The Louisiana Purchase took less time to complete than dealing Jeromy Burnitz did. You can debate all day whether the Brewers got enough in return for Burnitz, pitcher Jeff D'Amico and utility players Lou Collier and Mark Sweeney. Only time and performance of Glendon Rusch, Alex Ochoa and Lenny Harris will tell.

But, dealing Burnitz made sense. Here's why:

First, Burnitz had some trade value, after averaging more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI for four seasons. The only other every day players with comparable trade value are Geoff Jenkins and Richie Sexson, and the Brewers don't want to move them at their ages.

Second, Burnitz was about to become very expensive, with a salary of around $18 million over the next two seasons.

Finally, if you really watched Burnitz play every day, like yours truly did for most of his career in Milwaukee, you saw that his final stats every season were deceiving. Burnie got his numbers in bunches, carrying a team for a week and killing it for three.

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That's all right if you're a supplementary weapon, like he will be with the Mets. He'll probably bat sixth, and be surrounded by other players who can take up the slack during one of his slumps.

But, with the Brewers, Burnitz was one of the go-to guys. When he slumped, it affected the entire attack. He also struck out a lot, on a team with several players who strike out a lot. The effect of that could be seen all too clearly last season.

It also made sense to trade D'Amico. Big Daddy was a fine pitcher when he was healthy, but you have to search hard for any periods where he was not injured. D'Amico has never made it through a full season in his pro career, not just in the majors, without an injury. To think that he suddenly will become a 200-inning guy just doesn't follow the probability equation I learned.

Collier and Sweeney were throw-ins, although you had to like how Collier played late last season. But, Harris should be able to fill the role those two players played.

As for the other compensation in the deal, again you can debate whether it was a fair return. Rusch is a lefty, which is probably his biggest asset, but he certainly has to pitch better than 8-12 to make the deal worthwhile.

Ochoa has showed potential for a lot of years without really living completely up to it. But, I liked him when he was with the Brewers in 1999 and thought GM Dean Taylor should never have traded him for Sweeney.

Ochoa needs to live up to his potential and become a solid every day player. If he does that, the trade could look very good.

Some sources say the Brewers could have made this deal before the winter meetings, for Rusch and outfielder Matt Lawton, if they had thrown in D'Amico at that time. That would have been a better deal for the Brewers.

Others say the Brewers had to wait for the Mets to give up pursuing Juan Gonzales before there was adequate interest in getting Burnitz.

Whatever the story on the deal was, it rivals War and Peace for length. It makes sense. Now, let's hope the return ends up enough.

Still more coming?

In answering some of the critics of the deal, Taylor pointed out that it led to enough wiggle room in the Brewers' budget to sign Eric Young last week. He also said the Brewers might not be done dealing.

If both those things are true, then the deal looks better. The Brewers still have six infielders and could deal Tyler Houston, Mark Loretta or Ronnie Belliard for a lefthanded hitting outfielder to either platoon with Ochoa, if he doesn't blossom, or serve as insurance behind Jeffrey Hammonds and Jenkins, both who are coming off shoulder surgeries.

They also might want to add one additional veteran pitcher, who could serve as a swingman or fill in if Jamey Wright, Ben Sheets or Nick Neugebauer, all who had arm problems at the end of last season, again encounter difficulties.

Ochoa is eager

In a conference call Wednesday, Ochoa said he was eager to rejoin the Brewers. "After playing there in 1999, I know some of the guys, which makes it comfortable," said Ochoa.

"I don't look at it as a negative when you get traded," added Ochoa, who has been dealt five times in his career. "I look at it that the team acquiring me wants me, so I try to give my best effort. I do wonder sometimes why I have bounced around a little, but I think it is in part that I haven't reached my full potential yet."

Here's good news for Brewers' fans used to seeing as many players on the DL as on the field. Ochoa has remained relatively healthy. "I have had a little problem with my hamstring at times, but never missed more than four or five games," he said. "I hope I can stay healthy and help the Brewers this season."

Possible lineup

So what would the Brewers lineup look like right now? Probably the following:

1. Eric Young, second base; 2. Mark Loretta or Tyler Houston, third base; 3. Geoff Jenkins, left field; 4. Richie Sexson, first base; 5. Jeffrey Hammonds, center field; 6. Alex Ochoa, left field; 7. Jose Hernandez, shortstop; 8. Henry Blanco, catcher; 9. the pitcher.

Again, it could look different by spring.

Diamond Dinner

Sexson will accept the team MVP award and Chad Fox the team most valuable pitcher award Friday night during the Diamond Dinner at the Pfister Hotel. That awards banquet and the annual bowling tournament on Saturday will conclude the winter tour, which has seen players appearing all over the state this week.

Yours truly will sign copies of "Down in the Valley: The History of Milwaukee County Stadium" and "The Making of Miller Park" from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the event. "Down in the Valley" also is now being sold in the OMC store on this site.

Gregg Hoffmann writes The Brew Crew Review on Thursdays and The Milwaukee Sports Buzz on Mondays for OMC.