Just as he did last September, Brewers’ General Manager Doug Melvin traded a soon-to-be-free-agent reliever on Thursday to a team in the midst of a playoff hunt. Last season, it was the Phillies who came calling and Valerio De Los Santos was shipped off in exchange for cash. This time, right-hander Dave Burba was dealt to San Francisco, a team in desperate need of relief help. In return, the Brewers receive left-handed pitcher Josh Habel, the Giants’ 14th-round pick in the 2002 draft.

    <p>"Again, I don't want to stand in the way of a veteran going to a pennant race," Melvin explained, echoing the sentiment he shared after sending Ben Grieve to the Cubs earlier in the week.</p>
    <p>Burba, the elder-statesman of Milwaukee's pitching staff, made 45 appearances for the Brewers this season and posted a solid 4.08 ERA.  In 70 and two-thirds innings, he struck-out 47, walked 24, and held opponents to a .237 batting average and 666 OPS.  He has been particularly effective against right-handers (584 OPS against) and proved quite valuable to manager Ned Yost, who was able to call on Burba on short rest and in a multitude of situations.  He leads the Brewers in relief innings and is fourth in appearances.</p>
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