[redsmetz]

Here's a blurb from the Milwaukee paper

Riske would be Plan B to Turnbow
By Tom Haudricourt
Thursday, Nov 29 2007, 10:01 PM

If the Brewers consider erratic Derrick Turnbow their best internal option to replace departed closer Francisco Cordero, it makes sense to target free agent reliever David Riske.

And, conversely, Riske realizes a possible chance to close when he sees one.

Add it all up and you see why the Brewers and Riske are on the verge of an agreement on a three-year deal. The 31-year-old free-agent right-hander was given the full court press by general manager Doug Melvin after Cordero bolted to Cincinnati at Thanksgiving.

Riske has some closing experience but is primarily considered a set-up man. However, Turnbow often becomes less effective under a heavy workload, so the more, the merrier at the end of the bullpen, as far as Melvin is concerned.

Riske provides another option, along with recently acquired Guillermo Mota, and whoever else Melvin is able to add by spring training.

Melvin already expressed concern about the injury histories and contract demands of the established closers on the free-agent market, such as Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel. And he's not interested in surrendering young position players to trade for a closer, such as Minnesota's Joe Nathan.

But Melvin can sign Riske at a palatable price (probably close to $4 million a year) and not surrender a player or draft pick. Riske is a Class B free agent, so the Brewers won't surrender a draft pick to Kansas City.

Look for an announcement of the deal on Friday.