When MLB teams find out that going to the arbitration process with their best players is counterproductive, they will stop shooting themselves in the foot.
It has happened a billion times: they want to save a few thousand dollars and end up permanently damaging a relationship, basically forcing their best players out of the door.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Corbin Burnes appear to be the most recent case.
Burnes remains under team control for two more seasons, but since he couldn’t agree on his 2023 salary with the Brewers and they didn’t budge, they all went to arbitration.
The pitcher lost his arbitration hearing this week and will make $10.01 million this year, as opposed to the $10.75 million he filed for.
The Brewers might think they won, but they lost big time.
Burnes said Thursday that his relationship with the organization is “definitely hurt” following the arbitration process.
JR Radcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel posted other things he said, and they are both explosive and sad.
“‘Basically (they) put me at the forefront of the reason why we didn’t make the postseason last year.’ I’m sorry … WHAT?” Radcliffe tweeted.
"Basically (they) put me at the forefront of the reason why we didn't make the postseason last year."
I'm sorry … WHAT? #Brewers https://t.co/yShFIXho5l
— JR Radcliffe (@JRRadcliffe) February 16, 2023
That’s just low from a Brewers team that has reached new heights over the last few years thanks to Burnes’ breakout in 2020.
He was stellar in both 2020 and 2022, and was so good in 2021 that he won the NL Cy Young.
It wasn’t even that big of a gap, so it’s definitely puzzling to see the Brewers affecting their chances of an extension like that.
He had a sublime 2.94 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and a 243/51 K/BB ratio across 202 innings last season, but somehow the Brewers won.
Burnes has every right to be upset.
NEXT: The Brewers Highlight Their Stars Heading To The WBC
