Bauers Qualifying Offer

[DonBarclay]

The brewers have extended the QO to Jake Bauers. I’d be surprised if he signs it.

 

[Ewitkows1]

I'm hoping he doesn't.

[tmwiese55]

14 minutes ago, Ewitkows1 said:

I'm hoping he doesn't.

Yea no hate on Bauers, I've generally been a supporter even when he was just ok but thought he got too much bashing, so I'm glad it all worked out.  But I think I'd prefer to get the pick, keep Vaughn for next year and bring up one of the youths to share time with him. 

You then have 15ish mil extra to play with on signing others, like towards Contreras, Made, Turang extensions.  Or even as simple as reduced financial pressure to trade Megill since he'll be pricey next year. 

But I'm generally OK if he accepts, then move on Vaughn. I'd just prefer the other route slightly. 

[Ewitkows1]

I don't think Vaughn is worth being back at what $9m? We have like 3 1B knocking on the door, no sense in wasting that much at the position. 

[wallus]

Bauers on a one year contract isn't going to hurt us. I am fine if he takes it or if he doesn't.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

No way he signs it. Bauers will be invited back to stuff for the next 30 years. I'll watch some of his NLCS ABs another 1,000 times in that period. But this guy is the definition of house money, I'd wager anything that he is not going to get better than he was for us this year. This is as textbook "Thank you, best wishes going forward" as it gets. We have another -1B who is arguably a more consistent bat in Vaughn, plus whatever they do at this position over the offseason to address the hole in the platoon now. 3 yrs/ $50 million or something, just no way.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

4 minutes ago, Ewitkows1 said:

I don't think Vaughn is worth being back at what $9m? We have like 3 1B knocking on the door, no sense in wasting that much at the position. 

Vaughn is definitely worth it for $9 million if you lose Bauers for $50 million.

[owbc]

As I said in the Trade Rumors thread, I think there's a financial argument to accept given the possibility of a salary minimum going into effect next year, which could create a frenzied FA market as 8-10 teams need to spend up to hit the minimum. We saw some evidence of preparations for this last year with a few of the lower salaried team (e.g. Pittsburgh) making some uncharacteristic FA signings. 

Bauers isn't going to do much better than $23M AAV on the open market for 2027, so if he wants to bet on himself to have another good year and run it back with the Brewers, why not accept? 

Bold prediction -- he takes the QO. 

My fan perspective -- I would prefer he takes it. I don't like the thought of year 2-3+ Bauers, but one year at $23M for our best 2026 hitter by OPS? Sign me up. 

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

8 minutes ago, owbc said:

As I said in the Trade Rumors thread, I think there's a financial argument to accept given the possibility of a salary minimum going into effect next year, which could create a frenzied FA market as 8-10 teams need to spend up to hit the minimum. We saw some evidence of preparations for this last year with a few of the lower salaried team (e.g. Pittsburgh) making some uncharacteristic FA signings. 

Bauers isn't going to do much better than $23M AAV on the open market for 2027, so if he wants to bet on himself to have another good year and run it back with the Brewers, why not accept? 

Bold prediction -- he takes the QO. 

My fan perspective -- I would prefer he takes it. I don't like the thought of year 2-3+ Bauers, but one year at $23M for our best 2026 hitter by OPS? Sign me up. 

I’m with you and that I hope he accepts and I think he’s going to.

[RobertCrawley]

8 minutes ago, owbc said:

As I said in the Trade Rumors thread, I think there's a financial argument to accept given the possibility of a salary minimum going into effect next year, which could create a frenzied FA market as 8-10 teams need to spend up to hit the minimum. We saw some evidence of preparations for this last year with a few of the lower salaried team (e.g. Pittsburgh) making some uncharacteristic FA signings. 

Bauers isn't going to do much better than $23M AAV on the open market for 2027, so if he wants to bet on himself to have another good year and run it back with the Brewers, why not accept? 

Bold prediction -- he takes the QO. 

My fan perspective -- I would prefer he takes it. I don't like the thought of year 2-3+ Bauers, but one year at $23M for our best 2026 hitter by OPS? Sign me up. 

The qualifying offer is a certain percentage of his current salary.I would guess he wants a three year deal of some kind. 50 million sounds about right . He then gets health insurance, and the Brewers get a draft pick.

[MrTPlush]

I really don’t care if he accepts it. He likely is their best 1B option for 2027 and after a World Series win I am 100% confident it would have no meaningful effect on other ways we spend money.

If he declines, I’m not bothered. I hope he gets a big payday then.

[sveumrules]

1 minute ago, RobertCrawley said:

The qualifying offer is a certain percentage of his current salary

The QO is worth $23M this year. That is about 852% of his 2026 salary.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

2 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

I really don’t care if he accepts it. He likely is their best 1B option for 2027 and after a World Series win I am 100% confident it would have no meaningful effect on other ways we spend money.

If he declines, I’m not bothered. I hope he gets a big payday then.

Yeah I agree the $6 million or so overage on one year isn't going to affect anything. I think people have World Series glasses on though. There is no way he's taking this because he "likes Milwaukee!" if his team thinks they are going to be offered 3/55 or something. Just not a chance in hell. 

[BrewerFan]

12 minutes ago, owbc said:

As I said in the Trade Rumors thread, I think there's a financial argument to accept given the possibility of a salary minimum going into effect next year, which could create a frenzied FA market as 8-10 teams need to spend up to hit the minimum. We saw some evidence of preparations for this last year with a few of the lower salaried team (e.g. Pittsburgh) making some uncharacteristic FA signings. 

Bauers isn't going to do much better than $23M AAV on the open market for 2027, so if he wants to bet on himself to have another good year and run it back with the Brewers, why not accept? 

Bold prediction -- he takes the QO. 

My fan perspective -- I would prefer he takes it. I don't like the thought of year 2-3+ Bauers, but one year at $23M for our best 2026 hitter by OPS? Sign me up. 

The thing is... Bauer didn't really have a year that'd suggest he got lucky. So, if he comes back for one year, I think that's a good outcome for the Brewers. I'll be good either way, but I think ~3/60M is a bit riskier than 1/23, but I honestly wouldn't be bothered by either. 

[SF70]

Happy the team offered.

Would be even happier if he accepted. Bauers at 1B next season improves the odds of a repeat.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

This is kind of a no-lose situation for the team and Bauers. Either the guy makes 20+ mil and the team gets a very solid, lefty 1B at a position of relative weakness system-wide (while we wait and hope on Fischer), or you save the money and can spend it elsewhere while Bauers gets generational wealth money.

I think the Brewers are slightly better off if he accepts, but it's an easy QO, I think.

[liveforoctober]

House money situation. The Brewers are in a position to run it back almost entirely and it won't cost a bazillion to do so. If Bauers accepts, we keep the gang together (mostly) and do it all again with the most fun team we've ever seen.

If he declines, we get a good pick and keep the vet in Vaughn (whose floor is known) and we assume one of Burke/Fischer/Black will seize the opportunity to be an everyday 1B out of camp.

One year at $23+ million won't cripple us ... especially after this year and the added revenue.

Win/Win. Happy for us if he accepts. Happy for Jake if he declines.

*edit, CHL just posted the exact same thing .... just posted a second before me. Cheers!

[Jopal78]

I bet he accepts the QO. His track record is thin, he’s 31, both which mean there will be some hesitation in teams handing out a huge guarantee. The QO also hurts his market if an interested team has to forfeit a draft pick to sign him. Finally 23M+ is still a ton of money for one year. If he goes out and does it again in ‘27 then he’s really set up to cash in. 
 

Although, it would also mean there probably isn’t a path for Vaughn to return (unless there is a total lack of interest once he’s non-tendered).

[liveforoctober]

Also, I just want to say I think there is a good to very good chance he accepts. He was ready to hang it all up a few years back and now he just had a career year playing with a group of guys who he seems to be best friends with AND they won a million games.

Asking him to play for $23million and then test the market next year ($23 guaranteed+ whatever he signs for in '28 and beyond) and pass up some kind of 3yr/$50mil+ or whatever isn't that much of a crazy 'gamble'. Even if he tanks and doesn't get another deal ... this single year sets him up forever.