The Brewers reached the playoffs for the fifth time in sixth seasons, but were upset and swept out of the Wild Card Series by the Diamondbacks, triggering a quick start to what might be a somewhat transformative offseason. Longtime manager Craig Counsell is out of contract come November and has been non-committal about his future in Milwaukee, while the Brewers face tough decisions on a trio of prominent players.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Christian Yelich, OF: $136.5MM through 2028 (includes $6.5MM buyout of 2029 mutual option)
- Aaron Ashby, SP: $18.5MM through 2027 (includes $1MM buyout of 2028 club option; Brewers also hold $13MM club option for 2029 with no buyout)
- Freddy Peralta, SP: $7MM through 2024 (includes $1.5MM buyout of 2025 club option)
Total 2024 commitments: $32.75MM
Total future commitments: $162MM
Option Decisions
- Mark Canha, 1B/OF: $11.5MM club option for 2024 ($2MM buyout)
- Wade Miley, SP: $10MM mutual option for 2024 ($1MM buyout)
- Andrew Chafin, RP: $7.25MM club option for 2024 ($725K buyout)
- Justin Wilson, RP: $2.5MM club option for 2024 ($150K buyout)
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projected 2024 salaries via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Brandon Woodruff (5.161): $11.6MM
- Willy Adames (5.105): $12.4MM
- Corbin Burnes (5.049): $15.1MM
- Adrian Houser (5.010): $5.6MM
- Rowdy Tellez (5.004): $5.9MM
- Eric Lauer (4.111): $5.2MM
- Hoby Milner (4.068): $1.7MM
- Devin Williams (4.056): $6.5MM
- Tyrone Taylor (3.093): $1.7MM
- Bryse Wilson (3.036): $1.3MM
- Joel Payamps (3.027): $1.7MM
- Abraham Toro (3.011): $1.3MM
- Non-tender candidates: Lauer, Tellez, Toro
Free Agents
- Jesse Winker, Carlos Santana, Victor Caratini, Josh Donaldson, Colin Rea, Julio Teheran, Fernando Abad, Greg Allen, Darin Ruf
With speculation swirling for years about the possibility of David Stearns leaving the Brewers to run the Mets’ front office, a subsection of rumors also formed around Counsell, whose contract (like Stearns) was up at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Stearns’ deal allowed him to start negotiating with other teams on August 1, and it took a little over a month before Stearns indeed ended up as New York’s new president of baseball operations. Firing Buck Showalter was one of Stearns’ first decisions as PBO, thus leaving the Mets in need of a new manager.
Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has been open about his desire to retain Counsell, though the skipper asked that any contract talks be put off until after the season. This would seemingly set the stage for Counsell to make a clean exit to Queens, or perhaps to one of the other managerial vacancies (Giants, Guardians, Angels) around the game, or maybe to a season or two away from baseball entirely to recharge his batteries. Only Counsell knows what his next step will be, and should he indeed depart, Attanasio and president of baseball operations Matt Arnold will have to add a new managerial hire to the top of the offseason to-do list.
Though Stearns, possibly Counsell, and possibly at least one of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames won’t be back next season, it doesn’t seem like the Brewers will entertain the idea of a rebuild. This is still a talented roster that just won 92 games, and both Attanasio and Arnold seem committed to the idea of perpetual contention in the model of the Rays or Guardians, without the need to ever fully tear things down like other medium-to-small market teams.
That still means some tough budget decisions will have to be made, however. This offseason has always been seen as something of a flashpoint for the Burnes/Woodruff/Adames trio, as all three are entering their final trip through the arbitration process and are scheduled for free agency following the 2024 campaign. As per Matt Swartz’s arbitration projections for MLBTR, the trio are set to earn roughly $39.1MM in salary next year. Combined with the $26MM that Christian Yelich will receive, that’s four players covering around $65.1MM in payroll for a team whose entire Opening Day payroll in 2023 was a touch under $118.8MM. Among the arbitration class, the likely non-tenders of Rowdy Tellez and Eric Lauer will free up some cash, but closer Devin Williams is also getting a significant raise in his second year of arb eligibility.
If Attanasio feels the team is still close to a championship, could he okay a one-year payroll boost and retain all of Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames for what would essentially be a “last dance” season? In theory yes, though it seems like 2023 might’ve already been that last dance. As much Milwaukee fans dislike the idea of prominent players being dealt for financial reasons, a canny trade would allow the Brew Crew to both save some money and acquire some talent to help the team in both 2024 and beyond.
Keeping all of Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames even until the next trade deadline would carry further risk, for one because the 2022 Josh Hader deal is an example of how such a trade can disrupt a clubhouse at midseason. Furthermore, the players’ trade value could be lessened or erased completely in the event of injury or under-performance — a circumstance that has perhaps already happened with two of the three.
Woodruff pitched only 67 innings in 2023 due to a subscapular strain in his right shoulder, and more shoulder problems arose right as the postseason began, keeping Woodruff off the playoff roster. Even if this current issue does prove to be relatively minor, rival teams might already be scared off at the idea of trading for an injured pitcher, and the Crew doesn’t want to sell low.
In the worst-case scenario of a major shoulder injury, Woodruff missing some or all of the 2024 season has greater impact than just on his trade status. For one, the Brewers might be less inclined to move Burnes if they know they’ll also be losing their other ace to the injured list. Woodruff’s health situation might erase the “need” for a trade, since otherwise, Burnes seems like the clear sell-high candidate of the trio after another All-Star season.
Even in an offseason with a pitching-heavy free agent market, clubs unwilling or unable to spend on a big long-term free agent deal will have plenty of interest in one year of Burnes’ services. Conceivably, the Brewers could aim to land pitching as part of a Burnes trade to bolster the rotation in the event of a Woodruff injury. As indicated by last offseason’s three-team swap between the Brewers, Athletics, and Braves, Arnold is willing to get creative in trades, so the team obtaining Burnes wouldn’t necessarily be the team also giving up an arm in return.
Rotation depth has traditionally been a strength for the Brewers, particularly in a 2023 season that saw several starters miss significant stretches. But, beyond Burnes, Woodruff, and Lauer’s probable non-tender, Colin Rea and Julio Teheran (who combined for 33 starts) are free agents, and Wade Miley can also re-enter free agency by declining his end of a mutual option. Without any of these arms, the Brewers’ top rotation options are now Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, Aaron Ashby returning after missing all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery, rookie Janson Junk and his nine career MLB games, and pitching prospect Robert Gasser on the verge of his Major League debut.
Re-signing Rea or Teheran might not be too expensive, and a reunion with Lauer is possible on a lower salary than his $5.2MM arbitration projection. Miley could potentially also stay if the Brew Crew negotiated a new contract, but if not, expect Milwaukee to target another Miley-esque veteran hurler who can add some stability and innings on a short-term deal.
Given how starting pitching has been the backbone of the Brewers’ run of contending teams, this much flux heading into the offseason is certainly unsettling for the club, making Woodruff’s health a huge X-factor. It does help that Milwaukee will be bringing back pretty much everyone from one of the game’s better relief corps, and it’s safe to expect a couple more bullpen arms to be cycled in and out as the Brewers look to find another hidden gem of a relief option.
The Brewers’ pitching and defense helped carry the team to the NL Central crown despite an offense that was inconsistent at best. Considering that the Crew need lineup reinforcement and infield help in particular, they might be more compelled to hang onto Adames, despite his down year at the plate. Adames hit 24 homers and still provided outstanding shortstop defense, but his 94 wRC+ (from a .217/.310/.407 slash line) was well below the 116 wRC+ he posted from 2020-22, as Adames’ hard-contact rates plunged this season.
Adames’ bat did come back to life over the last six weeks of the schedule, so it could be that the 28-year-old simply had an unusually prolonged slump. If looking for possible causes, his usual spring routine was interrupted by the World Baseball Classic, and Adames only played in one game for the Dominican Republic. It could be that with a full and normal Spring Training, Adames will look more like his normal self in 2024, which is good news for the Brewers…or a new team.
Brice Turang is a gifted enough fielder to at least replace Adames’ glovework at shortstop, but Turang didn’t show much at the plate in his rookie year. Turang had a 60 wRC+, the second-lowest of all MLB players with at least 400 plate appearances last season. While it’s too early to assume that Turang can’t become at least a passable hitter, he is already slated to be Milwaukee’s first choice at second base next season, so it just creates another hole on the diamond if Turang was moved to shortstop in the event of an Adames trade. Andruw Monasterio and Owen Miller had their moments in 2023 and Abraham Toro could contribute if he isn’t non-tendered, but the Brewers might prefer having this group as utility depth rather getting steady playing time in a second base platoon.
Or, a third base platoon, since the hot corner was a revolving door for much of 2023. Brian Anderson and Monasterio handled the bulk of the playing time, but Anderson has already been released, and the Brewers aren’t likely to bring back late-season pickup Josh Donaldson. Prospect Tyler Black played a lot of third base at Triple-A Nashville last season and is expected to make his MLB debut in 2024, though it remains to be seen if third base will necessarily be his primary position, as he has been shuffled all around the diamond trying to find an ideal defensive spot.
First base was also a weak link before trade deadline acquisitions Mark Canha and Carlos Santana helped stabilize things, though Santana is a free agent and the Brew Crew have a $9.5MM decision to make on Canha’s club option. It might not have been a decision Milwaukee necessarily expected to make when they landed Canha from the Mets, yet Canha played so well (.800 OPS in 204 PA) as a Brewer that exercising the option might easily solve one lineup concern.
Canha would probably primarily play first base, but his ability to also play both corner outfield slots provides extra depth, and perhaps gives the Crew some extra leverage in trading from their outfield depth. Moving an outfielder for a third baseman in particular could be helpful, since the list of free agent third-base options isn’t deep, and the Brewers aren’t likely to be spending in the Matt Chapman/Jeimer Candelario tiers.
Turning to the outfield, Christian Yelich isn’t exactly back in his old MVP form, but his 122 wRC+ was his highest since 2019. He’s still locked into the left field spot, though Yelich figures to get some DH days to open up playing time for former top prospects Garrett Mitchell (who missed most of the year due to shoulder surgery) and Sal Frelick, as well as Tyrone Taylor and rookies Blake Perkins and Joey Wiemer. While Yelich is the only established player of this group, there could be enough of a surplus here for the Brewers to explore trades, especially since another highly-touted youngster is waiting in the wings.
Jackson Chourio doesn’t celebrate his 20th birthday until March, but he is already ranked as one of baseball’s very best prospects after tearing up the minors over his three pro seasons. Chourio has only six games and 24 PA at the Triple-A level, so it is possible Milwaukee starts him back at Triple-A to begin the season to get the outfielder some more seasoning. However, between Chourio’s intriguing potential and the Prospect Promotion Incentive opportunity open to the Brewers, a big Spring Training performance might put Chourio in center field for Milwaukee on Opening Day.
Since Chourio figures to make his MLB debut at some point in 2024, the Brewers might hold off on an outfield trade until they see how everything shakes out. Frelick and Mitchell aren’t likely going anywhere, but Wiemer is a former top-100 prospect and Taylor has generally been a solid part-timer over his five MLB seasons. Those latter two players might hold appeal to other teams, if perhaps as part of a package deal rather than in a notable one-for-one swap.
Turning to the final bench spot, free agent Victor Caratini had a solid season as William Contreras’ backup, and might look for more playing time with another team. The Brewers would surely like to re-sign Caratini if possible, but they’ll be on the lookout for another veteran backstop if necessary. The good news is that the Crew don’t necessarily have to limit themselves to glove-first types, as Conteras made such impressive strides with his blocking and framing that he now looks like an above-average catcher on both defense and offense.
Contreras is the latest example of how the Crew have been able to continually reload their roster. The infamous Hader trade led to Gasser and Esteury Ruiz joining the Brewers, which led to Ruiz being sent to the A’s as part of that three-team deal that resulted in Contreras and ace setup man Joel Payamps coming to Milwaukee. Naturally not every trade is going to work out quite as swimmingly, but it does provide hope that if Burnes, Adames, or Woodruff are indeed moved, Arnold will be able to again bring back a noteworthy return.
Arnold will have to weigh his big trade decisions against how to best upgrade the existing quality on the roster, all while not creating any roadblocks for the impending arrival of Chourio, Black, and Gasser. Counsell’s future and Woodruff’s shoulder are the two biggest topics facing Milwaukee as the offseason begins, but the Brewers enter a potentially fascinating winter.
Click here to read the Brewers-centric live chat Mark Polishuk with MLBTR readers.
I can’t comment, I broke out into a sweat reading the post
With Arnold in charge of the establishment, Happy Days could be on the way again in Millwahkay and things will be cool. As long as the club didn’t jump the shark with their most recent playoff exit. Aiiiii
Dude wrote a novel….
There was a lot to cover!
You did a great job writing this, very informative and well thought out. I appreciate that MLBTR goes into this level of depth with a small market team
Summary:
1. Craig Counsell is the number one free agent this off season and the Mets will try to out bid everyone, but most people think his heart is in Milwaukee so he’ll probably be back or step away from the game for a bit.
2. The Brewers will try to keep pretty much everyone and run it back, but they’re willing to let expensive players leave because they’ve built a sustainable next man up culture.
Most people think Counsell’s heart is in Milwaukee so he’ll probably be back?
Who are these “most people?”
Where in the piece did it say that? Please point it out, because I didn’t see any such thing unless I missed it.
It doesn’t say that in the article, but it is the thinking of alot/most brewer fans. He is from Milwaukee, his Dad worked for the team, he played for the team, just alot of deep roots.
That’s not to say it’s impossible he wants a change of scenery. Also, again it wasn’t in the article, so I get your gripe, it was misleading.
Counsell has a family he supports, now and for a long time. If the Mets throw big cheese his way, he’ll take the money. Just like the rest of us would if we were around his age and in that situation.
Summary of the situation, not the article. I think I nailed it.
But you haven’t identified these “most people” you say who assume he’ll be back.
If it’s you who thinks that, you are hardly “most people.”
I certainly don’t know that he will leave, but if he does, I will keep you in mind when I watch the introductory press conference at Citi Field with him modeling a Mets jersey.
So, correct me if I’m wrong, but Tellez, Burnes, Woodruff, Adames, Houser and Peralta are all free agents following 2024?
Peralta is controlled through 2026. Tellez will be non-tendered this off season. Houser would be nice to keep around, and should be tendered this off season because of uncertainties around Woody’s availability. Burnes is gone after this season unless they trade him before then. Adames could get 5 yrs/$129mm this off season.
The last guaranteed year of Peraltas contract is 2024 and then he has 2 club option years
There’s no way Adames gets that kind of deal. Five years in the $75-$85 M range.
Not peralta
The Brew Crew missed their window. They have a Cy Young winner and a MVP on their roster. The problem is, their best hitter and pitcher peaked asymmetrically. If Sal Frelick hit for more power, it would help a lot. It would be cool to see them sign Ohtani, but let’s be honest.
Well that’s kind of all over the place.
Contreras is the MVP on this team, and if Woodruff will be healthy for spring there’s a good chance Burnes is available. Houser coming back, Ashby will join him and Peralta and a 5th (maybe Gasser) and an exceptional bullpen.
Adames had the WBC and a concussion interrupt his season, should be ready for ’24. Will Frelick, Wiemer, Turang mature? Will we see Black and Chourio? Time will tell. No reason to rebuild/retool yet.
And Counsell we probably be back for one more year
I figure Counsell will get a five year deal.
Nowhere in the piece is there speculation about Counsell “probably” being back.
Here’s a thought: If he was so sure he wanted to stay, why hasn’t he already signed a new contract?
No where does it say commenters can’t add there own opinion to their comments. Councel may want to be involved in the talks and didn’t want to be distracted during the season.
But opinions are not facts. I just raised what you must admit is a very real question.
All I said was that you won’t know his true feelings and intentions about staying until he actually signs a new contract.
CC is staying in Milwaukee.
Unless, of course, he doesn’t.
I’ve been following Milwaukee baseball for 60 plus years, and know what I’m talking about. I’m right at least 5% of the time.
LOL. And something is true unless, of course, it’s not at least 100% of the time!
Sign candelario for 4/60 chapman to expensive over 100 million he would be getting I rather sign the candy men
Can’t afford a few commas and periods?
They also used “to” instead of “too”. It’s hard to believe you didn’t jump on that one.
The only minor leaguer that Arnold mentioned in his presser today without prompting was Tyler Black. He’s getting a shot at third base. He OPS’d .930 at AA and AAA with 18 homers (and 12 triples) in 558 plate appearances. He stole 55 bases. Hopefully he can play defense well enough to stick.
Chourio was talked about, but only when asked. He could be up in May in ’24, but in his age 20 season the Brewers will be more cautious with him. The cupboard is not empty.
This is obviously coming from a fan, but I think it’ll take a sizeable opportunity for Counsell to leave if the Brewers match any offer he’s given. He grew up around the team, he rooted for the team, he played for the team and if you include his playing days and special assistant to the GM days, he’s been with the organization in some form since 2007. It will require a decent bump in salary, that’s for sure but he’s more than earned it. In my humble opinion, if he leaves, it’ll more than likely be because he wants a change of scenery. Granted, few managers actually openly embrace lame duck situations like Counsell did this season which may be a sign that he indeed plans to depart.
As I asked someone else, why hasn’t Counsell already signed a new contract if he’s so sure about wanting to stay?
His decision is solely whether he wants to continue to manage the Brewers. Or get off the road and take a office job with the Brewers. He has two kids in college and two kids finishing up high school. As a fan of the Brewers since 1970. I see him going into front office and working with Matt Arnold. I don’t see him continuing in the dugout. But that’s just my opinion and you know what those are worth.
They should trade rentals and Devin Williams and do a quick re-tool.
File that under easier said than done.
Weak pitching market should make it easy and lucrative. Adames might be a tough sell and worth keeping.
I meant the retooling part.
They got a good group of young players already, I’d say they could be competitive again in 2025 and still be respectable in 2024. But yeah it does depend on how the trades play out. You never know though.
only thing i don’t agree with is that this season was our “last dance” attempt. this season had more of an “overacheiving while transitioning” feel. now, all your ML ready rookies got their feet wet, the bullpen comes back mostly in tact (adios chafin), and we could have this same rotation for one more season. while losing burnes, adames and woodruff for compensation picks would hurt, its not a complete disaster given the advanced state of the farm currently. nows the time to open the wallet. this season, despite a less than stellar postseason experience, has given the fan base a little hope. tellez and lauer are gone, keep canha, get us a 3B and sign CC for one more season before he goes on hiatus or steps back into FO, and LFG!!
Other than Gasser nothing MLB ready in the minors pitching wise. Trading Burnes for a one year rental will not bring much. Woodruff may need surgery. This team has a lot of question marks with the first being Counsell.
Counsell has not signed a contract yet because he’s trying to figure out his family/baseball position dynamics.
Yeah, I know it’s not in the article, I’ve lived in Milwaukee for 53 of my 62 years, Counsell grew up in Milwaukee, his father worked for the Brewers and routinely brought him to games. When Counsell was playing for Arizona and the Marlins during his career, his off season home was in …..ta-da, Milwaukee.
He’s taking time off to be with his family, two daughters in high school, two boys playing collegiate baseball OR he’ll come back to manage the Brewers, NOT going to another team.
You have no way of knowing that.
It’s just as plausible that he might be intrigued by the possibility of a new challenge managing a team with more substantial resources, and his kids are old enough for him and his wife to consider relocating for that.
It’s not what you Brewers fans want to hear, but it’s certainly possible and a choice some people make.
A year ago, I would have bet every dollar I have that Counsell would take the big money the Mets are going to offer. But, now? Who in their right mind wants to live in NYC. Sadly, it’s a cesspool of crime and has some of the highest taxes. Milwaukee looking very good by comparison.
Have you ever been to the New York area?
Counsell would be able to afford living in any of the safe, beautiful, affluent suburbs/towns he likes.
Greenwich, CT, just to name one convenient to Citi Field via the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge and historically popular with Mets personnel.
And he could stay in Milwaukee in the offseason if he chooses.
It’s funny how easily a sensational claim can be passed around with few if any checks of its factual basis. Thus, “NYC is a cesspool of crime” and who knows how many other claims of urban “crime waves” in the past few years.
Meanwhile —
apnews.com/article/trump-bragg-new-york-manhattan-…
Turn off Fox News for just five minutes.
Craig was quoted as saying he would listen to other teams offers. That does not sound like someone planning to take time off to be with family.
I also think he likes Milwaukee, and all things being equal would like to stay here, but clearly something is amiss if he wants to continue coaching, and a deal hasn’t been reached yet.
Either he wants a change of scenery, or we wouldn’t meet his asking price prior to him telling MA he wants to wait for the end of the year.
Now that he will be a FA on the back of a MOTY season, that price that we wouldn’t meet is only gonna go up. That is assuming he wanted a contract, which I do believe.
Forgive me for being repetitive, but there’s still this nagging, inconvenient question that if he and the Brewers really wanted a new contract, why hasn’t it been ironed out quietly and without drama by now?
I could be overstating it, but something about that doesn’t add up.
CC told them after spring training he did not want to talk contract after the season. Could there be a contract signed? Sure of course. Just not public yet. I don’t buy into the sports media hype that Stearns and Counsell were close and Counsell will puppy dog it to New York with Stearns. In some instances Stearns gave Counsell some crap talent to try and make work.
That’s only because you are bad at math.
LOL. My master’s level studies in data and statistics and career as an accountant call BS on that comment.
If you studied statistics then you know that somewhere in this world is the worst accountant. The probability that it’s you is the same as for any other accountant, lol.
There’s a 25% chance that you are in the bottom 25% of all accountants.
A degree from clown college doesn’t count. And having a career in a field doesn’t mean that you were any good at it.
And there is a 100% chance that the 250+ clients of my growing practice would disagree with you.
And that was a personal attack, which means you automatically lose any argument anyway. Sorry.
If you would like to restate your position without the personal comment, I might listen, but your whole point was an ad hominem attack, so thanks for the discussion, and I will take my win and go home.
If Yale has a clown department, it would be in the School of Drama on York Street, but I doubt it.
I earned my MBA from the School of Management. That’s over on Whitney Avenue.
Perhaps you’re thinking of a different school. Sorry for your confusion.
In one post you claim “master’s level studies,” not that you have a Master’s degree. Now, all of a sudden, you have an MBA from Yale. You should keep your lies straight.
I studied data and statistics as part of the core curriculum in the MBA program.
You are more than welcome to come to my house and see my diploma. It’s signed by ex-MLB commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, who was president of Yale at the time. It’s all in Latin and I had it beautifully framed.
I’m not sure what is to be gained by lying about such a thing.
Any other ignorant comments?
Counsell has never been quoted saying he would listen to other teams offers. If so please post the articles.
OK
nypost.com/2023/10/03/brewers-craig-counsell-willi…
audacy.com/wfan/sports/mets/evan-craig-counsell-is…
Some brewers exec for the Mets 1b. Tired of hearing a garbage franchise connected to the brewers.
Brewers should sign some low end affordable free agents for 2024. Cincinnati is improving, as are the pirates. Cubs .500 again, St. Louis has too many needs. Brewers can compete in 2024.
I wouldn’t call the Brewers a garbage franchise.
They do have limited resources and some issues, but I wouldn’t go that far.
I think he was saying the Mets are the garbage association attached to the Brewers Execs.
The Mets won 101 games last year and have won two more and played in four more World Series than the Brewers. Definitely not a “garbage franchise” by comparison.
Not sure why a Brewers fan would harbor that kind of animosity toward the Mets. They’re not really even rivals.
And why would anyone take personally what a baseball executive or any other person decides is the best move for their careers? Makes no sense to me.
Eh. People can be irrational, but the Mets have pretty clearly been trying to pry front office people from the Brewers for years. Plus people just plain dont like the Mets.
But teams hire people from other teams all the time. It’s one way that these folks advance their careers. You may remember that the Brewers once hired Stearns from the Astros.
And Stearns started his career with the Mets in the first place.
And who are these people who don’t like the Mets, and what harm have the Mets caused them?
I know a lot of people who love the Mets.
Yes, I do know that Counsell is thinking of the family situation I mentioned. I live in Milwaukee and it’s been written in the paper a good number of times., GM Arnold has mentioned it as well, in passing.
But nobody knows his private thoughts no matter what he may say publicly. Professionals are highly trained and experienced in PR and telling the media what people want to hear.
You won’t know that he truly wants to stay there unless and until he actually signs a new contract.
Actions speak louder than words, and it’s at least possible that his not having signed a new contract yet is saying a lot more than anything you’ve read in the paper.
I certainly can’t say that for a fact, but you’re being naive if you don’t consider it.
Of course it has been considered. The positives of staying with the Brewers heavily outweigh the uncertainties he’d face with the Mets. As I said before, I’ve been wrong plenty…but every argument you’ve made is true in reverse.
Of course, nobody knows. This is a place for opinion. Sorry if some disagree with you. You don’t know he’s leaving, either. Its your opinion. Unless Council himself joins the chat, we will all just have to wait for certainties.
No apologies necessary. Everyone is free to disagree with everyone.
Why do you think I said, “I certainly can’t say that for a fact?”
I don’t know that he’s leaving any more than you know he’s staying.
Of course it is, which is why I said that I can’t say it for a fact.
It just strikes me as strange that if he was sure about wanting to stay, why didn’t his representatives and the Brewers quietly and without drama work out a new contract by now?
You have to admit that’s a glaring question.
Add 1B Cecil Cooper, SS Robin Yount, 3B Paul Molitor, LF Ben Oglivie, CF Gorman Thomas and DH/C Ted Simmons to C William Contreras, *2B Willy Adames and RF Christian Yelich. While we’re at it, add SP Mike Caldwell, SP Pete Vuckovich, SP Don Sutton, RP Rollie Fingers and P Jim Slaton to SP Corbin Burns, SP Freddy Peralta, SP Brandon Woodruff, RP Devin Williams, RP Joel Payamps, RP Bryse Wilson and RP Hoby Milner.
The words “or” and “but” shouldn’t have commas after them when they start a sentence.
They should be upset after getting swept. I’m not too happy either with my better half’s employer