More Offers, Including One from Giants, Expected for CC Sabathia

Minor leaguers added: The Brewers added four minor-league pitchers to their 40-man roster to protect them from being taken in the Rule 5 draft next month.

The pitchers added were all right-handers - Omar Aguilar, Alex Periard, Mark Rogers and Cody Scarpetta . With those additions, the Brewers have 35 players on their 40-man roster.

Rogers, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2004, missed the last two seasons after undergoing a pair of shoulder surgeries. But the Brewers still hope Rogers, 22, will recover, so they protected him.

"All reports after the second surgery are favorable," said assistant general manager Gord Ash . "It's a gamble (to protect him), but it's a smart gamble."

Aguilar, 23, is a rising late-inning reliever. He had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless outings in the Arizona Fall League before finally giving up a pair of runs yesterday.

Periard, 21, has been getting roughed up in the AFL but is considered one of the Brewers' better pitching prospects. He was 9-6 with a 3.51 ERA in 19 games at Class A Brevard County and 2-4 with a 5.68 ERA in eight games at Class AA Huntsville.

Scarpetta, 20, an 11th-round pick in 2007, normally wouldn't have to be protected so soon. But, after signing, his contract was voided because of a pre-existing finger injury.

By signing Scarpetta to a different contract, he became eligible for the Rule 5 draft and the Brewers don't want to lose him.

Melvin honored: Melvin has been named the recipient of the Andrew "Rube" Foster Award as the NL Executive of the Year by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Angels' Tony Reagins was honored in the AL.

Melvin will receive the award on Jan. 10 at the ninth annual Legacy Awards at the Gem Theater in Kansas City.

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(c) 2008, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.