by Sports Xchange

But the Brewers are trying to clear payroll space to add some badly needed starting pitching, and they have told Kendall they cannot commit the $5 million they paid him in 2009 to that position next year.

Instead, the Brewers are thinking about promoting catching prospect Jonathan Lucroy to the majors next year. And, to add another catcher to the mix, they claimed George Kottaras off waivers from Boston.

A third-round draft pick in 2007, Lucroy played last season at Class AA Huntsville, batting .267 in 125 games with nine home runs and 66 RBIs. He then was sent to the Arizona Fall League, where many scouts have said he was the most proficient catcher in that circuit.

"I know it's a big jump from Double-A to the big leagues, but a lot of catchers have done it," general manager Doug Melvin said. "Russell Martin did it with the Dodgers, Chris Snyder in Arizona, Kurt Suzuki with Oakland.

"Jason Kendall did it, too.

"I like Jason. He's good in the clubhouse, works well with the pitchers. I assume he's going to want to play a lot of games again.

"We paid $5 million for that position in the past. I don't know if we can do that again."

Melvin left the door open to revisit signing Kendall at a lower price. If nothing can be worked out, Melvin said he would look elsewhere on the market but noted that it might be time to look at Lucroy and the organization's other top catching prospect, Angel Salome.

Salome, 24, had a somewhat disappointing season at Class AAA Nashville, batting .286 with six homers and 44 RBIs while battling health issues that restricted him to 82 games. But Melvin said Salome wants to prove he, not Lucroy, should be considered for the big-league roster.

Kottaras, 26, played in only 45 games for Boston last season, batting .237 with one homer and 10 RBIs. He is a left-handed hitter and could be used in a platoon with the right-handed-hitting Lucroy if the Brewers decide to go young at that position.

Melvin said Kottaras was claimed merely to add depth at that position. The Brewers still have reserve catcher Mike Rivera on their roster, but Melvin said he'd look around at other catchers on the market to see if there's a fit for his club.