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Milwaukee has 18 players in various stages of the arbitration process. The positive is that the club can keep each guy for 2023 if they choose. The negative side comes from the team having to pay increases to each - some sizable raises - even if they disagree with the player's value. The MLB Trade Rumors site breaks down the projected arbitration numbers for each player, usually with considerable accuracy. If each arbitration figure for the Brewers came to fruition by MLB Trade Rumors' projections, it would add $33-$34 million to Milwaukee's payroll in 2023.
Let's quickly go through each player and their projected salary, grouping them by the years they have left in arbitration. For each player, we'll try to determine if they will 1) Settle on a one-year contract, 2) Sign a multi-year contract, 3) Be traded before accepting a deal, or 4) Be non-tendered, meaning they become a free agent.
*NOTE: The Brewers rarely ever go to an arbitration hearing (Adrian Houser was an exception last year), so we will leave that off the table.*
LAST YEAR OF ARBITRATION
Victor Caratini (projection = $2.8 million): Sign one-year contract around $2.6 million
- This would be a $650,000 raise for an average catcher who hit .199 last season.
- With Omar Narvaez a free agent, it makes sense to keep Caratini for one year and keep options open for a young guy in 2024.
Luis Perdomo (projection = $1 million): Sign one-year contract around $750,000
- He was under a two-year contract, mostly rehabbing in 2021.
- He pitched well in many outings, and the Brewers need bullpen arms at lower, set costs.
Hunter Renfroe (projection = $11.2 million): Sign one-year contract around $11 million
- Highest OPS+ (126) on the team, but with multiple top outfield prospects ready, no need for multiple years.
- A $3.4 million raise might be on the low end, and the Brewers could be willing to make an even $4 million increase to $11.6 million (though you can't rule out a trade at that cost).
Brent Suter (projection = $3.1 million): Non-tender
- The Brewers won't value him at $3 million with worse numbers in 2022, so they should move on.
- At 33 years old, Suter could try to get a cheaper two-year contract.
TWO YEARS OF ARBITRATION REMAINING
Willy Adames (projection = $9.2 million): Sign four-year contract around $52 million
- Locking up a 27-year-old shortstop with a big offensive ceiling and high defensive ratings is extremely valuable.
- Adames' decision would come down to gambling on himself, but he would still be a free agent by his age-31 season.
Corbin Burnes (projection = $11.4 million): Sign one-year contract around $12.5 million
- It's not exciting, but this is the most likely result for this season, as short of a mega-deal, Burnes has little incentive to do anything more than one year.
- The Brewers keep their options open and know they control Burnes' future - either in Milwaukee or in trade elsewhere.
Matt Bush (projection = $1.2 million): Sign one-year contract around $900,000
- His struggles at the end of the season should sink his cost some.
- Bush has shown great stuff, so Milwaukee would probably be happy paying a bit more to avoid a hearing.
Trevor Gott (projection = $1.4 million): Non-tender
- Gott has an intriguing arm, but not reliable enough to pay almost $1.5 million.
- They could easily reach a cheap agreement after the non-tender if Gott likes his chances in Milwaukee.
Jandel Gustave (projection = $900,000): Non-tender
- A below-average, 30-year-old reliever isn't getting nearly $1 million from the Brewers.
- Milwaukee will find two younger arms with the same cost and more upside.
Adrian Houser (projection = $3.6 million): Trade before agreeing to a contract
- The relationship may have been fractured after his arbitration hearing last season.
- Teams are always looking for relatively cheap starters, and the Brewers could fill a need (or net a prospect) for a guy not in the long-term plans.
Eric Lauer (projection = $5.2 million): Sign two-year contract around $12 million
- A talented but up-and-down hurler, Milwaukee can play the middle for the next two years.
- Guaranteeing himself $10 million, Lauer can worry about setting himself up for a big contract after 2024.
Rowdy Tellez (projection = $5.3 million): Sign one-year contract around $4.5 million
- The projection seems to overvalue Tellez's 35 HR while ignoring his deficiencies.
- Milwaukee will give him a shot to break out with the "shift ban" coming while also being trade bait later in the offseason.
Brandon Woodruff (projection = $11 million): Sign three-year contract around $45 million
- Entering his age-30 season, Woodruff should be open to a multi-year deal.
- Perhaps he would want more per season, but it buys out just one year of free agency.
THREE YEARS OF ARBITRATION REMAINING
Mike Brosseau (projection = $1.2 million): Sign one-year contract around $1.2 million
- The Brewers still need quality bats against left-handed pitchers, and Brosseau provides one.
- Brosseau posted a 0.6 fWAR in 160 plate appearances, which is good value for a part-time guy.
Keston Hiura (projection = $2 million): Trade before agreeing to a contract
- It's difficult to see the Brewers giving Hiura a shot at full-time work, so a trade makes the most sense.
- Is there a team who values Hiura enough to inspire Milwaukee? Maybe he's a piece of a more significant deal.
Hoby Milner (projection = $1.1 million): Sign one-year contract around $1 million
- Milner had a breakout season, gave manager Craig Counsell a weapon vs. lefties, and allowed just five of 37 inherited runners to score.
- Going year to year limits risk for the Brewers, though Milner could take a two-year deal at $1 million per season.
Luis Urias (projection = $4.3 million): Sign one-year contract around $4.1 million
- Despite a perceived down year, Urias had the fourth-best fWAR on the club (2.3).
- The Brewers believe in Urias' talent and expect big things in the next couple of seasons.
Devin Williams (projection = $3.2 million): Sign one-year contract around $3.5 million
- As they did with Josh Hader, the Brewers likely go year-to-year with Williams as the "closer."
- Reliever performance can fluctuate annually, so the safe play is to pay per season.
These "predictions" lead to about the same payroll as if each arbitration projection turns out to be accurate and accepted. But by non-tendering a few players and offering more significant deals through contract extensions, Milwaukee can prioritize its best talent. However, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns will have many options to manipulate the Brewers 2023 roster into a World Series contender.
Will there be more trades? Will the Brewers shy away from multi-year deals? Let us know what you think will happen - or what you hope will happen with these 18 players in arbitration.
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