The Milwaukee Brewers are still dealing with the shock of losing Craig Counsell to begin the offseason.
Other teams asked for permission to talk to him and he was able to score a five-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, an unprecedented deal for an MLB skipper.
Counsell was the heart and soul of the Brewers, probably the manager with the most influence on his team’s performance and decisions.
Now, the franchise’s future is a bit murky, and their potential strategy is proof of that.
“MLB execs are always careful to tell reporters they are fielding calls on their players rather than shopping them. So, the Brewers would say they’re behaving normally. But industry sources tell a different story,” The Athletic MLB tweeted, with a graphic with some revealing quotes.
MLB execs are always careful to tell reporters they are fielding calls on their players rather than shopping them.
So, the Brewers would say they're behaving normally.
But industry sources tell a different story.
What @Ken_Rosenthal's hearing:https://t.co/EiliHuiqVp pic.twitter.com/NfKdPbJ8uP
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) November 9, 2023
Ken Rosenthal, one of the most respected baseball reporters and analysts around, wrote that his sources told him that the Brewers are “open to moving virtually anyone on the roster.”
The Brewers have a lot of potentially enticing pieces.
Corbin Burnes is a true ace, but under control for 2024 and that’s it.
Devin Williams is a bullpen ace, Freddy Peralta is an excellent starter, and the relief corps are filled with useful arms.
On the offensive side of things, William Contreras and Christian Yelich are probably the best, but Willy Adames, Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell are also talented.
Some of them are still very young and with lots of control years left on their clocks.
Still, one would think the Brewers could be open to trading Burnes (a player with which they have had some differences in the past) and other pieces.
Will they actually do it?
Or will they try to compete with what they have plus a few minor additions?
Only time will tell.
NEXT: The Brewers Lose Yet Another Key Figure