MLB teams generally fall on into two different pools. One side is willing to spend as much money as possible, and do whatever it takes to win. Take the San Diego Padres for example, who offered contracts of 280 million dollars plus to three different free agents this season. Or the New York Mets who have a current payroll 100 million dollars OVER the luxury tax. The owners of these teams have an open checkbook, ready to be deployed when the team needs it. The other side is drastically different, as they do not like to spend money at all. These are usually the small market clubs, like the Oakland A's and the Tampa Bay Rays, who come in with payrolls in the bottom third of the league consistently. The Milwaukee Brewers are one of the few teams you could consider to be in the middle of the spectrum, but if you were to pick one they would fall on the cheap side.
The Brewers have been pretty successful, similarly to the Tampa Bay Rays, with a lower payroll then the league average. This is thanks to having many talented players who have not yet made it to arbitration and hit free agency. Eventually that clock runs out and you have to start paying your guys. We have already seen them make two trades in what is best described as salary dumps. Outfielder Hunter Renfore was traded to the Los Angeles Angels and second baseman Kolten Wong to the Seattle Mariners for Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker. Reports have come out that they are't done either and are receiving calls on starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, as well as shortstop Willy Adames. This could make them a major player the rest of the offseason.
The shortstop market is down to Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson with some big teams still looking for one. The Braves are obviously still in on Swanson, and the Cubs are still in on both. The Giants are still talking to Correa as well after missing out on Aaron Judge. With Xander Bogaerts signing in San Diego the Red Sox could also be in the market for one of the big name shortstops. That's 4 teams for two players. After Correa and Swanson, the available shortstops takes a steep decline. Adames, while not on the Correa and Swanson level, is above the other free agent shortstops. He would be an intriguing name for one of the teams which do not get Swanson or Correa.
The starting pitchers are also intriguing. Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young winner, is going to cost a hefty price. One way a team could lower the price just a bit maybe by offering to take on the Christian Yelich contract. The 2018 NL MVP has not really returned to his top form since winning the award, partly due to some unfortunate injuries. With the contract he is currently under contract until 2030 making 26 million per, it may be something the Brewers are looking to get out from underneath of. Granted, getting off the Yelich contract makes no sense if you pair him with Burnes, as it seems like you get off of Yelich so you can pay Burnes. Cheap teams cheap out though, so who nows what they do.
Woodruff is also an interesting piece. While not on the same level as Burnes, he is still a formidable starter in Major League Baseball who can offer a lot to a team looking to contend. With a lower cost than Brunes, he is sure to be looked at by a lot of teams. With it being clear the Brewers are set on letting one of the two pitchers go, Woodruff is probably receiving a bit more interest for the price he commands in comparison to Burnes.
The Brewers seem to be fully prepared to blow it up, and for these teams who miss out on some of the top tier free agents it would make zero sense for them not to call the Brewers. Milwaukee has the chance to be a major player in this free agent market, and if they play their cards right could net a big return to set themselves up for the future.
Comments
Post a Comment