Yes. Pena is worth a real prospect. Ortiz is a guy you throw in because they need someone to play out the year. If you think Pena is about a 2.5 win player you are looking around something like Williams as the headline. But as mentioned the Astros playing in the AL are far from out it right now. Though it does get late early.
The Brewers traded for Civale and approximately $8 million in salary for 1 year. The Brewers traded for Cortes and approximately $8 million in salary. The Brewers paid Adames $12 million for his final arbitration year. The idea that $12 million is beyond what the Brewers would pay makes no sense.
Pratt has a perfect 0.000 ISO this year. He avoided hitting any extra base hits in spring training and in AAA! As bad as Ortiz has been in Milwaukee, Pratt has been as bad or worse in AAA.
Only if you assume he was going to make it to Milwaukee this year.
It was:
Minimum contract:
2027 (brought up two weeks into season whenever that is (assuming he is even ready))
2028
2029
Arbitraion
2030
2031
2032
2033
So it starts this year? So the Brewers gained zero extra control out side the option years, had to guarantee Pratt's salary, paid $20 million more than similar players made through 7 years, and he can now be locked out next spring.