From Brian McTaggart, we get this report from the Brewers' version of Brian McTaggart:
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin will meet Wednesday with Barry Meister, the agent for free agent shortstop Clint Barmes. The Brewers showed some interest in Barmes before last July’s nonwaiver trade deadline, but never progressed because of a well-timed hot streak by incumbent Yuniesky Betancourt and indications from the Astros they were not inclined to move Barmes.
That's true. Jerry Crasnick mentioned via Twitter that the Brewers were interested in Barmes on July 20, something followed up on by ESPN's Rumor Central on July 26. But on the evening of July 29 (the day the Astros traded Pence), McTaggart said the Astros were telling people Barmes was unavailable.
Typical Astros, keep a guy who could have brought a prospect or two, only to see him walk in the off-season with no compensation coming back. Now let's see the Astros sign him to a 9-year, $63 million deal. And trade him for a bag of balls next July.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
