IT'S HAPPENING: Jackson Chourio Set to Finalize Eight-Year Deal with Brewers Today

[Matthew Trueblood]

Once reports of the discussions between the two sides surfaced, it felt like just a matter of time. The time has come. The Brewers have secured their rights to the services of their best prospect in two decades for the entirety of the next one.

Image courtesy of Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / USA Today

After reporting earlier this week that negotiations were progressing, Ken Rosenthal updated with a tweet Thursday morning to say that the deal is close. Almost simultaneously, Jon Heyman swooped in with confirmation, and more details.

The Chourio Brewers deal for close to $80M will beat the current record deal for a minor leaguer by about $30M (Luis Robert $50M). Chourio has only played 6 games above AA but the Brewers expect he can be their CF. https://t.co/wRNhzTVCii

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 30, 2023

In his first tweet about it, Heyman disclosed that the deal is for eight guaranteed seasons, but also that there are two club options attached to the end. That's not unexpected, but it's a delightful bonus to news that was already thrilling. Chourio can still hit free agency before his 30th birthday, but the Brewers now have firm control of his 20s, if they want it. 

Jake McKibbin sketched a possible Chourio deal on the site earlier this morning, and this is right in the range he discussed. In fact, it comes in slightly below those projections, which is another cherry on top of the sundae. This is an unprecedented combination of substantial commitment and lack of certainty, but the upside this deal captures exceeds even those of Julio Rodriguez's pact with the Mariners or Corbin Carroll's with the Diamondbacks. The Brewers are going to get a bargain on a player they hope is a superstar, for the next several years.

Earlier this week, in response to the initial reports about this possibility, I dug into what it might mean for the alignment (in the near and long term) of the Brewers' crowded outfield. I also immediately talked about the uncertainty around which direction this kind of deal would prompt the team to move in for the balance of the winter. We don't know the answers to those questions yet, but we can take the conversations out of the theoretical realm and into the very real, urgent one. One way or another, we should now expect Matt Arnold and company to get pretty active at next week's Winter Meetings. This is the kind of first step that makes the next few especially interesting.

Let's hear from you. Do you feel any trepidation about this move? How much will this shape the future for the Brewers?

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[Brock Beauchamp]

[Todd]

One way to think of this is if he was an international signing right now what would the price be?  If you put that in context this is a steal.   $10 million a year if a bust means we instead of a Wade Miley we have a Collin Rhea as our 5th starter every year 

[SF70]

Maybe the best news I’ve ever heard as a 54 years Brewers fan. 

Matt Arnold going to build a future juggernaut and crush his predecessors BOTA proclamation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

17 minutes ago, Todd said:

One way to think of this is if he was an international signing right now what would the price be?  If you put that in context this is a steal.   $10 million a year if a bust means we instead of a Wade Miley we have a Collin Rhea as our 5th starter every year 

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

And yes, put into international free agent terms, this is a steal for the Brewers.

[Bob Wagner]

When you reach the point that it is time to rebuild the baseball team you can only hope there is a Jackson Chourio available for the next decade to be the centerpiece!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, Bob Wagner said:

When you reach the point that it is time to rebuild the baseball team you can only hope there is a Jackson Chourio available for the next decade to be the centerpiece!

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

[Jake McKibbin]

16 minutes ago, Bob Wagner said:

When you reach the point that it is time to rebuild the baseball team you can only hope there is a Jackson Chourio available for the next decade to be the centerpiece!

Hell yeah! So exciting, and with so much talent at the younger end ofhe system, both in arms and position players. The brewers have a real path to success right now

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Trax]

Risk, but with risk can come great reward.  Good for the kid and good for the team.

Now let's see if we can get a windfall for Burnes and Adames (if not before the season then during) and add some key pieces for the now and for the future through trades and key FA signings.  

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Great Day to be a Brewer Fanatic! Feels like an NFL Draft day and Packers just got some great first round draft picks. I digress. This is just ushering in a new era of Brewer baseball. Young , athletic team with some holes but the Winter Meetings start on Sunday. What other gifts will there be for us to open. I am ready for an Adames less and Burnes less team . Hopefully they will get a  big bat at 3rd base. Hopefully Tyler Black slides in at second with Turang moving over to the hole. Once again just giddy and gleeful! 

[RedStickBrew]