by TOM HAUDRICOURT, Staff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Chicago - As badly as the Milwaukee Brewers could use a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, it's unlikely they will be able to get into serious bidding for right-hander John Lackey, the top starter on the free-agent market.

"It depends what they're asking for," said the Brewers' Doug Melvin, who headed home Wednesday after the annual general managers meetings wrapped up at the O'Hare Hilton.

"I don't know if it could fit or not. I might have to make some other moves to make it fit."

Lackey, who went 11-8 with a 3.83 earned run average in 27 starts for the Los Angeles Angels, is expected to seek a contract similar to the five-year, $82.5 million deal the New York Yankees gave free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett last winter. That would probably be out of the Brewers' price range unless the contract was significantly back-loaded.

Melvin is exploring the free-agent market for pitchers with smaller price tags. He spoke at the GM meetings with agent Arn Tellem, who represents left-hander Randy Wolf.

Wolf, 33, did a nice job for the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a one-year, $5 million contract, going 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 34 starts. Wolf is a Class A free agent, but the Brewers finished in the lower half of the major-league standings in 2009, so they would only forfeit a second-round draft pick to sign him, not a first-rounder.

"They think he's earned the right for a multi-year deal, based on what he did this year," said Melvin. "He had a good year. We know what he has to offer and he knows what we have to offer. There's a possibility we'll talk again."

Melvin also spoke with Steve Canter, the agent for free-agent left-hander Doug Davis. The Brewers tried a couple of times last season to acquire Davis, including a waiver claim in August, but never could work out a deal with Arizona.

Davis, 34, went 9-14 with a 4.12 ERA in 34 starts, and Melvin likes the fact that he usually can be counted on to pitch 200 innings.

"The one thing is he's one of the healthier guys (on the market)," said Melvin. "Some pitchers out there haven't pitched a lot (recently). This guy is durable."

Cantor said there is "considerable interest" in Davis, who made $8.75 million last year at the end of a three-year, $22 million deal. He also said Davis enjoyed his time in Milwaukee when he pitched for the Brewers from 2003-'06. Davis is a Class B free agent, requiring no draft-pick compensation from the signing team.

The Brewers also have interest in left-hander Jarrod Washburn, whom they tried to acquire from Seattle before the July 31 trade deadline. Instead, Washburn was traded to Detroit, where he struggled (1-3, 7.33 ERA in eight starts).

As it turned out, Washburn had a minor knee problem that required arthroscopic surgery after the season. His agent, Scott Boras, said Washburn's knee is fine now and indicated the Brewers have interest but the sides did not talk at these meetings.

Washburn, 35, made $9.85 million last year at the end of a four-year, $37.5 million deal. He is not a Class A or B free agent because of a poor 2008 season.

Other free-agent pitchers the Brewers might look into include right-handers Jon Garland and Jason Marquis, both of whom are Class B. The Brewers also are expected to show interest in signing left-hander Mark Mulder, who has a connection to new pitching coach Rick Peterson but hasn't pitched for a couple of years due to arm problems.

Having already dealt his major trading chip, shortstop J.J. Hardy, to Minnesota for centerfielder Carlos Gomez, it won't be easy for Melvin to work out a trade for an established starting pitcher. One of the top pitchers on the trade market, Toronto's Roy Halladay, would require a significant package in exchange.

"It's still real early," Melvin said. "Not a lot of people have pitching available, but we'll work hard to see what's available. Pitchers coming off good years usually are not available. You have to take a chance on a pitcher who maybe didn't have success but you think he'll bounce back.

"If you want something, you have to give up something. People are always going to say, 'We didn't get this guy or that guy.' You have to look at what's available. It's not going to happen overnight."

Tellem also represents catcher Jason Kendall. Melvin told Tellem he couldn't match Kendall's 2009 salary of $5 million, so Tellem probably will see what interest there is on the market.

"We owe Jason the respect for what he's done to stay in touch," said Melvin. "We explained our situation, what we're trying to do. I got a sense that they'll wait."

Melvin's next big decision is whether to exercise the $6.5 million option on right-hander Braden Looper or give him a $1 million buyout. It's a mutual option, so Looper would have three days after the Brewers exercise their half to decide if he wants to return or test the market.

The Brewers have until Saturday to announce their intention.

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