Sorry to get a late start on this today, but here are your links.

• Tom Haudricourt asks if the players' union would pressure CC Sabathia into signing a more lucrative contract with the New York Yankees, over Milwaukee -- which seems to be high on his list.  I fully understand how the union wishes to set precedent with CC's deal to serve as a benchmark for later big-name and big-time pitchers reaching free agency in the coming years.  CC, however, has earned the right to determine his own future, and I believe the players' union will respect that.  This may simply be idealistic and a big naive, but the more I read and the more I think about it, the players' union will likely stay away from pressuring CC.
• Speaking of CC Sabathia, the big left-hander came in 6th place in the MVP voting.  Albert Pujols ran away with the hardware, as he should have.  Milwaukee's Ryan Braun checks in at number three, even though TH voted for Prince Fielder before Braun.  TH then delves into how the voting is an inexact science.  I feel he should mention that beat writers vote for their own team more often than others.  Just saying.
• Adam McCalvy has a mailbag up.  He discounts the rumors that Ben Sheets will be coming back to Milwaukee in the closer's role (duh).  McCalvy also weighs in on the third base conundrum.  It seems that Doug Melvin is rather open to starting Mat Gamel at the hot corner if nothing else becomes available.  With the season-ending elbow injury, however, that seems quite unlikely.  The injury hinders Gamel's presumed defensive improvement he would undergo over the winter.  I ultimately believe the Brewers will be looking elsewhere for a third baseman.
  
• MLB Trade Rumors has a complete history of Doug Melvin's trades.  It is quite interesting to look at.  One quick thing jumps out in my mind.  After analyzing the spreadsheet, not too many impact players came from trades DM made.  The Milwaukee Brewers clearly have been built through free agency and, more importantly, the farm system.
• Kerry Wood will almost certainly not be coming to Milwaukee.  At least, that is what Adam McCalvy believes in his latest blog.  Reading the first comment, fans are so worried about buying free agents when there are plenty of good options internally.  Seth McClung or Carlos Villanueva can certainly handle the ninth inning, while pitchers like Tim Dillard, Mark DiFelice, and Mitch Stetter deserve a shot at the big league squad.  Even right-hander Joe Bateman could be contributing as early as next season in the ROOGY role.
• FanGraphs takes a look at Corey Hart and his dramatic fall over the second half of last season.  There is a lot of great information in the article, and the statistics confirm what we all have known for quite a while.  Corey Hart is a hacker at the plate.  His first-pitch strike percentage at the plate is alarmingly high (over 60%), and he has begun to swing at more pitches off the plate.  It is also extremely interesting to note that Corey did not see too many fastballs at the plate.  The young right-fielder saw the sixth-fewest heaters in the entire league, while seeing way, way more sliders than almost everyone.  I guess opposing pitchers also understood that Corey was going to swing no matter what if given a slider.
• Aaron Gleeman profiles some of the mid-priced relievers on the market this winter.  Will Ohman and even Eric Gagne promise to get a lot of attention over the next few months.  Be sure to read up on Gagne.  He quietly put together a pretty good second half that will land him pretty good money next season.
• The main site profiles Lorenzo Cain and his fantastic Arizona Fall League over the last couple months.  It will be extremely interesting to see how Cain handles the hype next season.  Will he fold under the intense light the Brewers organization and fans will shine upon him, or will he rise to the challenge and become a top-eschelon prospect who can take over center field in 2010?  I have not completely made up my mind on this question as of yet, but his patience will have to improve quite a bit for the latter to become true.
• Hot-Prospects.net takes a look at Brent Brewer and his surprisingly solid stint in the AFL in November.  While the site believes Brent will remain in Class-A+ next season, I would not be surprised to see Brent jump to Huntsville in 2009.  It would get the young man out of the offensive Hell that is the FSL, while giving him the opportunity to show his improvement at a higher level.  Whatever the case may be, Brent has some serious issues to work out defensively.  Do not forget that. (h/t Brew Crew Ball)
  
• In a surprising move today, the San Francisco Giants signed Jeremy Affeldt to a two-year deal worth only $8MM.  This busts my bubble a little, as I thought the Brewers would make a run at Affeldt.  DM could have enticed him with the prospects of a closer's job, while not having to shell out too big of a contract.  Great signing for the Giants.  Too bad it will not matter much unless they can sign some offensive help.
  
• This should particularly interest one reader in particular, but Joe Beimel is being courted by the Giants.  It seems that SF is sincerely attempting to improve a horrendous bullpen from last season.  It is not too difficult to see that Affeldt and Beimel would be a good start.