GM: Brewers ‘looking to build around’ star trio

“We get phone calls on these guys all the time, and that’s a great thing,” Arnold stated throughout an look on MLB Network. “I feel the very fact you’re getting calls in your good gamers is actually thrilling.

“That being said, this is a group we’re excited about. We want to put a really good product on the field in 2023, and those guys have to be part of that if we’re going to do that.”

Adames, 27, Burnes, 28, and Woodruff, 29, had been the Brewers’ three most beneficial gamers in 2022, combining for 12.8 WAR per Fangraphs. So why is Milwaukee’s new head of baseball operations being requested about buying and selling them? Because all three have two seasons earlier than reaching free company, a part of an extended checklist of Brewers arbitration-eligible gamers whose future earnings determine into the membership’s plans for this offseason and past. Closer Josh Hader was in the identical place presently final 12 months, and he was dealt to the Padres in August for prospects plus nearer Taylor Rogers.

There have been no recognized extension talks between the Brewers and Adames, Burnes or Woodruff, however one supply stated that could possibly be extra reflective of the calendar than any facet’s curiosity. Often, groups are extra targeted on trades and free company through the Winter Meetings, then flip their consideration to high-profile arbitration-eligible gamers. Those talks generally acquire steam forward of the deadline for groups and arbitration-eligible gamers to formally file figures, which this offseason falls on Jan. 13.

When requested about navigating commerce talks and free-agent negotiations throughout these Meetings with the looming price to retain these stars, Arnold stated, “That is a challenge, for sure. Right now, we have all of those guys, and they’re all really, really good. We are looking to build around that group. They’re really, really talented, and we don’t take that for granted, and so we’re trying to maximize it.”

“For anyone who isn’t on a long-term deal, once you get into your later years of arbitration, anything can happen,” Burnes stated then. “We noticed it with Hader. We would possibly see it this offseason. I don’t know what route the entrance workplace goes to take. It’s a type of belongings you begin taking a look at. You hope you’re right here for the long run — two extra years, seven extra years, eight extra years, 10 extra years, no matter it might be — you hope to be in a single jersey your whole profession. But there’s different issues that go into that.

“Who knows what’s going to happen this offseason? Who knows what’s going to happen at the next Trade Deadline? At this point, there’s a couple of guys remaining from our 2018 and ‘19 postseason teams, and it’s like, this could be maybe the last year. Maybe next year is the last year. Maybe we get two more years. We don’t really know. It’s hard to look at it like that, but you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

One company occurs to symbolize a big swath of the Brewers’ remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible gamers: CAA Sports. Besides Adames and Burnes, that company additionally handles negotiations for left-hander Eric Lauer and infielders Luis Urías and Keston Hiura, who’re all among the many Brewers’ 11 remaining arbitration-eligible gamers who had been tendered contracts final month, however whose pay remains to be to be negotiated by way of MLB’s wage arbitration course of. Arnold described the Brewers’ working relationship with CAA as “great.”

On a extra rapid entrance at these Meetings, Arnold has described the membership’s talks with free brokers and different groups as wide-ranging. The Brewers are deep in starters however down aid arms after buying and selling Hader, declining the membership choice of regular veteran Brad Boxberger, waiving Brent Suter and seeing Rogers go away in free company.

Does that make bullpen a precedence?

“That would be up there, for sure. We want to improve the pitching as a whole,” Arnold stated. “Anytime you put a good team on the field, you have to have a good pitching staff, whether that’s the front end or the back end of the game. The bullpen would be a priority for us right now.”