Most Brewers fans have figured out by now that GM David Stearns values flexibility within his 26-man and 40-man rosters, and players with minor league options remaining are far more valuable to him than players without options.
Look no further than the Domingo Santana trade last winter. Santana was out of options and he was traded for Ben Gamel (and Noah Zavolas), a similar outfielder who had a minor league option remaining.
Lots of things have changed with this roster from last year to this year. A lot of old faces are now gone and new faces have taken their place.