Despite a disappointing 2009 season, the Brewers confirmed Sunday that they will bring manager Ken Macha back in 2010 with a team option for 2011. In fact, most of Macha's staff will be back, with only interim pitching coach Chris Bosio and bullpen coach Stan Kyles not being offered contracts. That's not the only news out of Milwaukee on the last day of the season. The Brewers are also apparently close to re-signing closer Trevor Hoffman, who pitched exceptionally well in his first season in Milwaukee, saving 37 games with a 1.70 ERA and a 4.27 K/BB ratio. He's 41, but the all-time saves leader certainly didn't pitch his age this year.
Bringing Macha back isn't surprising, even if he did find a way to work Corey Patterson into 10 games at the end of the season. The Brewers did fade in the second half, but there wasn't much for a manager to do with that pitching staff. And extending any player at Hoffman's age is going to be a risk, but the Brewers don't have a whole lot of choice, especially given how good Hoffman was for them late in games this year.
This is an incredibly important offseason for GM Doug Melvin because, as Ryan Braun pointed out, the window of opportunity for this group of players in Milwaukee is only so big. Melvin may be forced to trade Prince Fielder after 2010 due to salary concerns, and even with huge attendance numbers, Milwaukee's payroll can only grow so large. Bringing back Hoffman is a good start, but Melvin has much, much more work to do this winter.
