MILWAUKEE -- Here's our New Year's resolution: Don't use the "R" word around Brewers general manager Doug Melvin.

"We're not rebuilding," an emphatic Melvin told reporters at the Winter Meetings. "We just lost some guys in free agency."

But that may be putting it mildly. The Brewers lost their best two starters in CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, though Sheets remains a free agent. They also have already lost or are at risk of losing four relievers key to the team's 2008 playoff push: free agents Eric Gagne, Guillermo Mota and Brian Shouse, plus closer Salomon Torres, who retired.

So if Melvin & Co. are not rebuilding, they certainly are restocking.

The good news is that the team entered the new year with its offense relatively intact. That means new manager Ken Macha will oversee a power-packed lineup capable of overcoming some pitching deficiencies, but also very prone to strikeouts and slumps.

"It's documented," said Dale Sveum, who finished last season as Milwaukee's interim manager and will return in a new role as hitting coach. "I'm not going to sit here and lie to you that we put hits together and walk and do all that stuff. We obviously hope we hit a home run or two, because we have a lot better chance of winning when we do. That's something that needs to be changed, but that's the fact of our team."

It's also a fact that the Brewers are very right-handed. First baseman Prince Fielder is the only left-handed hitter in the everyday lineup, though the current plan is to play Mike Lamb and perhaps top prospect Mat Gamel at third base against tough right-handed pitchers.

Melvin was close to adding some balance at the Winter Meetings, but a proposed trade that would have sent Mike Cameron to the Yankees for switch-hitter Melky Cabrera fell apart. Melvin said he intends to have Cameron back in center field in 2009 as part of an all right-handed outfield, though Tony Gwynn Jr. and Trot Nixon could provide some balance off the bench.

	Season in Preview A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2008 becomes 2009, this is who is projected to take the field for the Brewers:
	2B	Rickie Weeks
	SS	J.J. Hardy
	LF	Ryan Braun
	1B	Prince Fielder
	RF	Corey Hart
	CF	Mike Cameron
	3B	Bill Hall/Mike Lamb
	C	Jason Kendall
	SP	Yovani Gallardo
	SP	Dave Bush
	SP	Jeff Suppan
	SP	Manny Parra
	SP	Seth McClung or TBD
	CL	TBD
	Schedules: Spring | Regular season Tickets: Spring | Regular season More previews: Select a team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs D-backs Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers RaysRed Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

With the offense mostly in place, Melvin entered '09 focused on free-agent pitching. He has mentioned uber-veterans Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Jamie Moyer as arms of interest, but Johnson chose the Giants and Moyer has since re-signed with the Phillies. Randy Wolf is a relative youngster at 32, but the Brewers may not be in position to spend for him. Brad Penny got a look, but was "way down" on Milwaukee's list before he signed with the Red Sox.

"It's early," Melvin said. "We have a lot of talent on this ballclub. We won 90 games in a ... tough division, and our rotation isn't any different than it was last year this time, other than Ben."

But last Jan. 1, the Brewers also had Chris Capuano and Claudio Vargas poised to compete for the rotation, and Carlos Villanueva was considered primarily a starter. Now Capuano is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery (he will be back on a Minor League contract), Vargas is gone and Villanueva has proven a valuable member of the bullpen. The Brewers still don't have any prospects ready to help provide big league depth.

Speaking of the bullpen, the Brewers are thin there, too. Melvin signed Jorge Julio, who could be seen as a replacement for Mota, and R.J. Swindle, who takes over for Shouse, but the closer's role is murky. Melvin and the Brewers had some interest in free agent closer Brian Fuentes, formerly of the Rockies, but Fuentes made it known all along that he wanted to play for his home-state Angels, and that's where he signed on New Year's Eve.

Grading on a curve: On a scale of one to 10, the Brewers get a 6, because they have yet to address any of their key losses, though they have plenty of time to improve. We considered awarding a lower score, but Melvin and principal owner Mark Attanasio should get bonus points for the team's all-in pursuit of Sabathia. The Brewers are by necessity a budget-conscious team, but Melvin and Attanasio recognized Sabathia as a special case and were prepared to pay him as such. They just couldn't compete with the Yankees' blank check.

Arrivals: RHPs Jorge Julio and Eddie Morlan, LHP R.J. Swindle, 3B Casey McGehee

Departures: LHPs CC Sabathia and Brian Shouse, RHPs Ben Sheets, Eric Gagne, Guillermo Mota and Salomon Torres, IFs Russell Branyan and Ray Durham and OF Gabe Kapler

The road ahead: The Brewers can get away with a homer-happy, righty-heavy offense if they have decent pitching to back the hitters up. Today, the team could field a viable 12-man staff, but would have precious little depth at Triple-A. A ton of pressure is about to be heaped on 22-year-old Yovani Gallardo, who today stands as the staff ace, so Melvin will have to find someone to help carry that load.