There is no winning this....
Sign him and we are limiting what we can do in every other phase of the game EVEN if he is healthy and does well. With him hurt and Yelich not Yelich, almost half of our payroll would be almost wasted in TWO guys.
Don't try to sign him and we look cheap.
Trade him and we likely do not get enough back in return... maybe.
Keep him two more years and have him walk for nothing.
My guess is that the team simply weighs the return over the offseason, taking a gander at what they could get. If it isn't "enough" we simply pay arby and go with Burnes in 2023. I kind of like this option too. If we are not getting a major haul back with top prospects and a #3/4 type MLB pitcher, let's go with him again.
If Burnes is not dealt, I assume Woodruff is gone, though. I can't see us back with both of these guys next year because of payroll concerns amid low(er) attendance numbers. Nobody will say this from management, but we are hurting financially. Not a money making time for Brewers baseball from 2020-2022. It's why Hader was dealt and it will be why one of the big two is gone, as well. Then there is "THE REPORT" looming over the franchise. How many 100s of millions of dollars will it take to keep our ballpark and ballteam current and in Milwaukee. Uncertainty for sure and not much direction.... Still huge if Brewers can get in playoffs and make a run to put some fire and energy back into the fanbase and ownership.