The Brewers have signed 31-year old switch-hitting infielder Cesar Izturis to a minor league deal. Izturis played in 18 games for the Orioles last year and he was 6 for 30 (.200 avg, .450 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers and 1 RBI. He has now played in 1,185 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 1,036 of 4,055 (.255 avg, .618 OPS) with 422 runs scored, 15 homers, 290 RBIs and 109 stolen bases. This was a good signing for the Brewers as Izturis will likely be the top backup infielder on the team in 2012 because of his mitt, which is outstanding.

The Brewers have signed 33-year old lefty reliever Juan Perez to a minor league deal. Perez pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He also pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 0-5 with 4 saves, a 5.70 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Perez has now pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Perez is going to have a good shot of making the Brewers’ bullpen next spring.

The Brewers have signed 30-year old lefty swinging infielder Andy Gonzalez to a minor league deal. Gonzalez played in 69 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Brewers last year and he was 57 for 197 (.289 avg, .819 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 4 homers and 23 RBIs. He last played in the majors back in 2009 with the Marlins. Gonzalez has now played in 91 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 41 for 225 (.182 avg, .539 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 3 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

The Brewers submitted the winning bid ($2.5 million bucks) for 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Norichiku Aoki. The Brewers will now have a 30-day window to work out a deal with him. Aoki was 170 of 583 (.292 avg) with 4 homers, 44 RBIs and 8 stolen bases for the Yakult Swallows. He has played five seasons in Japan and he is 887 for 2,698 (.329 avg) with 68 homers, 295 RBIs and 93 stolen bases. The Brewers can use outfield help right now with Ryan Braun likely having to serve a 50-game suspension to start the 2012 season, so they need to get a deal done with Aoki.

UPDATE: (1/24/2012) - The Brewers have signed Norichiku Aoki to a 2-year contract with a club option for the 2014 season.

The Brewers have acquired 31-year old righty reliever Jose Veras from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for 29-year old righty swinging 3B Casey McGehee. Veras pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Pirates last year and he was 2-4 with 1 save, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 255 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 14-13 with 4 saves, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Casey McGehee was no longer needed after the Brewers signed Aramis Ramirez yesterday. McGehee played in 155 games for the Brewers last year and he was 122 of 546 (.223 avg, .626 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 13 homers and 67 RBIs. He played in 428 games in his three years with the Brewers and he was 403 of 1,511 (.267 avg, .752 OPS) with 174 runs scored, 52 homers, 237 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This was a good deal for the Brewers as they got themselves a nice power arm for the bullpen for McGehee.