Brewers Spring Training News: Team gets first look at new rotation

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PPHOENIX - The Milwaukee Brewers are getting their first look today at the team’s new starting rotation. Pitchers-and-catchers are holding their first official workout at spring training in Phoenix. And the Brewers’ two top off-season acquisitions are at the front of their rotation – Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum.

Greinke won the American League Cy Young award with Kansas City in 2009, and he understands the high expectations Brewer fans have for this season. The 27-year-old Greinke says his goal will be to pitch as good as he can every time out – and even if he gets beat, he’ll know he did everything he could. He went 10-14 a year ago. But that was on a Royals’ team that lost 95 games, and Greinke says other pitchers with similar numbers were perceived as having good years. He had an ERA of 4.17 in 33 starts in 2010.

Marcum went 8-5 with Toronto a year ago, after being out for the entire 2009 season following Tommy John elbow surgery. The 29-year-old Marcum says he looks forward to the chance of pitching deep into the October playoffs – something he’s never done in his career. Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf, and Chris Narveson will round out the Brewers’ rotation.

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Milwaukee Brewers’ general manager Doug Melvin says he’s made no effort to acquire infielder Michael Young. The Texas Rangers are attempting to trade the shortstop-and-third baseman, and some bloggers say Young might be an improvement over Yuniesky Betancourt. The Brewers acquired Betancourt from Kansas City in the trade that brought starter Zack Greinke to Milwaukee. And for now, at least, Betancourt is Milwaukee’s number-one shortstop. Melvin says the Brewers might have to give up some pitching to get Young, and he doesn’t want to do that. He denied rumors that the Brewers would consider trading starter Randy Wolf for Young. Also, Melvin tells the Journal Sentinel that the Brewers would not be able to afford the 48-million dollars that remain on Young’s contract – even if Texas pays for some of that.

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