NEWS: Cooper Pratt, Brewers Agree to 8-Year Deal Worth $50 Million

It's interesting to see how 2 rival orgs operate differently.  

Cubs - Hoerner extension - 6 yr / 141 MM - covering years 29-34 Original extension $36 MM for years 27-29.

Crew - Pratt - 8 yr / 50 MM - covering years 22-29 - could cover years 30 & 31 - for extra $30 MM

Brewers are more comfortable taking 'risk' with young players that can develop, while the Cubs are setting up consistency, while taking on 'risk' with aging players.

I prefer the Brewers model, but it really depends on the individual org's strengths.  If you aren't a good development org, or your owner doesn't have patience, then I think the veteran route makes sense.

Very dumb question on my part, however I will ask it, when does the contract start? My understanding is that since the contract is signed it starts now which seems bizarre after listening to Murph’s interview in which he stated “he’s got a ways to go” implying we won’t see him in MKE for sometime.

It's honestly going to be a little fascinating to watch the Brewers manage their infield depth the next 24 months.  I like Pratt, but this is a little jaw dropping.  If I had to bet on an MLB contract and extension for a position player it would have been on Made.  This doesn't rule that out by any stretch of the imagination, although I do find myself wondering if Pratt was the first of their SS in the pipeline to get an MLB extension offer.

15 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

It's honestly going to be a little fascinating to watch the Brewers manage their infield depth the next 24 months.  I like Pratt, but this is a little jaw dropping.  If I had to bet on an MLB contract and extension for a position player it would have been on Made.  This doesn't rule that out by any stretch of the imagination, although I do find myself wondering if Pratt was the first of their SS in the pipeline to get an MLB extension offer.

Perhaps the specter of Made hanging over him is precisely why the Brewers chose to reinforce their commitment to Pratt. It might also carry a message to Made that his 27-pound weight gain from last season gives the Brewers pause that he can handle shortstop. If Made hits the majors in better shape, the Brewers could consider trading their defense-first shortstop to a needy team. Either way, both players should be incentivized by this move. 

2 minutes ago, Snoebird said:

Perhaps the specter of Made hanging over him is precisely why the Brewers chose to reinforce their commitment to Pratt. It might also carry a message to Made that his 27-pound weight gain from last season gives the Brewers pause that he can handle shortstop. If Made hits the majors in better shape, the Brewers could consider trading their defense-first shortstop to a needy team. Either way, both players should be incentivized by this move. 

I guess I read that weight gain a lot differently than you did, but you may be right on it.  

3 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

I guess I read that weight gain a lot differently than you did, but you may be right on it.  

Keith Law, who studies prospects for a living, said of Made's weight gain that "not all of it was good," and I'd have to agree. I would doubt that Made could range nearly as far as Ortiz does, or as far as Pratt could with that slender frame. And for all of Made's hitting potential, we have to remember that the Brewers are a run prevention team first and foremost. The shortstop is the key to run prevention. 

1 minute ago, Snoebird said:

Keith Law, who studies prospects for a living, said of Made's weight gain that "not all of it was good," and I'd have to agree. I would doubt that Made could range nearly as far as Ortiz does, or as far as Pratt could with that slender frame. And for all of Made's hitting potential, we have to remember that the Brewers are a run prevention team first and foremost. The shortstop is the key to run prevention. 

True that they value defense, but Made's bat is unique in the Brewers MiLB system.  Which doesn't mean they won't move him off SS now that Pratt is likely to remain with the Brewers.

1 minute ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

True that they value defense, but Made's bat is unique in the Brewers MiLB system.  Which doesn't mean they won't move him off SS now that Pratt is likely to remain with the Brewers.

Absolutely. But what does this contract mean for Brice Turang, and has he been offered an extension worthy of his credentials?

4 hours ago, GasserFace said:

It's interesting to see how 2 rival orgs operate differently.  

Cubs - Hoerner extension - 6 yr / 141 MM - covering years 29-34 Original extension $36 MM for years 27-29.

Crew - Pratt - 8 yr / 50 MM - covering years 22-29 - could cover years 30 & 31 - for extra $30 MM

Brewers are more comfortable taking 'risk' with young players that can develop, while the Cubs are setting up consistency, while taking on 'risk' with aging players.

I prefer the Brewers model, but it really depends on the individual org's strengths.  If you aren't a good development org, or your owner doesn't have patience, then I think the veteran route makes sense.

 

Well... this move here is different than any organization. We're giving a player an extension before they're even MLB ready. That's a pretty strange move. I thought we'd keep Pratt in AAA all year long unless he forced the issue... and then Made would have been the player I'd have thought they'd extend IF they would have made a contract like this. Though I wasn't even considering this. 

3 minutes ago, Snoebird said:

Absolutely. But what does this contract mean for Brice Turang, and has he been offered an extension worthy of his credentials?

Kind of feels like the writing has been on the wall for the better part of a year that if there were talks they weren't going to result in a deal with Turang.  I don't think he's going anywhere soon but I also don't think he'll sign an extension in Milwaukee.

26 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

Kind of feels like the writing has been on the wall for the better part of a year that if there were talks they weren't going to result in a deal with Turang.  I don't think he's going anywhere soon but I also don't think he'll sign an extension in Milwaukee.

What writing though? A year ago, he was a sub 700 OPS 2B with elite defense. 

I would suggest the Brewers would have been every bit as reticent to extend Turang as Turang. 

I've been driving the Turang Bandwagon for years. I love the guy, I'd love to see him extended. I'm not sure I buy the power, but I think he's just a Molitor type "Ignitor" for this team+the defense. 

Made can play 3rd, Pena can play CF. Jett Williams can... be a super utility player. Or we can let Turang leave in 2-3 years via trade. That's always a balancing act. 
This Pratt move is... really genuinely confusing to me, but not in a bad way. Just in the sense... I don't get why you do this when he's in AAA. Is it because they're worried he's about to go off? Do they have some plan for Ortiz if he starts out hitting well(I would be opposed to that). 

55 minutes ago, Snoebird said:

Keith Law, who studies prospects for a living, said of Made's weight gain that "not all of it was good," and I'd have to agree. I would doubt that Made could range nearly as far as Ortiz does, or as far as Pratt could with that slender frame. And for all of Made's hitting potential, we have to remember that the Brewers are a run prevention team first and foremost. The shortstop is the key to run prevention. 

Keith Law studies them... I'm not sure how good he is... but he does. 

34 pounds IS a lot. You can swing 5-10 pounds based on when you weigh in, what you've done. Your age... 17-18-19, you naturally fill out. 

I'm very glad they didn't say 34 pounds of muscle. I hear things like that and I roll my eyes. Nobody has added 34 pounds of muscle. You add 15 in a FULL year when going through puberty and you're an outlier. But you can still fill out. 

No picture of him that I've seen has looked the last bit pudgy. He's got a thick based and rear... which is good(or not bad). And he still looked... quick. I didn't see any bad weight. I also didn't have those old fat calipers we used every year of HS and College to do our body fat, but... I think he'll be fine. 34 more pounds and... I'd be a little concerned with have a future DH, but for the time being, looks like he's just developing. 

5 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

What writing though? A year ago, he was a sub 700 OPS 2B with elite defense. 

I would suggest the Brewers would have been every bit as reticent to extend Turang as Turang. 

I've been driving the Turang Bandwagon for years. I love the guy, I'd love to see him extended. I'm not sure I buy the power, but I think he's just a Molitor type "Ignitor" for this team+the defense. 

Made can play 3rd, Pena can play CF. Jett Williams can... be a super utility player. Or we can let Turang leave in 2-3 years via trade. That's always a balancing act. 
This Pratt move is... really genuinely confusing to me, but not in a bad way. Just in the sense... I don't get why you do this when he's in AAA. Is it because they're worried he's about to go off? Do they have some plan for Ortiz if he starts out hitting well(I would be opposed to that). 

I too find the Pratt extension surprising in part due to timing and, this is speculation, I wonder if the timing might not be the product of other extension offers to discussions not going anywhere.  

As for Turang, if he was ever open to a team friendly extension that probably ended once the 2025 season began.  Maybe it was never going to happen anyway.  With the depth they have in the system in the middle infield I doubt they'll make a serious attempt to extend him now.  You never know I guess but with a cost controlled SS they obviously love in the system for the next 8 years and a number of guys in the system they can slide to 2B, I just don't see them spending the money.

We probably still get to watch Turang through 2027 (assuming there's a season) at a minimum though.

As I said, watching the Brewers manage their middle infield embarrassment of riches is going to be pretty damn interesting the next 12 to 24 months.  And today I learned that they liked Pratt more than I thought they did.

28 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

What writing though? A year ago, he was a sub 700 OPS 2B with elite defense. 

I would suggest the Brewers would have been every bit as reticent to extend Turang as Turang. 

I've been driving the Turang Bandwagon for years. I love the guy, I'd love to see him extended. I'm not sure I buy the power, but I think he's just a Molitor type "Ignitor" for this team+the defense. 

Made can play 3rd, Pena can play CF. Jett Williams can... be a super utility player. Or we can let Turang leave in 2-3 years via trade. That's always a balancing act. 
This Pratt move is... really genuinely confusing to me, but not in a bad way. Just in the sense... I don't get why you do this when he's in AAA. Is it because they're worried he's about to go off? Do they have some plan for Ortiz if he starts out hitting well(I would be opposed to that). 

This deal tells Pratt to start acting like a big leaguer in all the right ways and forget about Jesus Made. Focus on trimming your shortcomings, stay healthy and pay more attention to what's going on in Milwaukee. Ortiz has morphed into being strictly a singles hitter, so Pratt could get himself into position for a call-up with a little more offensive production.  

11 hours ago, Snoebird said:

Keith Law, who studies prospects for a living, said of Made's weight gain that "not all of it was good," and I'd have to agree. I would doubt that Made could range nearly as far as Ortiz does, or as far as Pratt could with that slender frame. And for all of Made's hitting potential, we have to remember that the Brewers are a run prevention team first and foremost. The shortstop is the key to run prevention. 

Exactly. Pratt is the best SS prospect defensively from what I've seen. I still think Made ends up at 2B somehow. And no, I don't know how that works with Turang here for a few more seasons.