Brewers ace Corbin Burnes lost his arbitration hearing against the team this week and, upon being asked about the process in Brewers camp today, offered a rather candid assessment of the hearing (Twitter links, both with video, via Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). The two-time All-Star and 2021 NL Cy Young winner expressed “disappointment” not in the loss itself but in the way the team approached negotiations and conducted itself during the trial. Most troubling for Brewer fans is that, asked specifically about his relationship with the team, Burnes admitted that damage had indeed been done.
“There’s no denying that the relationship is definitely hurt,” the right-hander said. “There’s really no way of getting around that. Obviously, we’re professionals and we’re going to go out there and do our job. Keep doing what I can every fifth day that I go out there. But some of the things that are said, for instance, basically putting me at the forefront of why we didn’t make the postseason last year — that’s something that probably doesn’t need to be said.”
Burnes made clear that the Brewers did not, at any point, attack his character or disparage him as a person, but the implication was still that lines were crossed in the back-and-forth of the trial. Moreover, the 28-year-old was disappointed with the team’s lack of effort to avoid a trial at all.
“The Brewers never made a real attempt to try to come to a deal to avoid a hearing, at least from our perspective” Burnes explained. “…Even up until the days before, there were some phone calls back and forth, and basically it just came out that we were going to end up going to a hearing. That was kind of how it ended. I think we saw from the deadline day that we were going to end up at a hearing, just with the lack of attempts to get a deal done. It’s unfortunate that it ended up that way.”
The team, Burnes said, made a late but “pretty poor” two-year offer. However, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports that said offer wasn’t even a guaranteed deal to buy out Burnes’ final two arbitration seasons, but rather a one-year deal with an option. Such contracts aren’t considered straight one-year deals by “file and trial” clubs, as the presence of an option prevents them from being cited as data points in future hearings.
Burnes’ candor upon being asked about the matter is simultaneously refreshing and fascinating — and, for Brewers fans, likely infuriating. (MLBTR readers are encouraged to take a few minutes to watch the entirety of his comments in the video links above to grasp the full scope of his comments and the issues he took with the team’s approach.) The typical line following arbitration hearings is that they’re “just business,” and while many players surely feel that way, Burnes’ comments are a reminder that there’s a personal component to the process and, at the end of the day, the teams are dealing with human beings.
For instance, the right-hander notes that his hearing was scheduled on Valentine’s Day, meaning he spent the majority of the day on a plane or in the trial, only making it home to see his wife around 11pm. He also spoke of the seven years he’s spent rising from the draft to his current status, calling it “tough to hear” some of the things that the team brought to its case against him. “They won [the hearing],” Burnes said, “but when it came down to winning or losing the hearing, it was more than that for me.”
It bears emphasizing that Burnes was asked to open up about the hearing and didn’t necessarily head to camp looking to broadcast any ill feelings toward his longtime employer, but the fact that he was willing to do so in a public setting speaks to the personal stakes that can come into play in these often contentious hearings. It’s a large reason that all parties are typically motivated to avoid going in front of an arbitration panel, though a handful of cases to reach this juncture every year.
The $750K gap that separated the Brewers’ $10.01MM submission and Burnes’ $10.75MM figure is generally considered peanuts for MLB clubs; that’s scarcely more than the league-minimum salary under the new collective bargaining agreement, and the fact that a team will go to a trial and risk just this type of alienation to save relatively trivial sums is often a point of consternation among fans.
We’ve explored the team perspective with regard to arbitration here at MLBTR in the past, pointing out that clubs take hard lines and are willing to go to trial more due to down-the-road implications than immediate, present-day savings. Making a concession on a $750K sum to keep Burnes happy, in a vacuum, seems like an easy call. But if every club took that approach and acquiesced on the small gaps in arbitration, those concessions would become data points for future arbitration cases, and arbitration salaries would spike in fairly rapid fashion. That explanation doesn’t necessarily lessen the frustration among fans and likely only increases it among players, but the simple fact of the matter is that hardline tactics like this generally work. Dontrelle Willis’ $4.35MM salary as a first-time arbitration-eligible pitcher way back in 2006 stood as a standard for first-time arbitration-eligible pitchers for upwards of 15 years, for instance, despite escalating revenues and player salaries throughout the league.
Indeed, the Brewers released a statement of their own on the matter, praising Burnes as a leader and a vital cog for their team. Said general manager Matt Arnold:
“The arbitration process always presents uncomfortable situations for both the club and player involved. It is never easy to present a case against a member of the Brewers family. I’d like to reiterate that we view Corbin as one of the leaders of our franchise and value him as an elite talent in the game. Corbin is a major contributor to the organization both on and off the field, and we look forward to another outstanding season from him in 2023.”
The club’s intentions notwithstanding, Burnes clearly doesn’t feel as though those comments are in alignment with the manner in which he was characterized in the trial. Teams will go to great lengths to win an arbitration hearing, but it’s still eye-opening to hear that the Brewers’ argument in any way linked their postseason miss to Burnes’ performance; Burnes made 33 starts, pitched to a 2.94 ERA and actually had better results against teams with winning records (2.82 ERA) than he did against sub-.500 clubs (3.09 ERA). That includes a masterful 1.29 ERA and 32-to-4 K/BB ratio in 28 innings against the NL Central champion Cardinals.
There’s no indication that any bad blood between Burnes and the team will lead to a trade or prevent Burnes from accepting an extension offer, if the Brewers make a long-term offer to his liking. At the same time, it’s certainly telling to hear such open levels of frustration and disappointment from a star-caliber pitcher with free agency looming after the 2024 campaign. The resultant chip on Burnes’ shoulder could serve as extra motivation both in 2023 and in arbitration again next season, but the Milwaukee ace made clear that he doesn’t plan to dwell on the hearing and will shift his attention to the upcoming season.
“At the end of the day, it’s disappointing, but you’ve got to get past it,” said Burnes. “Obviously, now the focus is playing baseball, and going out and doing what I can for the teammates and the fans.”
Milwaukee-2208
Brewer fans are some of the most loyal in baseball. This is what we get? Best pitcher in franchise history and he’s going to walk.
Sell the team Mark. You’re an embarrassment
afsooner02
While I agree this whole situation was stupid, let’s not pretend that they were gonna have a prayer to resign CB anyway. Dude is gonna command a 9 figure contract that Milwaukee can’t afford.
He’ll likely be gone by all star break if the brewers struggle this year or next offseason. Milwaukee can NOT afford to let him just walk. He’s worth multiple top prospects that the brewers will need to rebuild around.
case
Still doesn’t excuse the organization. I’ve read about the difficulties of arbitration battles where a player has to sit through a team listing all of their flaws… but blaming him specifically for failing to make the post season? That’s both illogical and weirdly scapegoat’ish to bring up in a serious legal process.
refugee
Cannot believe how shortsighted and stupid the Brewers were on this. $700k in arb savings and you completely hack off your best player? He’s the consensus top pitcher in MLB right now and this meat headed maneuver will definitely be felt in the Brewer club house. He was NOT the reason they didn’t advance further in 2022. Just wow!
Unbelievable. And whether or not they think they can re-sign him is irrelevant. They are playoff contenders right now.
Big Hurt
Quick check here, great pitcher, refugee, but not the ‘consensus top pitcher in mlb.” You can defend him without hyperbole.
refugee
In fantasy baseball rankings I have not seen any lists where he wasn’t #1 followed by Cole.
Big Hurt
I’m sure you did an exhaustive search, but the first list I saw, on ESPN, had Burnes 2 behind Ohtani. And Alcantara is younger and won Cy Young last year, Cease is younger and was 2nd in Cy last year. And you said consensus top pitcher in MLB, then cited Fantasy rankings. I feel like you may be trolling me, but I think we can agree that he is consensus top 5, and leave it there.
stymeedone
@refugee
There’s a reason its called fantasy. Its not real.
Hammerin' Hank
Well, when it comes to starting pitchers the fantasy rankings come pretty darn close to accurately ranking the pitchers. With hitters, not so much, because stolen bases are overvalued in basic 5×5 fantasy and walks are ignored.
BobGibsonFan
Cease… LOL. I guess if you like walks.
Who ever said… “This is a must win game… we need Cease to pitch.”? There are a few names I would put in there, but Cease? Really?
When the team blamed him for them not making the playoffs, he should have mentioned the team sold at the deadline. Trading Josh Hader when they were 12 games over .500 and in 1st place on August 1st. Then they end up 7 games out at the end.
Big Hurt
You clearly have not seen his ‘stache… Top 1 or 2 in league, with Strider.
BobGibsonFan
I remember when I first tried to grow one… He has the Magnum PI look.
Jeremy320
The reason they went to arbitration was both this year and next year salary. Think it through (even alludes to it in the article) While every fanbase is salivating over a burnes trade I would bet heavily against it (unless the brewers have an epic collapse/multiple serious long term injuries)
avenger65
The fact that the Brewers made a low ball offer for one year instead of a long term deal seems to me that they have no intention of keeping him.
case
I remember the A’s front office was talking about 1.5 years of team control is usually the ideal time to unload a player. You get half the season to see if your team is making a serious playoff run and if you aren’t, the return is much larger than trading him before or during the last year of club control.
Jean Matrac
What the article fails to mention is that back-to-back arb wins is rare for a player. So trying to factor in next season’s arb is not that useful.
stymeedone
The Brewers won the hearing, so it must not have been a “lowball offer.”
stymeedone
This years Win will effect what both sides offer next year.
BobGibsonFan
This hurts any chance at extending Burnes… I know they won’t get a long term deal, but they could have offered a nice raise and extend it to eat up one free agent year… like a 3 year $60 mil offer.
This also hurts the team making any deals for other current players on the team. Will someone like Adames want to get an extension after the way they talked about Burnes? Lauer is arbitration bound next year… would he just say forget it and plan on walking?
Stevil
If the organization low-balls the best they have, what kind of message does that send to those who haven’t reached arbitration yet? How about future free agents and international amateurs that the team may want to pursue?
No good comes from this for Milwaukee, and if they move him at the deadline, the difference they fought to save becomes even less significant.
minor league guy
nah man, you’re talking apples to oranges here. free agents are getting guaranteed money, they don’t care about who went to an arbitration hearing and why. as for international free agents, teams only have a set amount to use (or trade) in order to sign as many prospects as they can. the Brewers have already proved the quantity over quality pans out (Chourio, Quero, Luis Lara, Hendry Mendez, Hedbert Perez), and they most recently signed 29 more international free agents this previous signing period. International signings and development will be how the brewers compete with the large markets. so, sure, 750K seems miniscule, but it is literally another player.
Stevil
It’s not black & white. Some free agents may not care, others won’t want to be a part of an organization that quarrels over relatively small amounts.
They’ll still attract players, but it isn’t a stretch to think they may scare some away, knowing that their arbitrations years may prove to be a battle and a significant extension may never be in the cards.
minor league guy
there were 33 arbitration cases this year, and the brewers were among the teams with the most arbitration eligible players at 18. they had one hearing. sure, a few of those players got non-tendered, but all and all, not bad. chances are no one remembers this once WBC starts
rondon
Burnes will.
minor league guy
and if that’s, what he needs to do to get to free agency, then so be it, but if he wants to hold a gruge and his numbers reflect thay, then he’s only hurting himself.
BobGibsonFan
Burnes won’t hurt his value by not playing his best. He will be playing for a huge deal in 2 years.
Deadguy
Yeah… I was thinking this was really stupid by Brewers ownership yesterday… looks EVEN worse today
BrewKru
Roughly 30 years ago they lost me for a decade when they blew it so badly on Molly. Now the no class – no chance to be going for it all – Brewers did it again. They didn’t need to make it personal. Clearly Arnold had a lot of say in the Hader stink because he just stunk it up again ASAP. Time to over pay the Suppans and Garzas of the world that nobody wanted. Sorry I bought a Spring Training Pass. Clueless at the top. Make Captain Sal (RIP) look like an executive of the year. This stink won’t go away. Lorenzo Cain wasn’t kidding.
ballnglove
Boy I agree completely. I was so mad when they let Molitor leave town, then Surhoff. The organization was looking pretty good during the Fielder/Braun timeframe but things have totally fallen apart lately. It’s dang hard to root for them after the Hader debacle and how they’re treating Burnes. If it wasn’t for old Uke on my AM dial, I probably wouldn’t follow them at all this year. Frustrating!!!
compassrose
BrewKru
They lost me when they left Seattle. It was a sketchy deal all around. That was years ago and I can remember the couple games I got to go to and one was a double header I got sicker than a dog being in the sun for so long.
Good memories I have got to make new ones with kids and grandkids. It really doesn’t bother me but like to remind you guys that your team was taken on shady terms and the owner that did it turned into the commissioner.
iverbure
Don’t go to the hearing if your feelings are going to be hurt. How about a guarantee on his part? Sign a team friendly extension stretching into his free agency. This process works both ways. For a team like the brewers they aren’t keeping him past free agency which they have a right to do so it makes all the sense in the world for them to nickel and dime him
dirkg
I was arguing this point in the first post on this days ago. I remember “pmollan” defending the Brewers saying they need to scrape every penny and that Burnes is a professional and he’ll be fine.
MLB players are professionals, but they’re not robots. Sure he may bolt in free agency in 2025, but you still have him on the 2023 and 2024 rosters. In a very weak division. You need him. He’s your guy. And the Brewers are smart enough to take care of their guys. …..Or maybe not………
minor league guy
he’s still getting paid 1\12th of the teams salary… pretty hefty for a team that used over 50 players last year. burnes can say all the nice things about playing for the team and fans and what have you, but ultimately, hes playing for his next contract. that hasn’t changed, nor do I think his numbers will dip because of this
dirkg
MLG, not sure if you played in the minors, but you know that every guy is “playing for his next contract.”. My take was and still is that just with most teams that avoid arb, meet the guy somewhere above the middle. Take that $740K difference and give him $400K more; say $10.41M rather than $10.01M. As a MLB franchise, if you can’t find $400K for your best player (and one of the best pitchers in the league), then ownership needs to get out of the league.
And don’t think this arb loss doesn’t affect the other players. The best player is talking trash on the team. You think this promotes goodwill between the team and the players?
For a relatively low $400K, you could have bought goodwill with the player, goodwill with the team, goodwill with the fans, and some positive momentum for the season.
BobGibsonFan
There are 53 pitchers making more money this year than Burnes. They could have given him that extra mil and he would have been in the top 40. Spencer Strider who was a rookie last year averages more per year than Burnes.
BrewKru
The team alleges that because the other players agreed and Burnes did not – that the team was in the right. And by default Burnes is wrong.. How SMUG.
Been following the Kru since Auerbach was starting at SS. Since Baseball is so clearly only a business and not a pastime there is less reason to follow a player that won’t be there – buy those jerseys – and invest in any of this. It is all a transaction.
What happens to MLB when Bally Sports or others go under? Does Congress come in and bail this out too? That would make the business angle complete.
jbeerj
He’s got to say this so he doesn’t look like the bad guy when he leaves.
B-Strong
He wont look like the bad guy when he leaves anyway because he will likely have price himself out if the Brewers range. Even if he was performing at mvp levels still, Yellich’s contract is to much for them to comfortably have because he accounts for 20% of their active payroll.
AndyWarpath
Bad guy? He’s the best pitcher in franchise history and one of the best pitchers in the game. How would he ever be the bad guy for wanting to get fairly compensated once his existing agreement with the Brewers is up?
Senioreditor
Poor optics for a team hoping to compete this season.
Unclemike1536
They are definitely not hoping to compete….. One step away from a dreaded rebuild Burns will 100% be traded
TheRealMilo
This is really dumb. The Brewers have the talent and will definitely compete for a division title.
Unclemike1526
I agree. This seems a strange way to treat one of your best players. You can tell Stearns really isn’t involved anymore because I doubt he lets this happen.
Steve Cohen Owns You
Could probably be the Mets 4th starter… bring him in, Uncle Steve!
SODOMOJO
14 years, $572 jillion extension with player options for year 15, 16 and full no trade clause
Steve Cohen Owns You
“Eleventy” billion dollars!
colonel flagg
One louder than 10ty billion?
DarkSide830
cheap team will be cheap
hiflew
They are paying him $10 million this year. I wish my boss was that cheap.
Pangolin
And I’m sure someone wishes you had a skill that translates to tens of millions of dollars in value and they could only pay you a fraction of that.
That’s why he will make $350+ in free agency. Because that’s what his skill set is worth to an MLB team.
No Soup For Yu!
Getting real tired of seeing this midwit level response. You probably sat at your computer chuckling to yourself over how astute an observation you had just made. “Heh, if baseball team cheap, why player make money?”
hiflew
Mute button is available. But I guess me not need tell you because you be smart.
No Soup For Yu!
If I muted everyone on this site who has ever commented something dumb, then everyone would be muted (including me, I’m certainly not perfect). However, this particular type of dumb comment is probably the most common here, along with the super smart people who sarcastically comment, “World Series here we come!” under a post about a minor league depth signing.
LosPobres1904
Best reply I’ve seen in a few months lol
Hammerin' Hank
And the neverending comments about Astros players and trash cans are about as bad.
AndyWarpath
when you can do what Corbin Burnes does, maybe someone will pay you $10M!
hiflew
And I would argue that my job is more vital to society than that of a baseball pitcher. I realize that the economics of the industry set the pay, but I also realize that the job is not exactly irreplaceable either. My job will never offer the same sort of salary as an entertainer, but I also have far more security. My job is not going anywhere because people always need pills. Then again, I didn’t decide to do my job for money, I did it because I love what I do and I feel I make a difference.
Spike Hyzer
Your job is even more evil to society than the job of distraction by entertainers. FAR more evil. And distraction is pretty evil.
hiflew
I don’t think the people who received added years to their life would agree with you sir. I’m not a big part of the machine, but I am a necessary cog. I’m sure you have your reasons for hating the pharmaceutical industry, and I agree that it is far from perfect, but without it life expectancy would go down. You can’t say that about the entertainment industry.
AndyWarpath
We’re not talking about who’s job is more essential. We’re talking about someone getting paid an insane amount of money because there’s literally only a handful of people on earth that can do what he does.
I’m sure you’re great at your job. But it’s something that can be learned by many with access to education. Hence the wage disparity.
Thanks for keeping people healthy!
rondon
hiflew…Hmmm.. Added years? I’m fairly sure my sister and the countless others who’ve had to battle opioid addiction in rehab would say that because of big Pharma, their life expectancy HAS gone down. “Far from perfect” is an understatement, sir.
Spike Hyzer
I’m a microbiologist. The drug industry is a con and a racket, peddling mostly poison.
After all, the biggest revelation in science last year was that they KNEW ALL ALONG that serotonin had NOTHING to do with depression.
And yet they peddled 100s of billions of dollars worth over the last 40 or 50 years.
You’re just a cheap drug peddler. Not a saviour.
Far from perfect? Try ALMOST WHOLLY EVIL.
And who cares about life expectancy when it was also proven last year that nature v. nurture is settled and that 90% of ALL ILLNESS is self created (the cancer study that showed that genetics is less than 3% of all cancer, living in toxic areas about 6%, and 91% of all cancer caused by cigs, meat, and booze).
Almost all illness in the modern, western world is preventable with good diet, exercise, and avoiding bad habits.
So, that makes your profession even more evil, because it requires promoting the bad lifestyle choices that end up needing drugs.
Almost never taken one in my life. Aside from anti-biotics–bacterial infection happens–and the drugs needed for my hip surgery (the lone surgery in my life).
I haven’t taken 100 pills in my life.
Neither should anyone else.
Spike Hyzer
Don’t say we’re.
Hiflew was absolutely talking about whose job is more essential.
And such things are relevant in a corrupt and fascist world that uses sports as a means to distract from the evil that has always been the US empire, which is 4.5% of the world, producing only 4% of GDP, yet stealing and consuming OVER 65% of the world’s resources from its 4 billion slaves.
Who gives a flying F that he can throw a ball very hard and with lots of spin?
If that is what you think is relevant and you base your ideology of the world on monetary worth, you’ve got a screw loose and are an utterly corrupt fascist psychopath.
I was great at my job and great at about 5 sports.
So what to the latter and even to the former. I wasn’t saving the world. Just helping a few people here or there.
Burnes doesn’t even do that. He plays a CHILD’S game and gets VASTLY overpaid for doing so.
And let’s not even mention that sports was once a way out for the poor, but that since the 80s OVER 95% of all athletes now come from upper middle class circumstances rather than extreme poverty (see: the Curry boys).
You have no sense of perspective or knowledge of the world if you are butt hurt on the behalf of an overpaid multi millionaire who you think got screwed.
Psychotic and psychopathic.
raisinsss
Off topic.
You’re going to want to go to randomaveragedudesalaryrumors.com
_Soulrocker_
I am just at a loss right now.
greyishwhitesox
Wow, that sucks for Brewers fans. And I’m going to avoid him in fantasy this year.
refugee
I thought of the fantasy angle too, but is it possible this just hacks him off and he really goes out to show them how wrong they were?
fivepoundbass
I think he is already trying his best every time he goes to the mound.
Diggydugler
Never go to your arbitration hearing! This reminds me of Marcus Stroman. The team is trying to pay you less as per the arbitration process. You could argue is a dumb process, but it’s mlbpa approved.
shag
$10 mil and hurt feelings. What a combo.
AndyWarpath
$10M for something worth $30M. Arguing over $750k. What a combo!
raisinsss
@ shag
Some of us are able to discuss the business of baseball in terms of the business of baseball.
Then there’s you.
fivepoundbass
@raisin The business of baseball is what is keeping his salary at what it is, yet he is angry at his team.
raisinsss
Much like your father, he’s not angry, just disappointed.
You’d have to have read the article to see that though.
saluelthpops
Dude. Really? Did you read your previous comment? Hypocrite.
uvmfiji
So he’s saying he’s soft. Not the guy I want pitching in the playoffs.
99socalfrc
Don’t tell the Brewers that, they’ll file for a $4m salary next year.
AndyWarpath
his stats don’t look soft!
Spike Hyzer
They were worse than the previous year, after which he got a HUGE raise.
AndyWarpath
He’s still crazy cheap compared to his value. And he’s performing at an ace level.
raregokus
You’re complaining that his stats were worse than the year he won the Cy Young?
raisinsss
Can’t afford him anyways ;(
bleedinblue 2
HAHAHAHA! The Brewers aren’t making the playoffs!!!
pinstripes17
His stats say otherwise
pinkerton
Seems like a good guy. Can never hit him when I play The Show.
DanielDannyDano
Corbin Burnes will be a Blue Jay by mid-season
vaderzim
I’ve been anticipating him getting traded ever since he broke out… maybe he won’t, but I can definitely see it if the Brewers don’t perform this year.
kripes-brewers
I have to admit that I thought he’d take it more professionally than it seems he did. It is that ugly business side of baseball, that I thought was more “accepted” by players in general. The fact still remains that all clubs are in a position to hold the line on salaries across the board because they do set data points for other teams and players across MLB, so giving in for “favorite” players or cases sets precedents. The same goes when fans expect players to offer hometown discounts to remain with a club for instance. The players union needs those guys to take the best offers to again set precedent (data points) to raise the salaries for future deals.
That said, I hope my Brewers front office makes a strong extension offer and takes his comments into account. He’s been a special player to watch come up through the system.
feeznutz
Take it more professionally? They asked him a question and he gave an honest answer. How is that unprofessional?
kripes-brewers
Because he took it personally. This is a job. A job that pays him more in one year than regular people will make in 10 lifetimes. The fact that he is part of that business of baseball means there are going to be parts of it that are disappointing and sort of a shock when his expectations are not met, which happens when you are part of a profession and this game has evolved from a simple form of entertainment and distraction from our regular lives. And don’t go conflating this as a form of backing the billionaire owners, that’s a completely different discussion.
AndyWarpath
Not to nitpick, but a “regular person” should absolutely be able to make more than 10M in 10 lifetimes.
User 3921286289
The only thing I find abhorrent about this is the Brewers FO trying to blame Burnes for them not making the playoffs after FO traded away Josh Hader…
Samuel
AndyWarpath;
With the people that run Americas economics today, I’m not sure that 10m in one lifetime is enough.
Most people under 30 can’t afford to buy a small house.
IACub
How to tell us you didn’t watch the interview without watching the interview.
The Brewers have egg on their face, especially after trading their best reliever in the middle of a pennant race. The Brewers earned some applause in player development but they are one of the more soulless organizations in baseball right now and this is another example of it.
avenger65
I’m that Burnes’ professional side can handle the arbiter’s decision. It’s the incorrect evaluation of his contribution to the team last year that hit him hard. If you had the best sale statistics in your department but we’re denied a promotion because your supervisor told the boss you could’ve done even better and we’re the cause of the entire company’s overall decline, you’d be pissed off too.
Spike Hyzer
He got a HUGE raise the previous year. Then, despite being the best in his department, actually had a WORSE year. By 1.6 WAR.
Which would have gotten them into the playoffs and the one home game would have netted the team OVER 2 million (maybe more since playoff fans buy more merch and more concessions). And then if they had won, who knows how many more home games (at least 2).
When you cost your company several million and want more than the 3.5 MILLION raise you got, you aren’t going to get it.
Spike Hyzer
1.6 less WAR by Burnes after getting a HUGE raise the prior year begs to differ.
Prince Fielder's Barrelman
Honest and professional are two very different words.
Poster formerly known as . . .
To the contrary, I thought he was very diplomatic in his comments. I imagine he’s a lot more pissed-off at what was said against him in that hearing than he’s showing. From what he says, somebody on the team’s side blamed him for their not making the postseason, despite Burnes leading the starting staff in starts, innings pitched and ERA.
I think it’s worth clicking on the link to hear how restrained he was.
Spike Hyzer
The 1.6 less WAR by Burnes–despite it looking like the equal to his Cy year–would have been just enough wins to get them in. And amounts to a couple million in lost revenue for even ONE game (and how much if they’d gotten further and had a full series instead of just 3 games?).
He cost them several million by himself alone. Which is going to mean that you only get a raise of 3. 5 MILLION instead of 4.25.
How sad for him.
Poster formerly known as . . .
You’re seriously setting a Cy Young season as a benchmark in arbitration? That’s supposed to be his floor in a negotiation?
AndyWarpath
You’re blaming him for only being an all star last year instead of being a cy young winner? Wow.
Spike Hyzer
No. I’m just saying he got a HUGE raise after that and then UNDERPERFORMED the next year.
If you got a huge bonus one year for a million in sales at your company and then sold only 29% less the following, 710,000, do you think you deserve another big bonus or less?
I’m going with less.
Spike Hyzer
No, I’m simply looking at the data. He went from 5.6 to 4 WAR. That’s 29% WORSE. And 1.6 wins would have gotten them into the play offs. They’re blaming him for NOT getting into the playoffs, that single home game being worth MORE than 2 million bucks. And how much more if they win that series and get a minimum of 2 more playoff games? 4 million. He cost the team an ENORMOUS amount of money.
If you were a salesman who got an ENORMOUS raise for leading the company with a million in sales one year and then fell off to 710,000, you’d not be getting another huge raise or bonus the next.
Get it?
Poster formerly known as . . .
Right. Because baseball, as we all know, is a sport of individual competitors like tennis, not a team sport, so standings and wins depended solely on Burnes.
Oh, wait . . .
You’re actually using a Cy Young season as his benchmark with that “29% worse” business.
Burnes was tied for 1st in starts, 2nd in strikeouts, 3rd in innings pitched, 5th in H/9 and K/9, 7th in Total Batters Faced, 9th in fWAR, 11th in Win Probability Added, 15th in FIP, and 19th in ERA. The dollar value of his fWAR was estimated at $36.5 million.
Woodruff led the team (emphasis on “team”) in wins with 13. Burnes was second with 12 wins. Without those 12 wins the Brewers wouldn’t have sniffed the postseason instead of missing the Wild Card by a game.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“They’re blaming him for NOT getting into the playoffs, that single home game being worth MORE than 2 million bucks.”
That home game on October 5th, Burnes’s last outing?
Burnes was pulled after completing three innings. He gave up no hits, no runs, no walks, struck out five, and faced the minimum of 9 batters.
The Brewers led 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Trevor Gott blew the save in the ninth and yielded 3 runs to take the loss.
How was that loss Burnes’s fault?
Or are you talking about another game? The Brewers won five of his last seven games before that Oct. 5th game, and Burnes took the win in three of them and the loss in two. Which game are you talking about?
Spike Hyzer
WAR is the ONLY valid stat in this conversation and probably what the team used. Are you insane to use wins? NO ONE cares about wins anymore. Wins per start might be OK, but wins are meaningless and often go to relievers these days.
It doesn’t matter how good last season appeared to be.
It was SIGNIFICANTLY worse than the prior season. 29% worse.
1.6 ACTUAL WINS worse.
He cost them the playoffs all by his lonesome.
4 WAR is 29% worse than 5.6 WAR.
And it is absolutely and concretely nearly 2 wins.
And ONE WIN would have gotten them into the playoffs.
You get raises when you exceed expectations. He got OVER 4 million the previous year (from around 2 million up to around 6.5 million).
He certainly didn’t deserve as big a raise this year. If his WAR had been the same, sure. But it was not. It was FAR worse.
Poster formerly known as . . .
I never called you an idiot or a moron, but you resorted to childish name-calling. Ad hominem scurrility is the hallmark of a failed argument, in addition to what it says about the insulter’s personality. I don’t have time to waste on people like you. I’ve only muted one other poster, and for the same reason. Now you’re the second, and you won’t be missed. You can hurl more of your invective into the void, where it won’t be seen by me.
99socalfrc
The gas lighting of fans by MLB owners is at vomit inducing levels.
That the team came right out and released a statement full of the same old BS the owners always feed fans says it all.
If you want to convince your fans that you are comitted to putting the best product on the field, there’s an easy way to do that. Pay your best pitcher the extra $750k to avoid hearings.
AndyWarpath
In the battle between millionaires and billionaires, when in doubt, always root for the millionaires!
Samuel
99socalfrc;
Cut it out.
So this overgrown boy was hurt because the hearing was held on Valentines Day? How many people have to travel and work for their jobs on Valentine’s Day? Do they get to go to the media and kvetch.
This kid and his agent elected to go to arbitration. No one forced them to. I’m sure they said wonderful things about the Brewers organization.
This guy labels himself a “professional”. He’s not. As commented above – he’s soft.
MLBTR is only too happy to publish about MLB FO’s and their team owners if they don’t bend over backwards for their players. Meanwhile they gloss over, and make excuses when players bully around their teammates, FO’s, owners, and fans. They never detail things like Stephen Strasburg’s contact and what that’s done to the Nationals organization (I believe a prime reason the franchise is up for sale…and a prime reason they’re having trouble selling it).
I’m sorry Mr. Burnes widdow fewings were hurt. But I watched the Brewers in the stretch run and the fact is he was one of many guys that didn’t do his job (the Brewers should have been in the 2022 playoffs).
Arbitrators don’t work for the owners.
I’ve lost all respect for this guy.
case
You’re so right, every day I wake up and wonder if the ownership for the Nationals is doing OK, thoughts and prayers.
Samuel
case;
Grow up.
case
I hope someday you can understand the irony of your own post, until then, thoughts and prayers.
Samuel
case;
Immature people have always seen a lot of irony in the adult world.
User 3921286289
Samuel,
Stop being such a pompous snarky pedant.
It makes you look even more ugly.
Thanks.
case
You just keep delivering, that sentence is pure gold.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“This kid and his agent elected to go to arbitration. No one forced them to.”
The Brewers elected to go to arbitration rather than pay their ace his asking price.
“Arbitrators don’t work for the owners.”
Who hires the panel of arbitrators? Who pays them?
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7929521/mlb-fires-shyam-da…
nytimes.com/1995/08/16/sports/baseball-owners-fire…
Poster formerly known as . . .
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18009980/mlb-players-union…
acell10
you’re joking right? Arbitration doesn’t work for the owners? That’s laughable even by the exceptionally low standards you’ve set for yourself samuel.
99socalfrc
Samuel- The Brewers organization is cheap as hell. Plain and simple. They have one of the most loyal fanbases in the sport and all they do is ship out their best players and cry poverty.
$725,000 is nothing for a MLB team, especially one that is not even halfway to the luxury tax, after spending all winter shipping out anything of value from last years team (6 months after they traded Hader) this is a bad look. It’s not so much about Burnes whining it’s about the Brewers being cheap.
refereemn77
Samuel… maybe the worst comment I’ve ever read on MKBTR.
bigjonliljon
It’s not that simple. What wasn’t mentioned in the article is that the $750K isn’t the only money to worry about. He has another year of arbitration next year. That $750 K in this years base will be doubled, if not higher in his pay increase next year. So it’s a multi year dollar figure, not just this years $750 K
AndyWarpath
they literally mention this in the article.
Steve Adams
It’s mentioned in there, and I linked to an old piece I wrote citing multiple general managers, AGMs, etc. discussing the team perspective of arbitration and why fighting over trivial sums in the short term has a compounding, league-wide, long-term effect.
acell10
it’s still kind of a weak a$s argument from the GMs owners etc.
2012orioles
Future Oriole? I’m hoping. But yeah, bummer for Brewers fans. Not the best news
SFGiantsGallore
Ahh-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
pirateking24
Someone please tell this guy that when it comes to money it’s business and not personal.
utah cornelius
Telling him he was responsible for the team not getting into the postseason, after his performance, is not personal? I’d take that personally.
Spike Hyzer
No, it’s simply FACTUAL. Despite apparently equal success last year as the previous, he had 1..6 less WAR.
2 more wins and they’re in the playoffs and ONE playoff game is worth nearly 2 million in gate, merch, and concession revenue (and how much more if they make it further and get more games?).
He cost the team several million after he UNDERPERFORMED based on his last raise. If he had met his performance benchmark and they got in the playoffs, he might have gotten much more than the 3.5 million dollar raise he just got (and even more than the 4.25 he asked for).
That’s how legal tribunals work. He lost for a reason.
pinstripes17
Until they made it personal by saying he’s the reason they didn’t make the playoffs.
Badfinger
Waaaaaaah I’m only making 10 million dollars this season.
Call me every name in the book if you want but if you’re still going to pay me 10 million, I’ll deal with it.
AndyWarpath
not if you’re worth 30m, you wont.
Samuel
AndyWarpath;
If he was “worth” 30m the arbitrator would have given it to him.
AndyWarpath
that is 100% not the job of arbitration in MLB cases. They work off precedent, not current fair market value. The concern has been and continues to be the active suppression of the arbitration system by MLB owners.
colonel flagg
This is a product of collective bargaining with the MLBPA. Neither side can claim the high ground as they both signed off on this system.
Spike Hyzer
Technically, because he’s not yet a FA, he’s not worth that much.
Unclemike1536
The dumpster fire just got some more fuel! What a joke of a franchise
Samuel
deGrom Texas Rangers
LOL
They’ve been better than yours for the last 10 years.
pdxbrewcrew
Six years and counting with no playoffs for the Rangers. With five of those years having a higher payroll than the Brewers (2021 the Brewers were about $1.5 M higher).
If the Brewers are a joke, the Rangers are a really, REALLY bad joke.
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Gosh. I mean, here’s a guy who seems to love pitching in Milwaukee and puts it all out there, and the team “nickles and dimes” him. Just a really bad look. Milwaukee isn’t exactly an attractive destination, so why scare off players that seemingly want to be there?
Spike Hyzer
Yeah, a 3.5 million dollar raise is SO nickel and dime. 350,000 dimes.
imgman09
He Won’t forget, future ex-Brewer,too bad
minor league guy
yeah, i think we are long past the days that anyone will develop and retire as a brewer without stops in between…
everyone in our system is a future ex-brewer
Poster formerly known as . . .
“Making a concession on a $750K sum to keep Burnes happy, in a vacuum, seems like an easy call. But if every club took that approach and acquiesced on the small gaps in arbitration, those concessions would become data points for future arbitration cases, and arbitration salaries would spike in fairly rapid fashion.”
This is true, but not every player going to arbitration is a starting pitcher who’s first in ERA, FIP and fWAR since 2020.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&…
acell10
I’m not quite sure I buy that arbitration would spike all that rapidly with those changes etc. but even if it did at least players at an earlier age would be compensated more appropriately for their abilities and a more appropriate time in their careers.
Keith M
The Rangers haven’t gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000 for this very reason.
chemfinancing
Come to the Royals buddy
pdxbrewcrew
Want some cheese with that whine, Corbin?
AndyWarpath
oh! you spelled wine like whine! because someone enjoys wine with cheese! i get it! my god. the craftsmanship!
pdxbrewcrew
Like you are showing Shakespearean levels of wit yourself.
baseballpun
What this tells me is that everyone on both sides know that Burnes is gone when he hits FA, unless he’s traded first.
brewsingblue82
Most of us Brewers fans know Burnes is going to be traded. It’s a sad truth, but it’s the truth.
The only thing that bothers me about this news is that they actually tried to blame the Brewers missing the playoffs on someone other than the front office, who did basically nothing to improve the team at the trade deadline.
minor league guy
I mean, that was always the case, no?
Seriously though… anyone thinking the Brewers had a chance at an extension after he won the Cy Young award was setting themselves up for disappointment.
Inside Out
What a baby. He perhaps should avoid attending these hearings in the future if he is so sensitive.
twinky
Well…..trade him to the Twins
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Better a chip on the shoulder than a spur in the elbow.
Jean Matrac
So much for the belief that players know it’s just business, and don’t mind the team focusing on a player’s negatives. That may be true for some guys, but I’d guess Corbin is just more honest that some others.
tutopelotas1
DUMB MANAGEMENT !! … This guy is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and you don’t really value him !!
ClevelandSteelEngines
Taking it personally is fine. However, to speak to it and claim to be professional is a bald face lie. There is no need to sugar-coat this unless you are embarrassed you feel personally hurt.
Although it is understandable to be feel betrayed in arbitration hearings, the dude would have been better off holding off as this doesn’t help but hurts. It hurts the fans, it hurts his teammates, its hurts his professional brand, and the future. Unless there is a lot of money on the line, magnitudes more than the reported figure, it doesn’t seem smart to air grievances just yet.
puigpower
Ridiculous to disparage your star in arb. It’s worth the extra million or two.
foppert
Milwaukee misses the playoffs by 1 game in ‘22 and Burnes is 1.6 WAR worse than he was in ‘21. I wonder if that’s where they went. Would love to know the argument.
brewsingblue82
Likely exactly where they went with the argument was that. Honestly though, if I were the person arguing his case, I’d of just dispelled that notion and said “The team missed the playoffs because the front office failed to do anything to help the team at the trade deadline.” That’s 100% why they missed them
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Waaa! Waaa! It’s hardly anything to whine about. I’m also disappointed that I got a way lower raise than the rate of inflation (as did most people who work). Life is unfair. Now, the guy needs to man up and make the most of what he has and go for a big free agent deal.
Steve Cohen Owns You
Rangers, you’ve been working for, what, a year-and-a-half since you graduated (you previously said you’re 23)?! “Waaaaa! Waaaaaa! I deserved a bigger raise!”
cbraves
It’s a business. There are lots of players who lose Arb hearings. Just suck it up and play baseball. $10MM to play baseball for a living? I don’t know how he will get by.
Cheeseman Forever
Was it unreasonable for Burnes to seek the same pay as Woodruff? (Short answer: No.) Was it foolhardy for the Brewers to blame Burnes for missing the playoffs? (Spoiler alert: Absolutely.) And the Brewers marketing team subjected me to a long survey wondering why I haven’t bought a ticket package this year.
towinagain
AJ is on the phone…would take quite a haul. Do the Padres have the pieces? Don’t know. Is this an AJ type move? 100%
ActionDan
I think it’s safe to say he probably won’t resign when he’s a free agent. Might as well trade him now for a ransom while his value is high.
MannyPineappleExpress9
That was a pretty safe bet before this. Even before he (I believe he was one of them..) voiced his displeasure over the Hader trade.
The reality is he had already priced himself way over what the Brewers could afford..or were willing to spend, when he won the CY.
mickeystix69
Go get him arte
anvil35
When did men in our country become such vaginas!!!?
Poster formerly known as . . .
Where’s this week’s meeting of the He-man Woman-haters Club — at the Holiday Inn?
youtube.com/watch?v=0OTYdizres8&t=8s
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Why do you have to bring female genitalia into a baseball discussion?? Are you really that mentally deficient??
pdxbrewcrew
Are you really that much of a vagina?
wileycoyote56
There’s 29 other clubs out there, I’m sure that 1 or 2 of them would appreciate the talent he possesses and sign him to a long term contract that reflects his value
O’sfan222
Call the orioles take DL hall and westburg
DannyDon'tDrinkSmalesFresca
Wah!! $10M and it’s not enough.
Spike Hyzer
No kidding. I was mad the last time I got a 3.5 million dollar raise too.
acell10
Perhaps if either one of your respective talents justified that you’d feel the same way too.
mbreslow77
He’ll be an Oriole soon
Bralx8
As a Brewer fan this is truly disappointing to hear. While the Arb process has its flaws, I am shocked to hear the FO could even fathom to mention CB as a reason they didn’t make the playoffs. This coming from the same FO that traded away an All-Star Closer while 3 games up at the end of July. If the FO wants to blame someone they should look in the mirror.
As a small market team the Brewers can ill-afford this type of behavior, especially when it comes to their star players. Considering the economic system in baseball is getting exponentially worse, they were likely already priced out of CB’s range. But that doesn’t mean they can’t respect him for what he’s done and will continue to do for this organization. This is a damning shadow on the organization and will be seen by players around the league who will remember these things when exploring free agent options.
My prediction is if this team is .500 or below by July CB and likely Woodruff or Adames are traded along with guys on expiring deals like Winker. For Mark A.’s sake I hope the likes of Mitchell Frelick and Chourio make the impacts we hear they can make soon. Otherwise, sell the team to someone willing to invest in a true winner
pdxbrewcrew
Wow. Way to go out on a limb with that prediction.
HalosHeavenJJ
If we lose Ohtani, I’ll gladly take him here next season.
BuyBuyMets
Evidently, in making their case, tbe Brewers were expected to shower the guy with endless praise and then just pay him hus figure because his hearing was scheduled by a third party on a greeting card holiday?
martras
I guess I’m not surprised about the extreme takes from both sides on this. In regard to the Brewers, they’re doing what MLB teams do by trying to protect the club’s payroll stability. Even Burnes himself stated the club didn’t make any personal attacks and the arbitrator sided with the Brewers, not Burnes. A predictable MLB payroll is utterly critical to the integrity of the game.
When it comes to the attacks on Burnes, he’s playing for peanuts compared to what he’d earn in free agency and while I’m sure players are more calm now than they were a year or two ago, there’s still tension there when you’re not being paid for your immediate past contributions. It’s not hard to grasp he’d be disappointed by the loss.
In any case, I doubt this has any impact on Burnes willingness to stay in Milwaukee and I can’t imagine it has any impact on the quality of his work this year. I suppose it’s to be expected, but there were also asinine comments insinuating Burnes would pitching poorly just to spite the Brewers when that would have a catastrophic impact on Burnes’ future compensation. The bottom line is the Brewers likely can’t afford Burnes after 2024 if his production continues steady. The Brewers would likely be looking at 7-10yrs at $35MM per season or so. So I’d expect Burnes to be traded this year for a huge haul if the Brewers aren’t leading the division near the trade deadline.
saluelthpops
I’ve been defending the teams on these threads in regard to them trying to save money, but I did not realize that in the hearing they essentially trash the player to try to keep the price down. That does not seem like good business to me. Unfortunate that the process is set up this way.
Mikenmn
It’s a business, and part of paying someone less has to be hyping his shortcomings. I suppose it’s a question of just how nasty they were. It does seem strange that a midpoint couldn’t be found, but the late offer….which was all the Brewers’ advantage, probably compounded it.
Spike Hyzer
I guess you’ve never seen an accurate courtroom drama like Better Caul Saul.
Those hearings in which Jimmy was fighting against Chuck and Howard to keep his law license against a TINY board were nothing but character assassinations from both sides, with a few facts thrown in for good measure.
Burnes and his team had the chance to argue back, but I’m sure that the team’s argument about a few failures by Burnes that led to missing the play offs by ONE GAME were more compelling than his argument for another 750K. In fact, they probably did argue it in terms of money that the team lost by not making the playoffs The gate for ONE home game alone is 1.3 million at an average ticket price of 30 bucks and while the opponent may get 1/3, the Crew gets the entire concession revenue, and I’d be willing to bet that with jerseys and other material items and a bit of beer and food, the average spent by fans is easily the same as the gate.
If Burnes cost them even ONE WIN, he cost the team n the neighborhood of 2 million bucks (not to mention how much more if they had won that playoff series and gotten a few more games).
It’s all about the money and they must have made a compelling argument that he cost them a bunch.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Better Call Saul one hell of a show.
LosPobres1904
Padres are trading for him
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
Cy Young winners don’t sign team friendly extensions.
Rsox
There is nothing positive that can come from going to an arbitration hearing as a player because you literally have to sit there and listen to the team nit pick apart your performance no matter how good of a season you had. Burnes should also know not to take it personal as the team’s goal is to save every penny it can, or there wouldn’t have been a hearing in the first place
Datashark
Burnes is probably looking to sell his house in Wisconsin and will be quietly asking for a trade.
minor league guy
lol, and the team will quietly tell him he is free to go where he likes after 2024 and that he should rent. barring an absolute collapse this year or next, i highly doubt burnes gets traded
pinkerton
Murder durdur
minor league guy
unless things completely unravel this season, the brewers will not trade any of burnesy, woody or willy. they will let all of them walk after 2024, with a QO thrown out there. and i, for one, am fine with that. the way things are lining up, I get a sense of the 2011 brewers team. this year will be used to bridge the gap, get the rooks their cup of coffee, and the team will get their “bites” without sacrificing prospects or crippling themselves with contracts. in 2011, the brewes knew they couldnt pay Prince, so we went all in on his walk year. so while this whole arbitration nonsense doesnt look great, I am going to withhold judgment until next offseason. heres hoping…
Spike Hyzer
It’s always so heartbreaking when a multi-millionaire gets a 3.5 million dollar raise instead of 4.25 million.
When the rest of us are lucky to get 50 cents an hour on our 2000 hour work year.
Spike Hyzer
And people said I was silly for thinking so, but a 3 year extension for 75 million WOULD have worked. He has arb for one more year. He will make 25 million total in 2023 and 2024.
They could have given him a 20 million signing bonus and then 15 million in each of the next two years and made him happy (especially with another 25 coming in 2025). Because you never know when injury could strike.
A bird in the hand Corby….
(oh and he also made himself look REALLY dumb when he said ‘perspire’ instead of ‘transpire’ on the ESPN video)
reflect
It takes two to tango. The player could have also chosen to accept the smaller deal to avoid the arbitration he hated so much. It’s not just one party that’s obligated to accommodate the other.
Jean Matrac
Teams that try hard to avoid arb hearings, and there are several, usually do so by finding a middle ground, not the team accommodating the player and just giving him what he asks for.
reflect
Who’s to say the 10 mil they offered was not already a middle ground? You’re making baseless assumptions about their level of effort and their actual valuation of the player. Maybe they were already compromising for a player worth $9 mil.
I’m not blindly defending the team, moreso just rebuking this article which completely ignores the fact that players too, can compromise sometimes. We don’t have any information that justifies blaming one side over the other.
Jean Matrac
reflect, First of all it’s not an offer. Teams and players independently submit figures, of what they think is fair. If you think the Brewers’ proposed figure was the middle ground, then you don’t understand how arb works, and you seem to be unaware of how teams have avoided arb in other cases.
Teams, like the Brewers will go to arb over seemingly small numbers because of their budget, and future payroll commitments. They fight over a small amount to avoid an even larger escalation of pay down the road. It’s how teams with lower budgets operate.
And if you look at the many cases of teams avoiding arbitration it’s almost always a middle ground figure. And when it’s not it’s because the player signed a multi-year extension instead. I’m not anywhere near making a baseless assumption.
Had this been a league average guy it would have been one thing. But when a team has a talent the level of Corbin Burnes, then yes. I do question the team’s level of effort.
reflect
Please save the condescension. I work in finance so I know exactly how this works, it’s the same system used in legal disputes and employment disputes around the globe.
An arbitration proposal and an offer are not mutually exclusive terms. Each side does submit a figure, but the other side could, if they want, immediately accept and agree to that submitted figure. Thus the proposal is also simultaneously an offer. Compromises are often already baked in to these proposals because each side is motivated to get a deal done quickly and efficiently.
There’s also the fact that 17 other Brewers players seemed to have no difficulty reaching agreements, so the team cannot be the only variable here.
Your opinion is that better players warrant more compromise from the team. That’s not an opinion I hold. All players are equally subject to the same process that they themselves collectively bargained for. I believe in following contracts to the letter. If the union thinks better players should have bet Treet treatment then they should spell out that concept treatment during the next set of CBA negotiations.
Jean Matrac
You say you know how this works, but it doesn’t appear that you do. Maybe your work is similar, but unless it’s MLB arbitration, it seems like you’re making faulty comparisons.
What happened with 17 other players is irrelevant. Each case is unique. The closest comp is Woodruff, but that’s not a good comp either.
Your original post criticized me, and accused me of making baseless assumptions. But you’re assuming the Brewers would submit figures higher than their initial offer, something in between theirs and Burnes. That’s unrealistic. Teams submit a figure that they think will win, not some sort of halfway measure to entice the player to sign. If they were willing to offer a midpoint deal they can do that in negotiations. They wouldn’t do that in a submitted arb figure.
And to think that the Brewers should not prioritize a staff ace, and treat a guy like Victor Caratini, equally is absurd.
Bobby smac9
The bucks mattered to the club. The perceived hit below the belt mattered to Burnes. Short sightedness is usually confronted by a long memory. Piss poor optic here.
Luke Strong
The fact that the Brewers will have no chance of retaining him once he becomes a FA is all the more reason the league needs a salary cap. There is no good reason why large market clubs can just buy their way to being contending teams nearly every season while small market teams must rely on churning out young players and have only a few years of affordable control until they are priced out on them. I think it’s devastating to the game long-term as well.
Yay Sports
Duh. Come on.. I’ve heard this guys name as a potential HOF candidate compared to how elite he is to the rest of the current mlb pitchers. Worth the 750k right there
angt222
Goodluck extending him longterm.
minor league guy
that was never happening anyway.
JayRyder
This guy won the Cy Young ? What a joke. Innings pitch alone that year indicate he was clearly not the winner. He wants 300 Mil.
nottinghamforest13
Why does the author continually refer to the process as a trial when it is in fact a hearing?
dixoncayne
News Flash: Players want to get paid. Owners don’t want to pay. You can’t cry when you lose in arbitration.
etex211
Charlie Finley warned us about arbitration nearly 50 years ago.
BenBenBen
Steve’s writing is a complete mess, as usual.
BenBenBen
“Burnes lost his arbitration hearing against the team this week and, upon being asked about the process in Brewers camp today, offered a rather”
No comma is necessary after “and.” Learn this.
“Most troubling for Brewer fans is that, asked specifically about his relationship with the team, Burnes admitted…”
The comma after “that” is just patently incorrect. You also can’t just out the needed word “when” and replace it with a comma. This is not proper English.
“Burnes made clear that the Brewers did not, at any point, attack his character or disparage him as a person, but…”
Don’t interrupt yourself by putting “at any point” there, when you can put it after “as a person” and have a flowing sentence.
“The team, Burnes said, made a late but “pretty poor” two-year offer.”
Again, the sentence should begin with “Burnes said” rather than having this disjunct structure. There’s no reason to write this way, separating the subject and verb.
“and, for Brewers fans, likely infuriating.”
If you’re going to write this instead of the more straightforward “and likely infuriating for Brewers fans,” don’t use a freaking comma after and. It’s just not necessary. Period. It only serves to break up your sentence even further than you already have.
“The typical line following arbitration hearings is that they’re ‘just business,’ and while many players surely feel that way, Burnes’ comments are a reminder that there’s a personal component to the process and, at the end of the day, the teams are dealing with human beings.”
If you INSIST on having “and” in the sentence twice (already a no-no), at least take out the worthless tautology “at the end of the day,” which adds nothing to your sentence.
G-Force
Dude, you’re so unbelievably annoying! Did you just write a 12 paragraph essay just to annoy the writer? Unbelievable!
Well, here… back to you, buddy! The use of the silly name ‘Ben’ three times in your handle is annoyingly repetitive and serves no purpose grammatically. It is not proper English lol. Refrain from making use of repetitive words to try to make yourself the center of attention. It only makes you sound dumb. Go back to grade school. Out.
BenBenBen
Lmao how original, you’re the 12780231th person on here to think that an ONLINE SCREENNAME is somehow equal to what a professional writer puts out for a salary. Thinking that repeating a name is somehow not “proper English.” That’s what we call a false equivalence, but clearly, you’re too much of a blockhead to know what that is. And you say I need to go back to grade school. At least I made it to high school where I learned about logic, you still seem to be stuck in the third grade.
Furthermore, you’re commenting on a piece that’s two weeks old. How much of a creep are you that you’re stalking back through old posts just to slander me? Pathetic.
Also, ad hominem attack on my name. Weakens your point, which isn’t even valid, even further. Another logical fallacy! Epic fail by you.
Bend the knee and take this L. You lose more than the Pirates.
G-Force
Looks like the Brewers are not even going to try to work out a contract with Burnsy. It’s simple… they know they won’t be able to afford him. That’s why they said those things at his hearing. By fighting so hard for a meager $700K they pretty much took themselves out. Next it’s gonna be to trade Burnes for prospects. I hope everything goes well for CB. He’s my top arm in my keeper league and I want another championship… so I want him happy on the mound every time he’s up. He’s got a bright future ahead. This however is bad news for Brewer fans.