 12/08/2003 8:00 AM ET
Melvin now dealing with depth
Sexson trade gives more freedom for future deals
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By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
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Brewers Winter Meetings checklist
Roster takes shape, meetings loom
MILWAUKEE -- Even with the Richie Sexson trade out of the way, Dealin' Doug Melvin is not done yet.
In fact, as Melvin heads to baseball's Winter Meetings this weekend in New Orleans, last week's blockbuster might have been just the beginning.
"We still have a lot of work ahead of us. This is a start," Melvin said. "This does fill a lot of holes for us."
The nine-player deal that sent Sexson to the Arizona Diamondbacks brought six players the other direction. All six -- infielders Craig Counsell and Junior Spivey, first baseman Lyle Overbay, catcher Chad Moeller and left-handers Chris Capuano and Jorge De La Rosa -- fill Brewers needs and could start the year on the 25-man roster.
But the deal also gave Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash much-needed depth that provides some leverage in the hotel hallways in New Orleans. It also freed a bit of payroll to chase mid-level or six-year minor league free agents.
"Previously, I couldn't say we had a lot of depth in any one component of our ballclub," Melvin said. "We didn't have the strength or the depth to make trades. This gives us the ability to have a lot of depth with our infield."
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