Rosenthal drops the bomb:

Free-agent infielder Craig Counsell has reached preliminary agreement with the Brewers on a one-year, $1 million contract, according to a major-league source.

The deal is pending a physical.

The Cardinals, after losing third baseman Troy Glaus, did not actively pursue Counsell, sources said. The Mariners did have interest, but Counsell, who lives in Whitefish Bay, Wi., preferred to stay home with the Brewers.

With Counsell and Hairston off the table, among a few others, the remaining FA utility options seem to be limited to guys like Alex Cintron and, I dunno, Ramon Martinez. We'll see if this triggers an urge to swing a trade, or yawn, or both.