MLBTR has created a list of the more interesting non-tendered, newly minted free agents.  There are a few surprises on the list, like Jack Cust and Prince Fielder's favorite pinata, Matt Capps.  Capps is particularly interesting: before last season, his ERA/WHIP totals were 3.79/1.15, 2.28/1.01, and most recently, 3.02/0.97.

Suspiciously, none of the Brewers are very interesting, I guess, as they're not on the list.

And still no word on the fate of Dave Bush, Jody Gerut, et al.  I wonder if the front office is waiting to see who else is non-tendered --- what the free agent replacements might be if they non-tender their own players.  Jonny Gomes and Ryan Church have already been made available --- would they have any impact on the decision to keep Jody Gerut or Corey Hart?

Here's the list, per Adam McC:

That list is made up of starter Dave Bush ($4 million salary last season), relievers Todd Coffey ($800,002), Seth McClung ($1.6625 million) and Carlos Villanueva ($447,000), outfielders Jody Gerut ($1.775 million), Carlos Gomez ($437,500) and Corey Hart ($3.25 million) and catcher Mike Rivera ($415,000).

Call this your non-tender open thread.

NBC sports' offseason baseball blog is suggesting that the Brewers would be better served by not offering arbitration to Bush or Gerut, and spend the roughly $6.5 million you're saving on another pitcher. The argument is that Bush's poor season last year would probably keep him from making $4 million as a free agent, and that Gerut won't be used enough to warrant a $2 million investment by the Brewers.  In theory, those two could be signed for less, perhaps even by the Brewers.

It certainly would make sense to try to upgrade from Bush, even at the expense of a downgrade from Gerut.

Tom H. brings you two conversations with our new lefty:

• A conversation between Randy Wolf and Tom H. himself.  There's an interesting nugget about making adjustments after leaving pitcher-friendly San Diego to hitter-friendly Houston.
• An interview with Buck Martinez on Sirius, where the personal visit from Melvin in California helped seal the deal.  As Al would say (and has), I'm sure the money didn't hurt.  Still, when all suitors are offering crates and crates of cash, I wonder if the smaller gestures, like a $1000 plane ride, really do make a difference.  I think every time Melvin tries to sign someone, he should send them a case of Sprecher root beer to help grease the skids a little.  :)

A nice catch by the Rambling One, via MLBTR:

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweets that Escobar received a positive medical report today, and could either pitch winter league ball or just audition for suitors.  Crasnick names the Rays, Mariners, Brewers, and Orioles as potential suitors, in addition to the New York teams.

I hope that means that the Brewers have already expressed interest, and that it's not just Crasnick speculating.

I also hope the Brewers are kicking the tires on Boof Bonser, who I think would be likely to significantly outperform Suppan at a tenth of the cost.

Foxsports.com (via MLBTR)

The Rockies are reconsidering keeping Spilborghs, who is a first-time arbitration eligible player, but also have made inquiries on Milwaukee outfielder Corey Hart as an option of they do trade Spilborghs.

Per MLBTR:

• Jon Heyman tweets that we are meeting with Mark Mulder's people today.
• Boston.com's Amalie Benjamin tweets that we are meeting with minor league knuckleballer Charlie Zink.  

There's a lot to like about the Charlie Zink rumor.  For one...the fact that his name is Charlie Zink is awesome.  The fact that Ms. Benjamin has an "in" with Charlie Zink's agent is equally awesome.  That Charlie Zink is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design is awesome.  Plus, Amalie Benjamin is hot, which, well, is awesome.

This I vow: if we sign him, I will purchase a game-worn Charlie Zink jersey, no matter the cost.

Via MLBTR, New York Post write Joel Sherman has this nugget to tweet about:

Will put up links in morning, but learned #Mets talking to #Brewers about Maine-Corey Hart swap.

Maine's stats are here. He looks like a poor man's Rich Harden, both in terms of ability and injury frequency (Rick Peterson, please pick up the white courtesy phone). His ERA has been moving north in each of the past 4 years, but his WHIP is still well below the usual 1.4+ that Brewers starters usually put up, so that makes me happy.  If moving Hart means we have room for Gamel and McGehee in the lineup, that wouldn't be so bad (though I imagine we would also look at other right fielders like Catalanatto).  More to the point, if Peterson can keep Maine's arm attached to the rest of him, Maine could be a great addition to a staff that's a little short on talent.

Tom H. has more here.

Want something else to do?  Head on over to the Brewers MLB.com site and check out the video that starts playing once you get there.

It's a little dated, as it's a month old, but still, there's something in the video that should leap out the throttle the alert viewer.