How much will the Brewers spend in 2023

[tmwiese55]

I generally agree with the sentiment of with these two pitchers now isn't the time to be cheap as some recent posts are saying.    However, if you step back a bit you have to realize it's not entirely fair to take a hard "you cannot go back on salary!!" view considering what was posted above on the last few years (which I reposted below).  They just went up 30 mil this year.  Even if they slightly go down it's still a big step up from recent years.   Then throw in the logical thinking that Cain, Hader, Narv, Cutch, Wong likely off the books. After paying arby raises it's not crazy to think they could come in lower and still not be 'cheaping out".  It's not smart to just throw money out because you have to spend it to feel like you're trying.   Also, it seems the team with 30 mil less spent will win about 10 more games.    Don't get me wrong, if there is something there that makes sense then they should. But let's say handing out a 5 year deal to Contreras to fix the C position knowing the contract is going to be trash in 2-3 years is still a dumb move.  That's just one example off the top of my head. 

2022   $131,930,160 (19)
2021    $ 99,316,127 (19)
2020   $105,842,057 (22) (prorated)

[MrTPlush]

No way they lower the payroll after winning the World Series.

[BlightyBrew]

While I agree with your statement and hope they do this, I just don't believe this is the MO of the current FO/Ownership group.   I think they are going to go with some unproven MILB prospects and see how they get on at the MLB level to fill the holes in the roster.  They will move Urias to 3rd with Turang at 2nd.  Caratini and Severino are the C for next season.  The outfield will have  different look next season.  The only FA will be on the fringe not impact signings for 2023 or Plan B for the youngsters that might struggle at the MLB level.  They will go into Spring asking alot of them.

  As inconsistent as the rotation has been, a rotation with Burnes, Woody, Peralta, Lauer & Co it is a solid rotation going into next year.  If they stay healthy, on paper this alone makes you a competitive.  The question is what "competitive" means and how that translates to winning a pennant or WS.   

[Grabkoj]

I would think the Brewers go after another Power Hitter by FA or trade. If they feel they cannot sign Corbin Burnes and his value is high, I can see them trading Burnes to an AL Team like the Mariners or Yankees.

They can get a high profile bat like Gleybor Torres or Ty France and a couple top prospects or a SP like Chris Flexen included in the deal.

Turang and Hiura will platoon at 2B and DH. The rest of the lineup will stay in tact. 

[monty57]

11 hours ago, BlightyBrew said:

I think they are going to go with some unproven MILB prospects and see how they get on at the MLB level to fill the holes in the roster. 

Every player who ever played, including everyone in the Hall of Fame, was "unproven" at some point in time. Prospects by nature are "unproven" at the MLB level. However, they are all "proven" to some degree or other at the prospect level. There's a reason guys get drafted early, get moved through the system quickly, and get some praise from outside sources.

There is a huge variance in talent level when the term "prospect" is used. Most guys in the minors will never step on a major league field. Not that long ago, the Brewers had one of the worst farm systems in baseball. If at that time we were told that the team was going to hand some starting spots to our prospects, we should rightfully have been in an uproar. 

Things are a bit different now. Our farm isn't overflowing with talent like the Padres' system was before they traded everyone away, but we have guys who should be solid MLB players who are now ready for prime time. The group of Frelick, Mitchell, Weimer, Turang, Ruiz, Gasser and Small will produce some All-Star appearances over the next decade or so. Meanwhile, Chourio is drawing comps to guys like Soto, and if we do trade someone like Burnes, we will get some really talented young guys back.

Not all of them will succeed, but that can also be said of "proven" MLB players. We just ate Cain's contract and spent $8.5M to get near-replacement-level production from McCutchen, so we have first-hand proof that paying for "proven" doesn't mean you'll get good production.

So, when it's projected that we will probably have some rookies in the starting lineup, it's important to qualify that with something like "we will have some talented rookies in the starting lineup." They will have ups-and-downs like anyone else, but I am excited to see what they can do. Plus, by paying them league minimum, it can help us afford some of the "proven" guys who are talented as well.

[Hopper]

On 9/29/2022 at 10:45 AM, Brock Beauchamp said:

If the Brewers take a step back in payroll, they should fire sale the team. Now is the time to aggressively push the budget upward, not be cautious. There will be plenty of time to be cautious in a few years when the roster collapses and ownership slashes payroll to rebuild.

Isn't the Brewers overall plan to never have to completely rebuild?

I agree, now is the time to extend the payroll, but the plan since Attanasio and Stearns arrived is to never get to the point of a total rebuild.

I fully expect Burnes and/or Woodruff to be dealt this off season, hopefully only one of the two.

[Brock Beauchamp]

4 hours ago, Hopper said:

Isn't the Brewers overall plan to never have to completely rebuild?

I agree, now is the time to extend the payroll, but the plan since Attanasio and Stearns arrived is to never get to the point of a total rebuild.

I fully expect Burnes and/or Woodruff to be dealt this off season, hopefully only one of the two.

Every team claims they never want to rebuild. Without fail, every small market team needs to do so at some point. Even the Rays had a lull from 2014-2017 when they were under .500.