Milwaukee Brewers: 4 storylines to watch for this offseason
By Todd Welter
Will Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames be traded this offseason?
Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames enter the final year of arbitration eligibility. The club has not been able to sign any of these cornerstone players to an extension.
Being a small market club means the Milwaukee Brewers cannot lose valuable players for nothing.
It was one reason the Crew traded All-Star closer Josh Hader during the 2022 season.
Attanasio wants the club to be competitive and have bites at the playoff apple.
General manager Matt Arnold could choose to move Burnes and Woodruff, knowing he has a prospect like Robert Gasser waiting in the wings. Freddy Peralta is locked up for a few more season and Aaron Ashby will be healthy next season.
That might not be a rotation to contend for the NL Central crown, especially if the Chicago Cubs spend big this offseason (we will address that in a bit).
Burnes has not had the best postseason starts, but he is certainly a pitcher that makes the Brewers a contender to get to the playoffs.
Corbin Burnes on the Brewers’ early exit and an uncertain offseason ahead. pic.twitter.com/tzrcRGUFyr
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 5, 2023
Woodruff’s shoulder might also be a problem. A right shoulder injury kept him out of the rotation for most of the season and then it flared up just as the Wild Card series was about to start.
Adames has been key to the clubhouse’s chemistry. He also hits home runs and plays great defense. The problem is he can go into prolong slumps at the plate.
The Milwaukee Brewers have prospects they can promote to take his place.