The Brewers are open to trade offers on the majority of their roster, writes Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. While that’s standard procedure for most teams — especially smaller-market franchises — Rosenthal suggests that Milwaukee could be more amenable than they had been in previous offseasons to moving notable players.
Around this time last offseason, Milwaukee was reportedly telling teams they weren’t interested in dealing Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes or Willy Adames. It doesn’t seem they’re being quite so definitive this time around. At the same time, that doesn’t guarantee any of those players will be on the move.
Woodruff doesn’t hold much trade value at this point anyhow. The All-Star righty underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the bulk of next season. He’s on track to hit free agency after that year. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for an $11.6MM salary if tendered an arbitration contract. There’s a chance Milwaukee cuts him loose for nothing before next Friday’s non-tender deadline.
Burnes would have immense trade appeal, while Adames would be a valuable asset in his own right. The former is one of the sport’s best pitchers and would likely be the best starter available if the Brewers seriously considered dealing him. The 2021 Cy Young winner worked to a 3.39 ERA over 193 2/3 innings this year. He reached the 200 strikeout mark for a third straight season, fanning 25.5% of opponents. While a less impressive showing than Burnes’ three consecutive sub-3.00 ERA years between 2020-22, that’s still very strong production.
Swartz projects him for a salary just above $15MM in his final season of team control. The projected outlay on Adames checks in at $12.4MM. The 28-year-old shortstop is coming off a relative down season. He hit .217/.310/.411 across 638 trips to the plate. That’s well below the .256/.325/.483 line he’d posted between his acquisition from the Rays in May 2021 and the end of the ’22 season.
Despite the dip in offense, Adames would have strong trade appeal. He’s an excellent defender at the infield’s most demanding position. He still connected on 24 home runs and has topped 20 longballs in each of the last four full seasons. A dismal free agent shortstop class leaves other teams without many alternatives.
It is generally expected that Burnes and Adames will price themselves out of Milwaukee when they reach free agency. The Brewers could expect a stronger trade return this offseason than they would if they shopped either player at the deadline — an acquiring team would not only get a full year of their services, they’d be able to make them a qualifying offer next winter.
Moving either player would deal a notable blow to Milwaukee’s hopes of repeating as NL Central champions, though. Between Woodruff’s injury and Wade Miley hitting free agency, the Brew Crew are already thin on the rotation front. The aforementioned middle infield shortage would make it difficult to effectively replace Adames on a low-cost free agent pickup.
The Brewers have made one trade this offseason, sending Mark Canha to the Tigers in lieu of an $11.5MM club option. Moving either Burnes or Adames would be a much tougher decision. Milwaukee has around $36MM in guaranteed contracts for next season. The arbitration class is projected for nearly $65MM, although non-tenders of Woodruff and Rowdy Tellez would trim almost $18MM from that estimate. The Brewers opened the 2023 season with a player payroll in the $119MM range, so retaining Burnes and Adames should be financially viable.
Various others on the Milwaukee roster are sure to be the subject of interest from rival teams. Devin Williams would be one of the most in-demand relievers, while Adrian Houser could hold appeal to clubs looking for starting pitching. It’s hard to envision the Brewers orchestrating a full teardown — the organization has instead sought perpetual contention by moving select players as they get closer to free agency — but there are various options on the table for GM Matt Arnold over the coming months.
I doubt Woodford is offered a contract. What would be the point? They won’t sign him in 2025.
theres been talk about signing him to a 2 year deal to eat up his injured year and allow him to improve his value the following year, though there hasn’t been much word on that yet. i would imagine *sigh* that finding a manager comes first
Spot on. I can virtually guarantee that they don’t offer Woodford a contract. Maybe Woodruff though.
Burn it down and start over.
Burnes it down
Unfortunately they will have to. Feel for Brewers fans. Been there a few times.
I agree. Youth movement can commence. Further build and utilize this farm system they’re so proud of.
I do like this. Fills dodger needs and a good solve for starting brewers rebuild.
Burnes and Adames for Grissom, AJSS, Arcia, Elder, and Vines. Lol I wish
That’s an overpay. Can’t have two short stops. Elder is better in the long term for the Braves. Wonder what the brewers would want for yellich with a pack around Grissom?
They would take a deal for Yelich. Yelich contract causes problems for Brewers payroll. Unlikely but makes sense if they could package Yelich (wave his no trade) with Burnes to the Dodgers. Yelich contract straps them financially. Adames would fit in Dodger deal too.
26M, although a significant amount, is not that terrible of a deal for a player of Yelich’s caliber. If he was in the open market he probably would get 16-20M/yr.
Also, with the high likelihood of trading Burnes/Adames, the Brewers aren’t cash strapped. Current projections are at 126M and that includes ~43M to players who will likely be traded or non tendered
You left out how Devin Williams fits the Dodgers too.
I can believe 16 million tops for Yellich on a shorter deal, thats an overpay of 10 million a year, for a payroll that was 118 million last year and could go lower.
Yelich takes $22 a year from them. That goes for 4 more years. They can’t afford that and keep the younger players around. Brewers broke even this past season. Dumping Yelich gives them flexibility.
Per Spotrac, He makes 26 million per year 2024,2025,2026,2027,2028, mutual option for 2029 , so thats 5 years at 26 million, I said he is worth 16 million a year in a short deal, in response that he wasn’t that much overpaid. We both agree, that he makes too much for the Brewers, for modest good numbers.
$4 MM a year is deferred. So on his $26 million per year contract, $22 million is what is heading out the door each year.
Tell the Reds that. They have 6.
Life as a small market team. The brewers will figure out a way to compete next year.
Cubs took their manager, may as well take Burnes now.
I’m surprised counsell didn’t sucker punch Uecker on the way out of town
Why what happened?
Well Mark A fired Ned Yost in a pennant race with two weeks left in season. Maybe Craig Counsell remembers, as he was a player on that team. What if he knew Mark A goes into a rebuild, and lets say hypothetically he had a year left on his contract, the pitching is terrible, they lose 92 games, everybody would call for Counsell to be fired, and no other team would have these big offers, and he could be out of a job, and stain his image anyway. You gotta take the window when its there.
Last off season the Brewers angered Burnes during the arbitration process by allegedly telling the arbitrator that Burnes was responsible for the Brewers missing the playoffs. The Brewers should trade him because I don’t see them making him a contract offer that he will accept
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Burnes healthy could be a great addition for the Phillies, and Devin Williams would fit perfectly on the Yankees or Texas Rangers (they need bullpen depth)
Burnes and Williams are good fits for the Phillies. Burnes if we can’t re-sign Nola. Williams because we need a closer. Actually, as a Phillies fan, I’d make Williams a priority if the Brewers do indeed shop him.
True, but that’s the nasty side of the business world. And mlb is certainly a business, altho I don’t agree with that approach. That said, he will sign with them if they offer the most money. Money seems to cure all ill will.
Solve the Brewers starting pitching issues with getting Trevor Bauer and Julio Urias on cheap one year deals with club options on the second year for both. Those two can have slap fights with each other in the locker room on off days.
Burnes, Peralta, Urias, Bauer, and get Pete Vuckovich out of retirement!
I’d say teddy higuera too but he just got injured reading this statement.
I have Bosio’s number if needed? Wegman’s also?
While you’re at it, throw Rollie Fingers in the bullpen.
Some fans might scoff at that idea, but it isn’t exactly out of the realm of possibilities for a small market team. They need to get returns from Burnes and Adames and not let them go for nothing. The Crew has done a solid job of scouting up-and-coming pitching the last few years, and with some large market teams looking for guys like Burnes and Williams, there’s no reason the Crew shouldn’t get some AA or AAA arms in return along with some potential 3B/1B ready prospects they could slot in right away. Turang slides over to short when they trade Adames and 2B is a bit easier for teams to fill. No reason they can’t field a fairly competitive team that way.
I’m not sure what to expect in return, but Adames is perfect to fill the CWS short term need at SS.
This is why ownership does not see a full rebuild as a viable option. It will be a hard sell to get a provider on board if they’re tearing it down, plus they have an eye on the turnstiles, and a third eye on the weak division they’re in.
Burnes is a one year rental. He’s a Boras client and they always test free agency no matter.
With the changes in the front office and now in the dugout, it will be interesting to see if the Brewers roster construction can keep the team competitive. They have done a remarkable job. I would not count them out.
Burnes was 10-8, 18-14 was the Brewers record when he pitched, he is a good pitcher, fantastic at times, not as good as he was a few years ago, Woodruff started 11 games and was pretty good, but only 11 games. Adames OPS is not that good, he has power, and a good fielder. The point is the Brewers are losing good players, but Burnes, Woodruff, Adames were more productive in past seasons, what is the future ,if they are regressing ,but want more money.
Burnes to Mets for Butto and Baty
The Brewers have the luxury of playing in an historically weak NL Central. The division hasn’t had a really great team since the Cubs won it all in 2016.
Thus, no need for them to blow it up. Do what they always do. Add low-cost veteran pieces. Plus, the Brewers have some exciting youngsters in the outfield.
Justin Turner would be a nice option at 3B. Rhys Hoskins would be a good fit at 1B. I’m fine with Turang and Adames up the middle.
Not sure Yelich is all that tradeable unless the Brewers eat a lot of the money he’s owed. That, and you never know when those pesky back problems will crop up. Seriously, have you ever heard anyone say, “I used to have back problems?”. No, because back problems are chronic. You got ’em now, you’re gonna have them 20 years from now.
The days of NLC being weak are running out. Cubs, Cards and Reds will all be better in 2024 and better still after that, loads of young talent.
Hard choice for the Brewers. One more try (weakened by loss of counsell and absence of Woodruff, probably meaning at best an early exit in October) or fast-reload by trading burnes and anyone else valuable, in doing so writing off 2024 but knowing you have a good farm and will be competitive again as early as 2025.
I’d probably do the latter
Stearns is in love with Yelich. Predicting it here, the Mets trade for Yelich.
Woodruff is non-tendered. Burnes pitches the full season in Milwaukee.
If Woodruff gets non tendered, there’s gonna be a long line of teams offering 2-4 yr deals. He’d fit nicely in SD.
Trade burnes for Grissom in atl
Slide Adames to 3rd.
Grissom at ss
Re sign Santana at 1st
Sign bullpen depth
Add 1-2 starting pitchers
Hire pat murphy
Grissom is not a SS. His defense is horrendous. 2B is his future or LF if he stays in Atlanta.
Brewers SS of the future is Turang who was drafted 1st round as a SS
Turang isn’t a lock for anything. He hit worse than a backup catcher. He’s tracking like a utility guy who offers speed off the bench.
Turang appears to be Mark Belanger V2.0 so far.
The thing nobody is talking about is their TV deal expires at the end of the season.so if you tank what happens to the short term value or long term of that deal? Maybe those that bid on it don’t care if the team is winning or losing, I find that hard to believe when our general economy is falling apart and young viewers/ticket buyers are not tuning into games and if they tank will not be buying tickets and creating a fun atmosphere at the park. All at the same time ownership is trying to get the state of Wisconsin to hand over $500M in tax dollars for stadium development for an additional 20 year lease agreement. Fascinating times we live in and it will be fun to see how it plays out.
Have to think the Brewers are headed towards a complete rebuild. It’s probably what motivated Craig Counsel to leave town.