In just over two weeks – 16 days to be exact – Doug Melvin will celebrate his 11th trade deadline as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. Hired in September of 2002, Melvin took a team that won 68 games his first full season in that position in 2003 to 96 wins and the National League Championship Series in 2011.

The team has had various levels of success and failure in between, and 2013 is shaping up as one of the more disappointing campaigns in his tenure.

When that happens, players are often moved out of the clubhouse as opposed to brought in.

What’s interesting however is that in his previous 10 seasons manning the phones at the trade deadline is that Melvin has only made two big trades out of Milwaukee, despite the fact that the Brewers have posted losing records in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010.

They were:

Outfielders Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Francisco Cordero, outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero on July 29, 2006.

Pitcher Zack Greinke to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for minor league shortstop Jean Segura and minor league pitchers Johnny Hellweg and Ariel Pena on July 27, 2012.

Many of Melvin’s trades tend to come in the offseason, but with the Brewers so far under .500 at this point, rumors continue to circulate around several relief pitchers along with outfielder Norchika Aoki and starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

Third-year manager Ron Roenicke knows the makeup of his clubhouse might change in the next couple of weeks, and he remains in constant contact with Melvin – though they don’t get into specifics every time.

"He lets me know kind of what’s going on with the different players, but he’s on the phone a lot and he doesn’t – it’s not a burden to me – but he doesn’t tell me the daily things, the calls that he’s getting," Roenicke said. "When we meet, whether it’s every two, three days that’s down here, he’ll bring it up if there’s something that’s come up, but I’m not involved a lot."

That said, Roenicke did admit he has some input.

"We’ve talked about what we think, what I think needs to stay here to help us in different areas and who I’m OK with if there was a move," he said.

That communication crystallizes even further when a trade is close enough to fruition that it will affect how Roenicke sets up his pitching rotation or everyday lineup.

"If there’s something that’s going to affect me, he always let me know," Roenicke said. "He’ll always let me know. We get accused down here sometimes of worrying about tomorrow and their job is to worry about next year and the year after. I understand. I am concerned with what happens next year and the year after, I am, but I understand too that really, our job right now is what we have, what we can do in this one and then tomorrow’s game."

While he may not know what moves may happen, Roenicke is sure of one thing – his general manager doesn’t make trades or waiver/free agent moves just to shed payroll or "give up" on a season.

"I always say, and he says too, he’s always trying to improve the team, no matter whether it’s before the trade deadline or offseason, or early in the year," Roenicke said. "He’s always looking to improve the team and he doesn’t do things to just, we’re not in this spot where we’re just getting rid of people. So if it improves us then we’re going to make a move."