All offseason there were three main Milwaukee Brewers players who were dubbed as ideal extension candidates. Those players were Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames. Former free agent starting pitchers such as Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodon along with shortstops Trea Turner Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, and Dansby Swanson all helped establish what a potential contract extension for these players would look like. In a recent publication to advertise “extension week”, all three of these Brewers players were mentioned with lowballed estimates.
Tim Britton of the Athletic published multiple articles covering 50 players who may be inline for contract extensions before hitting free agency. Naturally, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Willy Adames were included in his pieces that included contract extension estimates.
Here are Britton’s contract extension estimates for three previously mentioned Brewers players.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes – 7 years, $185 Million, ability to opt out
Burnes, who is 28 years old, is going to receive much more than this. This estimation has him at a $26 million average annual value (AAV). This is way too low. Looking back at how much the other starting pitchers received this offseason and combining that with the fact that Burnes is healthy and in his prime years, he’s more likely to get something in the $38-43 million AAV range assuming an extension of at minimum six years. Using those numbers, a seven year deal is more realistically going to round out in the $266-$301 range.
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff – 6 years, $130 Million
Prior to the starting pitcher market going berserk last offseason, the above estimate for Brandon Woodruff would have been fitting. The estimation is incredibly similar to the contract extension that Luis Castillo received last fall, in fact the AAV is identical. However, given inflation the price tag on Brandon Woodruff is now higher and may continue to rise if he receives Cy Young votes this season.
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames – 5 years, $92 Million
Under no circumstances will Willy Adames receive less than $100 million when he signs his next big contract. Of the superstar shortstops who signed last offseason, he should get close to what Dansby Swason received. Swanson’s contract was for seven years and $177 million. An AAV for Willy Adames around $25 million is much more realistic than Britton’s proposed $18.4 million.
Only time will tell what these players end up receiving. It seems unlikely that the Brewers will sign any of the above mentioned players this spring, so their value could change for higher or lower as they continue to play out their contracts.
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When Did the Brewers Come to Milwaukee?
The Brewers were founded in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots as part of the American League (AL). After one season, the team relocated to Milwaukee. The Brewers joined the National League (NL) in 1998.
How Did the Brewers Get Their Name?
The Brewers’ name dates back to the early 1900s, originally held by a professional franchise that relocated to become the St. Louis Browns. It honors the beer-brewing industry in and around Milwaukee.
Will the Brewers Win the 2023 World Series?
Sportsbooks have the Brewers at 4000-1 to win the World Series. This is the 14th-best odds among MLB teams. It’s not impossible with players like Christian Yelich, but the odds aren’t in their favor.
