All Major League teams had to offer contracts to all their unsigned players before the deadline. Brower and Obermueller were the Braves' only arbitration-eligible players who weren't tendered contracts.

Atlanta's other arbitration-eligible players are Marcus Giles, Chris Reitsma, Horacio Ramirez, Jorge Sosa and Oscar Villarreal. They will either be granted a salary through arbitration or reach a deal with the team before beginning their arbitration hearings.

While Brower could have provided a veteran presence to their bullpen, the Braves couldn't financially risk offering him arbitration and having him provide the same inconsistency he did in 2005. The soon-to-be 33-year-old allowed opponents to produce a .393 on-base-percentage against him this season, which he spent with the Giants and Braves.

Brower made $1.13 million this year. The 69 appearances he made in 2005 and 89 appearances he made in 2004 would have put him in position to realize a respectable raise as an arbitration-eligible player.

Obermueller was obtained by the Braves in the trade that sent Dan Kolb back to Milwaukee two weeks ago. The right-handed reliever was 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 23 appearances with the Brewers in 2005.

There's a chance the Braves could sign Obermueller to a Minor League contract in the next few days.