Oct 04, 2007 11:39 AM EST

What is shaping up to be a weak free-agent market this winter won't help the Milwaukee Brewers in their quest to retain closer Francisco Cordero and set-up man Scott Linebrink.

With so few top-notch relievers available on the market, the value of Cordero and Linebrink will rise. That factor makes it unlikely they would re-sign without testing the market, where some clubs could greatly outbid the Brewers.

"That makes it tougher," general manager Doug Melvin acknowledged Wednesday after holding his end-of-the-season media briefing at Miller Park. "They're going to be two of the better guys out there."

Via Journal-Sentinel