Flexibility, more than anything, is defining the Milwaukee Brewers' offseason.

The team has been minimally active on the free agent and trade markets since completing its 2008 season with a four-game loss to Philadelphia in the National League Division Series.

And for the most part, it's been by design.

General Manager Doug Melvin and principal owner Mark Attanasio addressed the team's status as it prepares to report to Arizona for Spring Training next month during a media session Thursday at Miller Park.

Milwaukee had a payroll last season in the mid-$80 million range, and that number went up into the $90 million range with the late-season acquisitions of CC Sabathia and Ray Durham.

Attanasio and Melvin set a similar payroll budget for this season, and despite wiping Ben Sheets, Sabathia, Durham, Eric Gagne and others from the books, have already reached that threshold heading into the 2009 season, thanks to raises given to players already on the roster.

Signing Prince Fielder to a two-year deal last week ate up a chunk of that money and the Brewers still have two arbitration-eligible players in Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart, both of whom stand to see significant increases in their salaries.

Mike Cameron, Bill Hall and Jeff Suppan will see their salaries jump this season and adding Trevor Hoffman took another $6 million out of play, putting the Brewers right around $80 million heading into Spring Training.

"We're right about there," Attanasio said.

The owner, fully aware of the three million fans that paid to see his team last season, understands the responsibility the franchise has to its paying customers. There's a fine line between returning the fans' investment and being financially responsible, especially in a time of economic uncertainty.

"The problem is, if we add a starter now and get up in the mid-to-high 80s in payroll, if you have some negative events, you wouldn't then have flexibility," Attanasio said.

That doesn't mean Melvin is done tooling. Melvin and Attanasio are quick to explain that there is flexibility built into the budget for the Brewers to go out and make an acquisition, should it be financially prudent; much like they did last year in acquiring Sabathia.

"What we're dealing with is a question of is, do we want to go out and go after someone now and take away the flexibility we could have during the course of the year?" Melvin said. "Last year, we kept our flexibility, and everybody knows what that allowed us to do."

Fielder's happy: Prince Fiedler was publicly upset last spring when the Brewers, who had tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a multi-year deal, renewed the young slugger at $670,000.

At the time, he told reporters his "time will come."

His time came last week, but in a surprising way, as he signed a two-year, $20 million contract that avoided arbitration. Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, is a notorious hard-line negotiator, which made a deal seem unlikely.

That wasn't the case, according to Melvin, who said it took just a few phone calls to get the deal done.

"When that happens, it's obvious that both parties feel it's in the best interest of both sides," Melvin said.

Fielder will receive a 10-fold increase from last year's salary and bring in more than $11 million next year. He'll still have one year of arbitration left before hitting the free agent market.

The Brewers benefit from the obvious cost certainty and are protected in the event that Fielder explodes for another 50-home run season that would certainly break the bank in an arbitration hearing next winter.

Rotation set: With Spring Training quickly approaching, Melvin plans to keep an open ear to possible deals. The team is still looking for some depth on the pitching staff, but Milwaukee is hardly unique in that regard.

"Everybody's looking for pitching," Melvin said.

Former Brewers Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse have yet to sign as free agents elsewhere, but Melvin said that it's unlikely either will be back in Milwaukee next season. Sheets, it's been reported, has been in discussions with the Texas Rangers. The injury-plagued right-hander lives near Dallas and, should he sign with the Rangers, would be reunited with former Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux.

Shouse, meanwhile, has been searching for two-year deal.

"I wouldn't close the door on anything," Melvin said. "But I'm not currently engaged in discussions with either of them."

Macha meets players: New manager Ken Macha is looking forward to getting to work. He spent most of Thursday in meetings with Melvin and the scouting and coaching staffs and came away impressed with the Brewers' operation.

"They gave me a laptop with all kinds of video on it," Macha said. "They're sending it home with me and I'll have a lot to do before spring."

Gallardo could pitch in WBC: Melvin wasn't ready to fully endorse right-hander Yovani Gallardo's desire to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic later this spring.

The 22-year-old is expected to assume the "ace" role vacated by Sheets though missing almost all of last season with a torn ACL. The Brewers, understandably, are cautious with their young prospect.

"You can encourage them not to play," Melvin said. "But we don't discourage any player from playing."

A number of Brewers could see action in the classic, including catcher Vinny Rottino and right-hander Mark DiFelice, who are hoping to play for Italy. Last year's first-round draft choice Brett Lawrie and newly-acquired lefty R.J. Swindle are on the preliminary roster for Team Canada and Jorge Julio, also signed over the winter, is slated to pitch for Venezuela.

Counsell back: The Brewers will announce a deal with IF Craig Counsell later this week. The team didn't pick up his option after last season ($3.4 million) but reached agreement on a $1 million deal.