holy rollers

The Brewers win the World Series...well, at least on MLB the show. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mlb/article/mlb-the-show-25-predicts-the-season-blockbuster-trades-first-time-world-series-winner-among-surprises-225315013.html

Would be fun to watch. The value of rookie contracts and early locked-in guys like Chourio, Freddy and Ashby is huge for the payroll flexibility down the line. How about trading Adames and Williams (saves $19 million) and re-sign Burnes. It gives you one legit ace to pair with a ton of young cheap guys for the next three years. That way we see which of the young hitters pan out while having enough pitching to be competitive (Burnes, Peralta, Ashby, Rea, Rodriguez, Misiorowski, Gasser - all of them would be under contract for at least next 3 years). Though the idea of trading everyone for the Future Game lineups would be fun also! Either way, roster has a ton of flexibility and options right now.

From the Score site https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2778867 I like Adames for Busch but feel like the rest of the package coming back is to little. To Dodgers To Brewers SP Corbin Burnes SS Miguel Rojas SS Willy Adames IF Michael Busch SP Ryan Pepiot SP Jesus Tillero

1. Re-sign Corbin Burnes 5 years $40 mil/per 2. Re-sign Woodruff 2 year $7 mil/per 3. Trade Adames to the Dodgers for Michael Busch 4. Re-sign Carlos Santana 1 year $6 mil/per. 5. Move Yelich to First Base While I don't think the Brewers will resign Burnes, I do think if there is a time to pay for an ace, it's when you are about to enter a time for cheaper batters. This plan would have 2024 be the year of playing the young guys and seeing what we have, while planning to contend in 2025 and 2026. The hope is that between the young guys currently in the majors and those who are close (Chourio, Wilken, Quero, Misiorowski, Gasser, Rodriguez, Junk) we will find 9 hitters to complement a decent rotation. In 2025, you would have a potential rotation of Burnes, Woodruff, Peralta, Ashby Misiorowski, and Gasser/Rodriguez. Starting lineup of Contreras, Yelich, Busch, Turang, Black/Wilken, Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick. While still being under budget with enough to sign another hitter where needed or extend someone and the opportunity to trade D. Williams to address holes. Then in 2026 or 2027 when the young guys are getting expensive, you can trade Burnes who will only be early/mid 30s at that point. C: William Contreras ($0.77M) 1B: Christian Yelich ($26.0M) 2B: Michael Busch ($0.77M) 3B: Tyler Black ($0.77M) SS: Brice Turang ($.77M) LF: Garrett Mitchell ($.77M) CF: Sal Frelick ($0.77M) RF: Tyrone Taylor ($2.09M) DH: Carlos Santana ($6.00M) Bench OF: Joey Weimer ($0.77M) Utility: Andrew Monasterio ($.77M) Utility: Jake Bauers ($.77M) Backup C: Payton Henry ($.77M) SP1: Corbin Burnes ($40M) SP2: Freddy Peralta ($5.50M) SP3: Andy Ashby ($1.45M) SP4: Adrian Houser ($5.60M) SP5: Colin Rea ($3.50M) CL: Devin Williams ($6.50M) RP: Abner Uribe ($0.77M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.70M) RP: Bryse Wilson ($1.30M) RP: Joel Payamps ($1.70M) RP: Trevor Megill ($.77M) RP: Elvis Peguero ($0.77M) RP: Ethan Small ($.77M) Payroll is 19.91% under budget

Yeah i know the Brewers won't do it, But its the one time they actually could make a mega extension and still keep their preferred budgets of around $120 mil. The young guys wont get pricy until year two of arbitration which for most of them wont be till 2026 or 2027. We have been competitive last few years with really terrible hitting and good pitching so keeping good pitching and hoping the young cheap bats turn into good hitting to compliment it seems an easier path then getting more prospects. The good news of a mega extension is it forces them to play the young guys and avoid five $5-$9 million deals for retread washed up guys hoping for one last flash.

For the longest time I was very pro a Burnes trade this off-season. However, with the expected savings coming from having a bunch of young cheap bats, you can carry that giant salary easier for the next three years - with a financial pinch or trade in the final two years of the deal where Burnes will still only be in his mid-30s. Would 6 years at $44/mil per be enough to keep Burnes? I think if you do this, trade Adames, give Woodruff a two-year deal and play the youngsters you set yourself up this year to potentially contend or at the very least see which of the youngsters are keepers. If they are keepers you set set yourself up for a potentially great year next year or more bites at the apple with Woodruff trades and a Burnes sell off in four years. If we do trade, the Dodgers and Orioles make the most sense it seems.