Our Annual Preview - Which Brewers Farmhands Qualify for the Rule 5 Draft or Minor League Free Agency?

[liveforoctober]

I don't believe we should be operating with the assumption that there won't be a season next year, but I do think it complicates things for the Brewers and particularly for Adams and Wilken. 

If they need to get moved to the 40 man to protect them and then we get locked out... They can't play next year while both Burke and Fischer will have full seasons at AAA. I would assume one or both (Fischer and Burke) will be ready for us in 2028. So by moving the two prior names up to the 40 man.. If we get locked out, I don't know where their roster spot is when we come back.

[BrewerFan]

On 7/22/2026 at 8:03 PM, BrewCrew8675309 said:

Woo, Lance McC, Gary Sanchez, Shewmake, Bryse, and sadly Jake Bauers won't be back most likely.  

Rom, Stallings, and Baddoo shouldn't be back.

Zastnstry, CGordon, and Perkins seem on the chopping block.

AVaughn and TBlack are not without complications.

Add to this list trade candidates from the minors and on the 40 man roster currently and I think eventually we will have enough open positions to keep who Arnold and Company want to keep and acquire moving forward.

I am not a BWilken or Luke Adams guy but I will say that Luke Adams has done very well in AAA and will most likely be considered for the Jake Bauers slot next year.

Bauers big edge is he's a lefty. Adams... he's more redundant with Vaughn. I do like Adams, I think he'd be nice for a year or two. I'd like to see him get some ABs, play a bit, then if he can put up a .230/.320 season with 15-18 HRs(not out of question)... you could sell high on him and then go into '28 with Burke or Fischer. 

I also think Vaughn should absolutely be back. He needs to be put in the lineup in pen and figure out who is going to play around him(for the most part). 

[JoeyWiemerTruther]

On 7/22/2026 at 8:25 PM, liveforoctober said:

I don't believe we should be operating with the assumption that there won't be a season next year, but I do think it complicates things for the Brewers and particularly for Adams and Wilken. 

If they need to get moved to the 40 man to protect them and then we get locked out... They can't play next year while both Burke and Fischer will have full seasons at AAA. I would assume one or both (Fischer and Burke) will be ready for us in 2028. So by moving the two prior names up to the 40 man.. If we get locked out, I don't know where their roster spot is when we come back.

Keep in mind there was only 13 rule 5 draft selections last year and 16 the year before. Most teams just bypass it and opt to keep their own guys. Wilken would easily go unpicked if not protected so no worries there. No need to add to 40 man. Adams however in addition to Jett would have good chances to be selected in addition to Spencer M saying C. Wagoner, M. Manfredi, and I believe T. Kuehner as the other 3 he said would be the most likely guys stolen by other teams if not protected. Might see 2-4 of those guys protected by us and added to the 40 man, we’ll see.

edit: I misread, there was 13 players selected last year in the major league phase and 55 picks in the AAA phase, 68 total. But still, no need to protect Wilken