Brewers ink three players

02/24/2006
PHOENIX -- The Brewers did some last-minute roster maintenance on Friday, a day before the team's first full-squad workout.
In a spate of moves:
• Veteran infielder Brian Dallimore, who signed a Minor League contract with the Brewers over the winter, announced his retirement.
• The team signed former first-round draft pick Jason Romano, a speedy outfielder who could add depth at Triple-A Nashville.
• Left-hander Chris Capuano and right-hander Mike Adams, players already under the Brewers' control, agreed to terms on 2006 contracts.
Dallimore, 32, played 27 games with the Giants over the past two seasons and likely would have headed to Nashville. He batted better than .300 in four of his last five Minor League seasons but made only brief appearances in the Major Leagues.
"We got a letter from him today saying he got a business opportunity that he couldn't pass up," Brewers manager Doug Melvin said. "He saw that it was going to be difficult to make our club, and I think he just tired of being a Triple-A player."
Dallimore is good friends with former Brewers first baseman and former Arizona farmhand Lyle Overbay, who helped convince Dallimore to take a chance with the Brewers.
But Overbay was traded to Toronto during the Winter Meetings, and in a separate trade several weeks later the Brewers acquired third baseman Corey Koskie, further hurting Dallimore's chances to win a roster spot.
"He's a smart guy," Melvin said. "It's not entirely surprising."
Romano, 26, was a first-round draft pick of the Rangers in 1997, when Melvin was that team's GM. He has played 129 Major League games over four seasons with the Rangers, Rockies, Devil Rays and Reds, and batted .267 in 30 games with Cincinnati last season.
Melvin called Romano a great athlete with speed who plays center field but can also play second base. Melvin said Romano's presence will "challenge" another former first-round pick, Dave Krynzel, who suffered a broken collarbone in an offseason motorcycle accident but did not immediately alert the organization. Krynzel later required surgery and is not expected to resume baseball activities until mid-March.
Capuano, 27, is coming off a career year in which he posted career-bests in wins (18), ERA (3.99), starts (35), innings (219) and strikeouts (176). His 18 wins were fourth in the National League and his 176 strikeouts ranked fourth among NL left-handed pitchers. Capuano also led the Majors with 12 pickoffs.
Adams, also 27, began the 2005 season with Milwaukee but was demoted to Triple-A Nashville in May.
Infielder Bill Hall remains the only member of Milwaukee's 40-man roster not under contract for 2006. Hall is entering his final season before salary arbitration, and the Brewers have talked with his representatives about a multi-year deal.
"We're getting to the point where we have to make a decision one way or another," said Melvin, who hopes to have the matter resolved before the Brewers begin Cactus League play next week.

Source: http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/