The Brewers are expected to talk to Yuniesky Betancourt's agent again at the winter meetings in Dallas. The Brewers are interested in the possibility of bringing Betancourt back, but he's not the only shortstop on their radar. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the Brew Crew is "checking in" on Jimmy Rollins, Alex Gonzalez and Rafael Furcal. Betancourt is a Type B free agent, so the Brewers would net a sandwich round draft pick if he signed elsewhere.

Yuniesky Betancourt was not offered arbitration by the Brewers. An expected move, as the Brewers already declined his $6 million option for 2012 by paying a $2 million buyout. The Brewers haven't dismissed bringing him back at a lesser salary, but they will continue exploring alternatives at shortstop in the meantime. Betancourt, a Type B free agent, batted .252/.271/.381 with a .652 OPS this season while playing his standard subpar defense.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com speculates that the Brewers may attempt to bring Yuniesky Betancourt back as their regular shortstop next season. Not an unrealistic scenario. The Brewers declined Betancourt's $6 million option for 2012, but haven't ruled out re-signing him at a lesser salary. They are busy looking at alternatives at shortstop, but Knobler writes that they have "strong reservations" about Rafael Furcal and likely "not enough money" to land Jose Reyes. Betancourt, who turns 30 in January, batted .252/.271/.381 with a .652 OPS this season while playing his usual below average defense.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Monday that he has been in touch with the agent for Yuniesky Betancourt. It was an easy call to decline Betancourt's $6 million option for 2012, but the Brewers haven't ruled out bringing him back at a lesser salary. However, they are expected to explore other options in the meantime. Melvin met with the agent for Rafael Furcal on Monday and has spoken with the agent for Jose Reyes.

Brewers declined SS Yuniesky Betancourt's $6 million option for 2012. It wasn't a given that they would decline the option, especially since they now will have to pay Betancourt a $2 million buyout, but it's the right move. Betancourt has good pop for a shortstop, but he's poor defensively and has a career on-base percentage of .292. It's possible they could look to bring him back on a lesser deal. If they don't the Brewers will have to look outside the organization for a solution at shortstop, as they don't have any real in-house options.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin wouldn't say Wednesday whether the club will pick up Yuniesky Betancourt's $6 million option for 2012. "We're not here to make those decisions today," said Melvin. Betancourt, who was acquired from the Royals in the Zack Greinke deal, batted just .252/.271/.381 with 13 homers, 68 RBI and a .652 OPS over 584 plate appearances this season while playing below average defense at shortstop. Simply put, it would be stunning if they exercised the option.

Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in the Brewers' Game 1 NLCS victory against the Cardinals Sunday. Heading into Game 4 of the NLDS, Betancourt had only one hit in 10 at-bats over three games. Since then, Yuni is 6-for-12 (.500) with two doubles, a home run, fives runs scored and three RBI over Milwaukee's last three games. Betancourt produced a typically horrendous .252/.271/.381 triple slash line in the regular season, but he's posted an eye-popping .500/.500/1.500 line over six postseason games in 2011.

Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the Brewers' Game 4 NLDS loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Heading into the contest, Betancourt had only one hit in his first three games of the series. Game Five's opponent will be Ian Kennedy, against whom right-handers are batting only .218 this season.

Yuniesky Betancourt doubled twice and drove in four runs on Monday, but it wasn't enough for the Brewers in their 9-8 loss to the Pirates. Most impressively, Yuni also drew a walk. Betancourt has driven in 68 runs while lashing 43 extra-base hits this season, but is also sporting a typically horrendous .254/.273/.385 triple slash. It would be far from surprising if the Brewers decide to exercise their $2 million buyout on Betancourt this offseason.

Yuniesky Betancourt went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in his return to the Brewers lineup Sunday. Betancourt sat out of Saturday's game after taking a pitch to the elbow Friday against the Astros. The shortstop is batting .250/.271/.373 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI.