowa in the PCL. He carries a lifetime .224 average in 1163 minor league contests over a career that has spanned the Phillies, Reds, Rockies, Mets, Pirates, and Cubs organizations. Machado has previously appeared in the PCL for Iowa, New Orleans, and Colorado Springs.
- LHP A.J. Murray - Murray, 27, was signed to a minor league contract in December, after pitching in the Rangers organization since 2001. The left-hander went a combined 4-2 with a 2.87 ERA (19er/59.2ip) with 39 strikeouts and one save in 41 relief appearances between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season. Murray has made 16 Major League appearances for the Rangers during five stints between 2007 and 2008, going 2-2 with a 4.29 ERA (17er/35.2ip) and 23 strikeouts in 16 games (four starts).
- OF Trent Oeltjen - Oeltjen, 26, is a speedy outfielder who will attend Brewers spring training as a non-roster player. He batted .243 (17-for-70) with three home runs and four RBIs in 24 games with Arizona last season as he made his Major League debut. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Reno and enjoyed a stellar campaign, hitting .303 (134-for-442) and legging out a league-best 14 triples, while adding 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases in 30 attempts in his 114 games for the Aces. Oeltjen played for Australia in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, batting .500 (6-for-12) with one RBI in three games. Originally signed by the Twins in 2001 as an undrafted free agent, Oeltjen carries a career .293 average in 880 minor league contests during his nine-year pro career.
- LHP Scott Schoeneweis - Schoeneweis, 36, was signed in mid-February and will attend Brewers Spring Training as a non-roster player. The 11-year Major League veteran has a lifetime record of 46-57 with a 4.97 ERA in 562 appearances (93 starts) while pitching for Anaheim (1999-2003), Chicago-AL (2003-04), Toronto (2005-06), Cincinnati (2006), New York-NL (2007-08) and Arizona (2009). He went 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA (19er/24.0ip) with 14 strikeouts in 45 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks last season. A member of the 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels, the left-hander previously appeared in the PCL for the Vancouver Canadians and Edmonton Trappers.
- C Matt Treanor - Treanor, 33, will attend Brewers spring training as a non-roster player. He was limited to four games with Detroit last season due to a right hip injury. He spent most of the previous five seasons (2004-08) with Florida. In 278 career Major League games, he is a .232 hitter with eight homers and 70 RBIs. Treanor will be thrown into the mix to back up Brewers starter Gregg Zaun. Originally drafted by Kansas City in the 4th round of 1994, the backstop carries a .245 average in 916 minor league games over 16 pro seasons in the Royals, Marlins, and Tigers systems. He last appeared at the Triple-A level with Albuquerque in 2004 and is married to Olympic volleyball champ Misty May-Treanor.
- LHP Chris Waters - Waters, 29, was signed as a minor league free agent after going 4-5 with a 5.07 ERA in 16 games (12 starts) in parts of two seasons with Baltimore. Last season, he appeared in five MLB games (one start), going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA. The southpaw spent most of the 2009 season with Class AAA Norfolk, going 9-7 with a 4.49 ERA in 29 games (20 starts). In 114 1/3 innings, he allowed 114 hits and 47 walks with 71 strikeouts. Waters pitched in the Mexican Winter League this off-season, going 3-1 with a 3.98 ERA in seven starts with Culiacan. Originally selected by Atlanta in the 5th round of the 2000 draft, Waters carries a 67-67 record and 4.10 career ERA in 214 minor league contests over 10 pro seasons.
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