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Well we have some answers as Contreras option picked up. And Baddoo, Wilson and Koenig waived/DFA’d. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/11/brewers-exercise-option-on-william-contreras-decline-options-on-senzatela-sanchez.html

The team has to be comfortable with paying him to extend the QO. Like last year with woodruff. Maybe there will be interest in a multi year deal for him, but if not he is an expensive 1 year bridge to Burke/Fischer. And with the extra cash from the playoffs this may be a bet Mark A and Matt A may be willing to make - a one year vet salary to keep the position secure while two big prospects continue to develop. And if another team offer multiple years, he likely takes that and we get a comp pick.

right but last year they didn't want to pay the $12M as it was higher than I think he arby numbers would have been and those can set the starting point for the following year, but last year arby is not as critical (since there are no subsequent years that it impacts) and his salary is more in line (expected ~$14M and club option is $15.5M). But it seems these option years never get picked up, still not sure why they do it. Anyway we will see. Thanks I was just hopeful to avoid it with Wililam. And I agree that Wilson and Baddoo are most likely non-tenders. The team has some room in the 40 man roster, and I think they have to find a way to trade Black, and is Carlos Rodriguez still on the 40 man?

Contreras has a club option - won't they just exercise that and avoid arbitration process?? Or do teams never do that? I mean wouldn't it be better to just go with the option, avoid the uncomfortable process, and then at least offer a deal - he will turn down any extension since no way the team pays him what the open market would pay, or not for the years of guarantee contract that he feels he has earned. Is Megill a possible trade candidate? This is more the MO of the FO - keep the everyday players (well we have Adames as the only real example as the precedent for Contreras) and trade the top pitchers a year before they hit FA (see Hader, Burnes, Williams, Peralta)?

C - I think Sanchez is 50/50, and the team may go in seeingwhat Naylor may do, or more likely they could try to trade for a catcher. I agree the team brings back Contreras and lets him walk next year, similar to Adames. He is more valuable to the club on the team next year than what we get in a trade. 1B - will possibly be Vaughn. His trade value is low, and didn't he have a hamate injury? That would have sapped some power, right? Then we have the Blake Burke, Luke Adams discussion, or do we force Tyler Black back into the discussion (I assume Black could be traded). On a side note - does a QO to Bauers make sense - will that impact his potential suitors? 2B and SS are set 3B is keeping the seat warm for Fischer or Made. I can see Ortiz/Hamilton-like platoon. Why "like" because we know that it is possible one or both could be traded as this is what the org does. OF - it's a solid 4-5 with Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick, Lara and likely Lockridge (or Baddoo), as Adamczewski and Payne are likely a year or more away. DH - It is Yelich. Pitching will be so hard to judge as injuries happen. Could Colton Gordon or Brandon Sproat be our next Tobias Myers or Chad Patrick? We have Miz and if healthy he gets his rookie running mates in Gasser and Henderson. Who knows what to expect from Harrison or Priester if anything. Coleman Crow and Hardin are likely pitching in the bigs next year (whether a regular spot or just a spot start) And if they re-sign a FA, I see Romero as the most likely since the team has really tried hard to get a bunch of LHP relievers, and Ashby, Hall and Romero give them that trio, with Zerpa and Fitz on the mend. I would love to see what Wagoner or a Holub or Childers could look like next season as rookie RP. And deeper down the team has Jose Meneses and Josh Quezada.

I can say this now, when I say that deal I hated it, because of Frias and Ragsdale. But I then started to think of this trade and wonder if it could be the equivalent of the 2011 St Louis/Toronto trade that helped propel them to a title. I mean I hated watching Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel and Mark Repczynski get key outs and innings late that years and in the playoffs. (I live in Missouri and my wife is a lifelong Cardinals fan so I knew a lot about the cards, and it was tough to live through that 2011 playoff disappointment) But. Redemption as these unheralded pitchers were not dominant, but they did exactly what was needed - get outs and pick up innings at key times. So it was not a "wow" trade, but May giving starts and eating innings gave the team a #4 for the playoffs, and Romero was not the late inning guy (except last night) but was able to get those tough outs when needed. Whatever happens to the prospects we gave up, I now understand that was a price to pay for two guys who became key contributors, even if unheralded, and allowed me to exorcise some demons along the way.

Yes sir! Because when you can have both it's not an "either/or".

Incredible 10 year run for this organization, with this culmination. If we think about every season from 1993-2005 being a losing season, and just making the playoffs was a dream in the 2000s to early 2010s. But since 2017 it's been 10 years of winning records, 10 years of playoff contention, with 8 playoff appearances, including 6 division titles, 3 NLCS appearances. A lot of the team was saying how losses helped shape the team (the loss to the Mets in 2024; the sweep by the Dodgers in 2025), but I would go back to the "Bites of the Apple" summer and trade in 2022. Earlier that year Miz was drafted, and Chourio was in his first stateside season. Then the team trades Hader and the team iteslf slumps. I think that experience helped as over the next few years they learned to live with the losses of key players (notably Burnes, Williams to trade, and Adames to FA). It also netted a couple of players who were key in this run. Obviously Robert Gasser who had his MLB career derailed after a few starts to have surgery, but he became the #3 starter this post-season and gave incredible innings. Ruiz turned into Contreras. The next seasons were putting it all together - living with turnover, developing key pieces by having high draft picks succeed (Turang, Frelick, Miz and ultimately a health Mitchell), key trades (Contreras, Gasser, Ortiz/Hall, Priester, Harrison/Hamilton/Drohan), great international scouting/development (Chourio, Lara, Uribe), finding the value in mid rounds of the draft (Henderson, Pratt) and finding "bargain bin" finds like Megill. Add the old guard of Yelich, Woodruff and even Ashby (2018 pick who debuted all the way back in 2021) and that is majority of the team who were acquired or primarily developed since 2022. That is a lot that went right, but it's that ability to try to optimize all avenues (not just have high draft picks; or just make shrewd trades; or just find success in international market). Penultimately - on a side note - how important was that 2018 draft in last night's game?? Rasmussen (6th round pick by Brewers) started on short rest, Ashby (4th round pick) was looming in the bullpen after his historic playoff run, and Turang (1st round pick) with timely hits and of course the ball finds him for the last out last night. That draft exemplifies the approach of value (1st rounder), trades (Rasmussen for Adames) and mid round value (Ashby). Finally - Go Brewers!! Hell yeah. For me 40 years in the making. Just a dream come true for a kid who loved watching Young/Molitor, later believing with Fielder/Weeks/Hart/Braun, and now this. Celebrate Brewer Nation, this championship belongs to your Milwaukee Brewers!!

Also need to factor in leaving 1-2 spots open for next season as there could be another prospect who is offered a deal similar to Chourio/Pratt/Lara, maybe a Made, Pena, Fischer.

agree, Adams, Jett Wagoner are locks in my mind; with Wood as a likely candidate. Wichrowski, Birchard could be traded but also unlikely to be MLB arm for the entire season (Wichrowski who pitched AAA is the highest risk). Rodriguez does not have the velo to warrant consideration by any team, and Torres only just pitched at AA at the end of the season, and while a LHP with good velo is intriguing it is a very risky move for another FO to take him. Usually players at risk are those who have AA seasons and likely some AAA experience (ie Wichrowski). Taking A ball players (like we did with WCW 10-12 years ago) seems to be a thing of the past. agree here, all assuming (like the Rule V draft) that the off season happens. But finding someone who is a low cost pick up that really only costs a 40 man roster spot is something Arnold has done well with.

I have pencilled him in as a the most likely in house back up catcher. He was good in2025 and benefited from whatever they did with the balls this year. But he is a legit catcher, with 3rd catcher in mlb as floor and fringe starter as ceiling I think. Quero and Dinges have more hype and both have more upside and are younger, but defense is the issue for both (Quero shoulder affecting his throwing; Dinges with just limited time behind the dish and his bat could cause him to rise faster than defense allows so positional change risk). Wood is solid behind the dish and I see him catching in the bigs in some capacity.

So I will make myself eat crow here. Going back to 2024 I really doubted Ashby's ability to be a major league pitcher And there was a whole thread on what is going with him too. But his relief appearances in late 2024 starting to show he could be effective, and obviously was key to 2025 and 2026. This year he was that Swiss army knife, as the opener, longer reliever in middle or late innings. But his playoff run so far has been so great. Obviously another series to go. But for Padres and Dodgers series he may have been the most important pitcher on the staff. Watching him last night (while it made me regret my comments in June 2024 although they were not wrong but premature as his starting adventure was just that adventurous), made me recall that 2018 draft, when we drafted Turang, Ashby and Rasmussen. That draft and moving forward has started the foundation the current team is built on - drafts with multiple MLB caliber players all providing key roles (as players or traded assets) year after year (well except 2019). I doubted you Aaron for that I am both wrong and grateful. Kudos.

I know it's still early but the AFL doesn't seem to have the same crazy offense as the past couple of years, or maybe the pitching quality is better? Again it's only 5 games, so that can change.

Good to see Jett getting some playing time, and this would seem to indicate that he is healthy enough to play.

A little late to the messages. Thank you all who have organized the minor league link report and daily threads. I rarely ever start a day without checking here. This year I wasn’t as able to watch games or post in the in game threads, but kudos to all of you who kept it active. I hope to have more time next spring/summer. A heart felt thanks to @Jim Goulart @Ro Mueller @Ben Lepak, Herculean effort, and Jim’s headlines remain a must read as well MLB playoffs and AFL await but not sure how much time I will have so I know I will watch (i hope) @Joseph Zarrand @Spencer Michaelis “2 hour” minor league reviews- my favorite 3 hour in depth for each minor league level each year. Cheers!

This makes me happy. Excited for young Mr. Cornielle.

Shucker did what they needed to got runners on base, with Wood a single up the middle, and Boeve with a dribbler that got him on base after a bitonti K. But O'Rae up 3-1 on the count strikes out and Payne down 0-2 battles back with 2-2 count a couple of foul balls but watches strike 3 down the middle. Dang it. Congrats Rocket City Geriatric Pandas .... sorry meant Trash Pandas (which isn't really a better name is it)

oh yeah that closer is 28 year old!! Crazy. The prior reliever is 24 but in his 3rd year in AA. In fact the Trash Pandas have 2 players under 23 (Nimmala and Scull), while the Shuckers are all 19-22 year olds with only Wood, Boeve, and Keith over 22. And Keith hits it deep to CF but it's just a loud out #3. Dang it.

Made with an incredibly at bat to draw a walk. Very nice. Now Fischer 0-3 with 3 Ks at bat. C'mon Andrew let's not go 0-4. Ok, a bloop single to right. That's a nice sign. Now their closer is in.

hmm. I don't konw if you need an account, maybe just create an account. Typically for the free game of day it is free. But I have an milb.com account so I'm not sure what to advise since I see all the games, sorry.

it should be free game of the day on milb

Rocket City bullpen has some good arms, so it will need a minor miracle to get Shuckers bats going here. Payne Ks. So there are only 5 more outs separating Rocket City from a championship.

biloxi gets on the board to make it 2-1 but now it's a 3-1 deficit now that BIrchard gives up a HR to uber prospect Nimmala

welp the offense is going to have to wake up here soon.

Well Torres doesn’t strike everyone out - 5 K and then Bitonti to Fischer. 7– win. There will be game 3