LAS VEGAS -- Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed his club's interest in free-agent left-hander Randy Johnson on Wednesday, but the feeling may not be mutual.

Melvin said one of Johnson's agents, Barry Meister, told him the Brewers fit four of Johnson's five criteria. But Milwaukee is not on the West Coast -- unless you count Lake Michigan, Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash joked -- and Johnson, who was born in Walnut Creek, Calif., and starred at the University of Southern California, is looking for a job closer to home.

The Brewers, facing the certain departure of CC Sabathia and the likely departure of Ben Sheets, plan to keep lines of communication with the Big Unit open.

"You stay in until you're told you're not in it," Melvin said. "We haven't made any offers. They haven't asked us to make an offer yet."

Johnson, a 21-year veteran, rebounded from back problems to go 11-10 for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 with a 3.91 ERA in 184 innings and 30 starts. He is five wins shy of 300 for his career.