Pratt signs extension for 8/$50M

[markedman5]

https://www.mlb.com/news/cooper-pratt-discusses-contract-with-brewers?adobe_mc=TS%3D1775325278|MCMID%3D24905198330492555637798757970031922602|MCORGID%3DA65F776A5245B01B0A490D44@AdobeOrg&affiliateId=mlbapp-ios_webview_news-index&rsid=mlbios.at.bat.new.implementation

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, cragi said:

yeah that popped out at me as i was reading through it. try an inflation number of 5+% and curious to see those results instead. though historically, 2% is fair.

Also, the win-win of this for both sides is that it motivates the Brewers to bring up sooner rather than later. He could lose a year waiting around otherwise. i think they are looking at serious inflation plus getting him up sooner

Upping inflation to 5% makes a big difference. Not only the salaries, but the $/WAR value too.  

Year	Min	Mid	Max
AAA	$      100,000	$     100,000	$      100,000
1	$       863,718	$      863,718	$       863,718
2	$    1,300,059	$   1,300,059	$    1,300,059
3	$     1,591,457	$    1,591,457	$      1,591,457
Arb 1	$     3,707,294	$    4,791,120	$   10,924,362
Arb 2	$     5,661,106	$  11,103,650	$   23,383,026
Arb 3	$    6,834,488	$  13,484,712	$   28,142,008
FA 1	$  30,691,878	$  17,515,283	$ (15,554,631)
WAR	2.7	1.6	-1.4

I suppose one could also assume that the new deal will also impact salaries upward, lessening the risk. 

[Austin Tatious]

Those two $15M options are essentially two extra years if he’s good as hoped and stays healthy.  But it gives the team some downside protection instead of making them automatic.  I’m not just on board with the strategy, I hope we expand it.  

I think we missed it with Turang.  He’s gearing up for Trea Turner type money.  Without looking it up I think that was ten years, $30 M per.  

Regarding Pratt being called a light hitter.  Look at his frame.  He just needs more development time.  Go with the pitch a bit more etc.  

The Brewers aren’t stupid.  This is a real glimpse into value, not guessing by media and fans.  They wouldn’t make the deal if they didn’t think he’d be a complete player.  The Brewers are cautious to say the least so it’s quite telling.  

I’d like to see Made get the Chourio deal and some of our pitchers the Peralta and Ashby treatment.  

BTW, if I had to guess, after the lockout, the control will drop to 4-5 years like the NFL as a concession to get the players on board with owner priorities.  Mark isn’t stupid.  That’s another variable IMO.  

[rickh150]

12 hours ago, sveumrules said:

How does this pull the rug out from underneath Made or Pena? 

Since his return to MLB he has 69.2 IP of 78 ERA- | 82 FIP- and has averaged 93.1 MPH on his fastball. You're selling one of the best SP in franchise history short on numerous fronts.

The position…  what position does Made play regularly?  I’d get him playing another position NOW….no reason for him to play mostly at SS now. Some, sure.  But acting like this Pratt deal is a nothing burger..,it basically says we aren’t planning for Made to be a major league SS.  I think that would be a big deal to what….the #1 prospect in baseball?

And this just puts Peña behind another guy in the infield…which likely includes Williams, Made, and Pratt.  Like another said somewhere,  getting Williams and Peña outfielder innings regularly now makes sense too.  The opportunities to play infield in Milwaukee for a minor league guy appears very limited for the next several years. And I didn’t even mention 1st rounder Fischer!  

I mean, anything can happen….goes without saying.  …but the infield was crazy crowded already in Brewers MiLb.  This makes it even more…and less flexible when giving a guy long term money.  I chalk this up as still a good problem to have, iron sharpens iron competitiveness and all too.  There are positives.  

But this is something going forward. Pratt is definitely getting a shot and that will keep others back in the minors, put a couple out to the outfield or traded to an organization with a better fit….all big deals to highly touted players, which we uniquely have mainly stacked in the infield. 

With Woodruff, he hasn’t finished a season since 22.  And his avg velocity is not 93 MPH in 2026….not spring training and not in his 1st start.  I think the team was shocked he took the one year deal, and the opportunity to get a high pick from his jettison elsewhere was the real goal…..just way too much money for him now.  He makes more than our entire pitching staff…the other 12 guys!  

[Tedaldtada]

4 hours ago, rickh150 said:

The position…  what position does Made play regularly?  I’d get him playing another position NOW….no reason for him to play mostly at SS now. Some, sure.  But acting like this Pratt deal is a nothing burger..,it basically says we aren’t planning for Made to be a major league SS.  I think that would be a big deal to what….the #1 prospect in baseball?

And this just puts Peña behind another guy in the infield…which likely includes Williams, Made, and Pratt.  Like another said somewhere,  getting Williams and Peña outfielder innings regularly now makes sense too.  The opportunities to play infield in Milwaukee for a minor league guy appears very limited for the next several years. And I didn’t even mention 1st rounder Fischer!  

I mean, anything can happen….goes without saying.  …but the infield was crazy crowded already in Brewers MiLb.  This makes it even more…and less flexible when giving a guy long term money.  I chalk this up as still a good problem to have, iron sharpens iron competitiveness and all too.  There are positives.  

But this is something going forward. Pratt is definitely getting a shot and that will keep others back in the minors, put a couple out to the outfield or traded to an organization with a better fit….all big deals to highly touted players, which we uniquely have mainly stacked in the infield. 

With Woodruff, he hasn’t finished a season since 22.  And his avg velocity is not 93 MPH in 2026….not spring training and not in his 1st start.  I think the team was shocked he took the one year deal, and the opportunity to get a high pick from his jettison elsewhere was the real goal…..just way too much money for him now.  He makes more than our entire pitching staff…the other 12 guys!  

Brandon Woodruff in 2026. You are wrong about his velo. This stuff can be verified easily on Baseball Savant.

[rickh150]

Woodruffs velocity was down in 2025 and is even more down in 2026 with various articles about this in spring training. He talks of it himself when mentioning that he didn’t want to use his bullets in minors which shows his max effort tops at93 ish now.  I’m surprised his fastball avg was 93 for first game since I was at first game and saw many in low 90s…must have been cutters and sinkers.   https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/brewers-brandon-woodruff-reveals-approach-200005482.html

[Tedaldtada]

37 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Woodruffs velocity was down in 2025 and is even more down in 2026 with various articles about this in spring training. He talks of it himself when mentioning that he didn’t want to use his bullets in minors which shows his max effort tops at93 ish now.  I’m surprised his fastball avg was 93 for first game since I was at first game and saw many in low 90s…must have been cutters and sinkers.   https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/brewers-brandon-woodruff-reveals-approach-200005482.html

 

Woodruff's 4-Seam Velocity Band so far this season. Really not much change from last year.

[MVP2110]

 

 

[ELCABALLO45]

This is a steal 

[BrewerFan]

On 4/3/2026 at 11:26 PM, rickh150 said:

Just a very different kind of deal….the Brewers didn’t need to pay any meaningful $ for any infielder for the next 6-8 years. They are so deep and could keep Made/Pena down for 2-3 years.  Yet they drop $50 mil on their 3rd or 4th best SS now while he hasn’t proven that he can hit AA pitching.  I know the Brewers are good at evaluating talent.  But this seems unneeded and maybe even problematic with other IF on the rise in the organization.

Seems rather obvious they don't believe that. 

I don't think there's much illusion about Pena being a SS at this point and he hasn't even thrived at HiA. Which isn't a knock it's just we're talking about very young players. 

As for Pratt not "proven he can hit AA pitching," he was above league average as a 20 year old GG Shortstop. 
 

On 4/3/2026 at 11:26 PM, rickh150 said:

But we’re talking about some very highly rated prospects in Made and Peña getting the rug pulled out from underneath them. There is no regular SS time being projected NOW in Milwaukee for either. I think that would make Made especially concerned about the team’s plans for him.  And if I’m him, I’d question why they would put me at SS to start  almost any minor league game now.  

I've never been one of the best in the world at anything, but... if I were, I'd probably not worry about who is ahead of me. If I was an athlete the caliber of Made, I'd think... I'll force my way in. 

Or maybe like Manny Machado and Jackson Holliday and countless others, they can think, 'I'll become a GG caliber player at 3B.' 

I don't know how you can pull the rug out on a 18 or 19-year-old... when there's no rug beneath them. We have high hopes for them, but they haven't proven anything yet. 

I am fairly confident if Jesus Made is an elite defensive SS(which is in question) and he can hit like we hope he can, we'll find a spot for him. I don't think that'll be a problem. 

[rickh150]

5 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I've never been one of the best in the world at anything, but... if I were, I'd probably not worry about who is ahead of me. If I was an athlete the caliber of Made, I'd think... I'll force my way in.

I am fairly confident if Jesus Made is an elite defensive SS(which is in question) and he can hit like we hope he can, we'll find a spot for him. I don't think that'll be a problem. 

Made: “My thoughts too!  Why worry when I am the best? But, oh yeah, my employer sees me differently for the next 8- 10 years, an after thought mind you, at the position I currently craft and train daily.. And it’s not just a thought, It’s a big money almost guarantee that Pratt gets a long and extended shot at SS REGARDLESS how well I play there this year.  The brain trust is THAT confident Pratt is a better SS than me…..the #1 overall (not just SS) prospect in baseball…that they’ll stake $50 million guaranteed he is better than me there! Why should I fret? Well, back to infield practice I go to practice those in the hole throws.  La di dah, La Di dah…”

“And oh….one more thing (Columbo), my thoughts too!  The team can always find a place for good bats (well, unless you are Hiura in 2022 at DH).  Just not at SS for me in Milwaukee….no matter how bad Ortiz bats there this season…or Pratt the next two/few.”

(It is just a remarkable thing that right when the Brewers have the best overall/ SS prospect in baseball, they have their next 8-10 years planned financially at that position! So funny too.  Hope it all works out truly…just fun to think thru from different possible views and conjectures.)

[BrewerFan]

9 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Made: “My thoughts too!  Why worry when I am the best? But, oh yeah, my employer sees me differently for the next 8- 10 years, an after thought mind you, at the position I currently craft and train daily.. And it’s not just a thought, It’s a big money almost guarantee that Pratt gets a long and extended shot at SS REGARDLESS how well I play there this year.  The brain trust is THAT confident Pratt is a better SS than me…..the #1 overall (not just SS) prospect in baseball…that they’ll stake $50 million guaranteed he is better than me there! Why should I fret? Well, back to infield practice I go to practice those in the hole throws.  La di dah, La Di dah…”

“And oh….one more thing (Columbo), my thoughts too!  The team can always find a place for good bats (well, unless you are Hiura in 2022 at DH).  Just not at SS for me in Milwaukee….no matter how bad Ortiz bats there this season…or Pratt the next two/few.”

(It is just a remarkable thing that right when the Brewers have the best overall/ SS prospect in baseball, they have their next 8-10 years planned financially at that position! So funny too.  Hope it all works out truly…just fun to think thru from different possible views and conjectures.)

Oh wow. That was... way more emotional that I thought(though the "la di dah does throw me as it infers a man skipping around with no problems... but I was able to see though that!)
A few problems though;

1-Hiura- I was a big fan. He was not a good hitter. I wanted him to be. I liked him. He wasn't. Came up, had a REALLY good half in 2019. That's it.
Played every game but one the next year for the Brewers. Stuck around in '21 and was just unplayable. '22(when he again, not good, 111Ks in 266 PAs) he got some PAs but he was bad.

In all, from the terrible defender Keston Hiura, the guy who couldn't play a position on the field, he hit;
.203/.289/.381 and a .670 OPS.
But hey, at least he put the ball in play and made things happen, right! I mean, other than that strike out rate of nearly 40%...

It's SO much more reasonable now to be upset about Made! How is he supposed to play Baseball knowing that Cooper Pratt got paid at SS and Keston Hiura who... apparently in this scenario he thinks is a good hitter(which is the most troubling thing I've heard yet). 


But no, I guess you're right. That's it. The future of the Brewers is written, Made isn't in it and really, why should he even try? What IS he supposed to think?

He could be Aaron Judge with Ozzie Smith's defense and the Brewers won't play him at Shortstop! They gave another player 50M over 8 years! It's over, out of his control! His future as a player is... well, I see NO other path he can take than Hiura's, who definitely didn't get a chance! Also... something is going on around MLB as he's been cut or released by the Angels, Rockies, Tigers, Dodgers AAA team the last few years. 


I'm just curious though, does Brice Turang have any value? Manny Machado? Did Mookie Betts have any value before 2023? Man, I could go on with this list for a LOOONG time, but the clue was... they were players who played positions that were not shortstop. 

Fernando Tatis? Pretty sure Molitor came up as a SS! What was even the point there! 


My god dude, there's 1 Shortstop and... Made can still win the job. Or he can be our 3B of the future. Not sure if this is well known, but that's pretty important too! 2B... pretty important. But no, you're right. He's not supposed to go back and play SS. He should probably learn a vocation. I'm hearing electricians are going to be REALLY important in the future with all these AI Data Centers! We should... probably just leave the 6 hole empty at all minor league levels because Cooper Pratt signed a contract! 

Oh, and by the way, I REALLY hope Made thinks "La di dah, La Di dah," when THINKING about going and playing defense... that'd just be swell! I won't be able to watch him play without thinking "I wonder if he's saying "la di dah," in his head right now!

There is just one thing that I'm genuinely confused about. Do you care to explain how Joey Ortiz and his 2025 struggled portend anything in any way for Made? 

Of all the emotionally drive and bizarre takes here, that is... definitely the most confusing! Oh well, "la did dah," nothing Made can do because of the precedent of Hiura V Brewers, a case in which an INCREDIBLE and versatile defender just couldn't catch a break(with literally anyone in MLB)... despite being a great hitter. 















































(I wonder what would happen if the Brewers sign Made to a 10 year 120M extension with a couple option years next year... I think it'd create max confusion and you'd just have every Brewers SS, even Pratt walking around saying things like "la di dah," and not even attempting to play SS!... man, we better not sign Made! We'd just have a fielding line at 3B after Murph puts out the lineup and everyone would go to 3rd because that's... apparently the only position you can play!)

[rickh150]

Made is best SS prospect in baseball. Tops. Plays SS in theory now…handwriting is on the wall and on the Pratt checks that Made will take backseat to him, whether Pratt comes up this year or next. That added investment to Pratt plays a big part to how the  Brewers configure their infield and matters for the likely trades that will happen?
Do you see the contract as a reason to give Pratt first crack at SS? Why or why not? Is Made’s future tied at all to Pratt?

 

[zurch1818]

In a dream I had last night, this all worked out in the end. Turang got traded to the Pirates for Paul Skenes...straight up. It must have been in the future because it was the off-season. Pratt plays SS and Made moves over to 2b. Joey Ortiz didn't even make the dream, so it must be an omen that his days as a Brewer are numbered.

In all likelihood, a lot of this could be true (except for Skenes). I did wake up excited about Skenes only to come to my senses and realize it was a dream.

[CheezWizHed]

8 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Made is best SS prospect in baseball. Tops. Plays SS in theory now…handwriting is on the wall and on the Pratt checks that Made will take backseat to him, whether Pratt comes up this year or next. That added investment to Pratt plays a big part to how the  Brewers configure their infield and matters for the likely trades that will happen?
Do you see the contract as a reason to give Pratt first crack at SS? Why or why not? Is Made’s future tied at all to Pratt?

 

The reality is that the contract doesn't change the situation in the least.  The Brewers were ALWAYS going to setup their defense to have the best defensive SS at SS.  They were both going to compete to see who plays SS for several years anyway (with or without this contract).  Made being the higher "rank" wasn't going to gift him the SS position, just like Pratt's contract doesn't gift it to him. 

If the Brewers had done this in the dark and fully surprised Made and his agent... maybe that might bring some questions.  But I'm pretty sure that the Brewers have spoken to Made's agent about a contract and also informed them about Pratt's. 

Who knows... maybe Made will be signing his own contract soon. 

On the other hand, Joey Ortiz might not feel all that comfortable... (nor should he).

[adambr2]

I hope they are offering Made this. I hope it’s 12/200. He is it. I really believe that.

[adambr2]

I have defended this deal and will continue to do so because the risk/reward and cost effectiveness involved, 

However, I really hope the Brewers see something in Pratt’s bat that we don’t, or he looks like Joey Ortiz 2.0. He just hasn’t hit even minor league pitching above the A ball level. Like, at all.

It's obviously early, and he’s still 21. Still, seeing him just look completely overmatched against AAA pitching isn’t a great sign for his chances against big league pitching.

[adambr2]

Didn’t even need to look to know who “thumbs downed” the last post, he doesn’t exist here for any other purpose.

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Didn’t even need to look to know who “thumbs downed” the last post, he doesn’t exist here for any other purpose.

I've been saying this for months.  Why this guy is even allowed on this site is beyond me.

[SeaBass]

But the thumbs down is such a good feature! It should definitely be kept!

I mean, it's a feature, can we complain when it gets used? I have but it doesn't really accomplish anything. There's a reason other sites have near universally done away with it but this site knows better I guess.

Edit: Thinking more about it, it would work better if likes and dislikes operated more like Reddit, anonymously and added up to a net positive or negative rating. I do like the emoji reactions, it would be interesting if the two were separated.

[Playing Catch]

2 hours ago, SeaBass said:

Thinking more about it, it would work better if likes and dislikes operated more like Reddit, anonymously and added up to a net positive or negative rating

Two buttons. One for laughing, one for "interesting". Not up/down, like/dislike, but one button that suggests interest in the topic. It would encourage explanation, but not necessarily demand it.

[CheezWizHed]

Why do we have an issue when someone "dislikes" our comments?  Is it no longer ok to disagree with someone?  This is a forum and debate (including the simple "dislike") is completely encouraged. 

Do some people annoy us more than others?  Yes.  

Do I have to respond to everyone? No.

Do I have an innate need to be fully and unconditionally loved?  Go buy a Labrador and ignore the annoying, anonymous people on the internet. 

[TURBO]

6 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Two buttons. One for laughing, one for "interesting". Not up/down, like/dislike, but one button that suggests interest in the topic. It would encourage explanation, but not necessarily demand it.

This guy never comments or says why he gives the thumbs down, just follows us around and drops the thumbs down.  He has no value to this site, and it would be nice if Brock just dumped him all together.

[TURBO]

5 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Why do we have an issue when someone "dislikes" our comments?  Is it no longer ok to disagree with someone?  This is a forum and debate (including the simple "dislike") is completely encouraged. 

Do some people annoy us more than others?  Yes.  

Do I have to respond to everyone? No.

Do I have an innate need to be fully and unconditionally loved?  Go buy a Labrador and ignore the annoying, anonymous people on the internet. 

You are missing the point, he doesn't disagree with people, he does it for reaction, which of course, he is now getting...

I don't have a need to be loved, but it would be nice when someone constantly drops the thumbs down to at the very least, state why they disagree.  Doesn't even have to be every time, just once in a blue moon.  He doesn't do it for that reason, he just does it to be a douche.  Mission accomplished.

Meh, in the end, it doesn't matter, but it would be nice to clean this place up a bit, and not allow this kind of nonsense from one specific poster.

[ghostdrew]

2 minutes ago, TURBO said:

This guy never comments or says why he gives the thumbs down, just follows us around and drops the thumbs down.  He has no value to this site, and it would be nice if Brock just dumped him all together.

Dude nowhere on this site does it say that I have to say anything about why I disagree with any comments. But if your triggered maybe you should just ignore it .Have a wonderful night .