The Milwaukee Brewers have quite a few questions to answer regarding their roster before the 2024 season. Corbin Burnes trade rumors are swirling with some MLB insiders believing he will be traded while others report that it is likely that he will be moved. Willy Adames, too, is the center of trade rumors as he enters his final year of club control before hitting free agency.
Of course, there is a great deal of anticipation regarding the rumored record extension the Brewers are planning to give their top prospect, Jackson Chourio. Signing the number two prospect in all baseball could set the tone and determine the direction of the roster moves that Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold makes in the offseason.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal wrote a report that states that:
“The Chourio contract, according to sources, will include two club options, each valued at $25 million. Escalators based on MVP votes will push the potential value to about $142 million. And even if the Brewers exercise the options, Chourio will be a free agent before turning 30.”
This, of course, would be record contract for any player who has not played a single Major League game yet. Rosenthal states that fans can expect an announcement regarding the contract during the Winter Meetings.
But that was not the only bit of Brewers’ news that Rosenthal broke in his report.
The Milwaukee Brewers Are Expected to Re-sign Wade Miley
To be certain, when Chourio signs his extension, there will be several moves that follow that could be surprising. Perhaps they will decide to move Burnes and/or Woodruff after all.
The question of whether or not they should trade Burnes is an interesting one. On the one hand, they almost certainly will not be able to afford him when he becomes a free agent next year. On the other hand, they’re rotation already has taken a hit with the injury and non-tender of Brandon Woodruff. With Burnes, Milwaukee still has a rotation that is good enough to contend for a postseason berth and, hopefully, a World Series.
While the Brewers mull over what to do with Burnes, Rosenthal made it sound like they are close to bringing back Wade Miley, an important part of their starting rotation last year. Miley had previously turned down his player option for next season, but loves Milwaukee and wants to stay, likely for more money:
“Look for a third stint in Milwaukee to materialize in the coming days for free-agent left-hander Wade Miley.
“Miley, 37, enjoys playing for the Brewers, and maintains a strong relationship with Pat Murphy, whom the team recently elevated from bench coach to manager.
“The Brewers, likewise, are fond of Miley, who had a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts last season and is a leader in their clubhouse.”
There certainly is something that Miley likes about the Brewers. In two seasons with the team, he is 14-6 in 39 starts (201 innings) with a 2.91 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. These numbers are better than his numbers with any other team that he has played for.
If Miley does indeed return, and the Brewers hold onto Burnes, they would have a rotation of Burnes, Peralta, Miley, Houser, and Colin Rea.
If Milwaukee trades Burnes, Peralta would become the ace of the staff. It is possible that Robert Gasser would be called up in that case.
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