Jose Cardenal

Prepare to be dissapointed.

My 2027 thoughts while waiting for the World Series to start: 1) Jake Bauers - will leave via FA and sign a multi-year contract. I would be willing to offer the QO (1yr-$23) but I wouldn't be willing to go multiple years (at a lower per year). Partly because we have Burke and Fischer knocking on the door and partly because I am not confident that this year wasn't a career year and will not be duplicated again. Vaughn is the primary starter at 1B to begin the season but at some point Burke or Fischer come up and take the bulk of the starts. 2) Trevor Megill will be traded. Brewers doing Brewer things and sell on a guy with 1 year of control left. The return will be viewed as disappointing at first but by the end of they year it will be viewed as another Matt Arnold win. 3) William Contreras. - Brewers go against type and hold onto Contreras given his importance on the field and in the clubhouse (and they do not have a prospect C ready to come up) . They will try to sign him to an extension but will disagree on years and so the Brewers will just pick up his option for '27 and potentially try to sign him again in FA. 4) Aaron Ashby- new role. Brewers control Ashby for the next three years ($7.5 in '27 and TO's for $9 & $13). Those are significant numbers for a non-closer / non-starter. Which means I think they move Ashby either back to a starter role or he becomes the closer in place of Megill. I lean towards starting. He is too good to limit him to 65IP as a closer. Uribe becomes the closer and DL Hall is the 8th inning guy. 5) Jesus Made - The Brewers agree to a Chourio like contract with Made and he becomes the starting 3B. This helps diminish the angst of losing Bauers and Megill from a World Series Championship team. 6) Brandon Woodruff signs a 1yr $5 deal with performance bonuses based on availability. He performs when available but cannot be counted on making more that 10 starts. 7) None of the deadline acquisitions (May, Romero, Senzatela) come back, although the Brewers do have some interest in Romero but don't want to go multiple years. 8) Despite the Brewers winning the World Series, the Cubs are again the consensus pick to win the division in '27. The Brewers win 97, win the division and at least play in the NLCS. The Cubs disappoint and win 88 games and Counsel is fired.

Matos was the Giants 7th ranked prospect going in 2023. MLB Pipeline gave him a 60 grade hit tool. Hasn't shown that in the big leagues but maybe there is something there. Actually he was their 3rd ranked prospect in 2022 just ahead of.... Kyle Harrison

Bednar is a guy I really wanted. Experienced closer with an additional year of control for a NYY package that is headlined by a prospect the equivalent of Eric Bitonti.

Would really like a back-end reliever ideally with closing experience (Bednar?). If not do we think that come playoff time Miz will be used in a 1-inning relief role? Kwan is a better/right handed version of Sal. Perfect fit for what the Brewers are, but whose AB's is he taking.

Jacob MisiorowskiJesus MadeLuis PenaJeferson QueroCooper PrattLogan HendersonRobert GasserBraylon PayneBrock WilkenEric BitontiBishop LetsonMike BoeveLuke AdamsMarco DingesCraig YohoJosh AdamczewskiLuis LaraBryce MeccageCarlos F RodriguezTyler Black

Seems pretty likely the Brewers will either: 1) Move to Quero as early as next offseason or more likely before 2027 and trade Contreras for a nice return 2) If Quero does not bounce back from injury (or give Brewers confidence in being productive starting C), hold onto Contreras through his Arb years like Adames and start over in 2028.

Even with the extra picks I assume they will go under slot with the first pick (and probably another of the early picks too). The guy they pick at 20 may be rated lower than the guy they take at 32. On the flip side they could really open up some interesting possibilities with all the cap space they will have.

Hence why I am only slightly disappointed. I have faith that the Brewers have a good plan in place and are executing it.

Maybe I am wrong but it seems like every year until potentially 2025, the Brewers signed at least 1 guy ranked in the teens (or at least low 20's). Slightly disappointed that the highest ranked prospect we are expected to sign is at #35. I can't argue with the success the Brewers have had the last few years with the International signings so I have faith the Brewers are getting the guys they want.

That is what I was thinking. The Brewers never have spent much Intl $$ on pitching (and it shows). The position players this year in the DSL have been outstanding. Watching that group combined with the HS Arms we have drafted will be something.

Dreaming on the marriage of the DSL position players and the HS Pitchers we have drafted. The Arizona Complex team is going to be something in 2025.

1980. Sixto Lezcano wins it with a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. I was in middle school but remember listening to Uecker make the call. Overall 1980 was a slight disappointment. Coming of 93 & 95 win seasons in '78 & '79, expectations were high but they finished with 86 wins (17 GB in the pre-Wild Card era). That disappointment led to Dalton making a big splash in the offseason bringing in Fingers, Vuke and Simmons, which led to the playoffs in '81 & '82.

Jackson ChourioJeferson QueroJacob MisiorowskiTyler BlackJoey OrtizRobert GasserBrock WilkenDL HallCarlos F RodriguezLuis LaraCooper PrattMike BoeveYophery RodriguezEric Brown JrJosh KnothLuke AdamsEric BitontiLogan HendersonDylan O'RaeDaniel Guilarte

Now that the Burnes saga is over, it is time for Matt Arnold to finish what he has started and make the below transactions. BTV is not the gospel but is usually pretty close with these trades so I am using their values. Trade W.Adames (11.1) to Dodgers for N.Frasso RHP (11.0) Trade D.Williams (19.8) to Royals for C.Wallace 3B (8.0), F.Mozzicato LHP (5.2), B.Kurda RHP (2.7) & Round A competitive balance pick (4) Sign T.Bauer to a 1 year prove it deal or 1 plus an option You have replaced Burnes with 2 guys to pencil into the rotation (Bauer & Frasso) You have replaced 1 year of Adames with 6 years of Ortiz You have replaced 2 years of Williams with 6 years of DL Hall (who I think will become a dominant closer not a starter) And you have picked up 3 prospects from the Royals who are not in the top 100 but are in the next 100 as well as two 2024 draft picks in the mid 30's.