Jan 23, 2009 5:19 PM EST

Brewers' owner Mark Attanasio said Thursday that the team's payroll for 2009 is at the level of a year ago, making it unlikely that they'll add a starting pitcher before spring training.

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

"That would be a first for us. We don't want to put ourselves in that position. So, we're kind of weighing that."

Via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel