MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have operated for the past handful of seasons under the philosophy that they want to fight for as long as possible rather than going all-in during a particular season.
However, a look at their roster shows that the championship window may not be open much longer.
The Brewers’ top two starting pitchers and their top returning position player could all become free agents by the end of the 2024 season. Craig Counsell, the NL’s longest-serving coach, has a contract that expires after this season.
That makes this season especially important as the Brewers seek the World Series spot that has eluded them since 1982. The Brewers are also trying to rebound after finishing a game from the last NL wildcard last year and ending a franchise. Record streak of four playoff appearances in a row.
The Brewers open the season Thursday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“Whatever happened in the past is past,” said Corbin Burnes, pitcher ace and 2021 Cy Young Award winner. “We cannot dictate what will happen in the future. “Oh you guys were looking for the postseason” that ended last year. It’s all about this year. It’s about where our feet are and what we can achieve this year.”
Counsell objects to the notion that the Brewers’ potential future roster issues this season should add to their sense of urgency. In his opinion, this motivation should be there every year.
“If you’re a great player, you have 15 chances to win a World Series,” Counsell said. “So every season is a sacred season. Whatever the situation, you’re very lucky to wear a jersey and have a chance to win a World Series, have great moments in front of thousands of fans with a bunch of friends and brothers.”
David Stearns, former president of the Brewers’ baseball operations, often spoke of getting as many “bites in the apple” as possible, with the idea that multiple runs postseason would increase the odds that they might eventually win it all .
How many more options the Brewers will have with this core remains uncertain.
The list of Brewers eligible for arbitration for an additional season after this season includes Burnes, two-time All-Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff, and shortstop Willy Adames, who is from Milwaukee’s Baseball Writers Association of America chapter, respectively on the team -MVP was elected the last two years.
And then there’s the case of Counsell, entering his ninth season and becoming the Brewers’ career leader in managerial wins last year. Counsell said his uncertain contract status doesn’t make this season any different for him than any other.
Signs of change around Milwaukee began last year.
Stearns, the architect of the Brewers teams that received four straight playoff bids, resigned as president of baseball operations in October. Matt Arnold, who had been Stearns’ right-hand man during that run, took over.
One of Stearns’ recent big moves was sending four-time All-Star Josh Hader closer to San Diego by the close of trading last year. Hader had one year of arbitration remaining at the time of the move, the same position Burnes, Woodruff and Adames are in now.
The Brewers dished out strife despite leading the NL Central at the time. If the Brewers are out of contention by the close of trade, who says they wouldn’t make another prominent player?
“We can’t control what’s going to happen at the end of the year,” Burnes said. “We cannot control what will happen during the year. What we can control is go out there and play hard and play with the group that’s in the clubhouse and we’re going to do that.
The Brewers don’t want to worry about what might happen in the future. Not when they see so much promise in the present.
“I wish we could stay together for the rest of our careers because it’s a really fun group,” Adames said. “But, as you say, there’s a lot of motivation. Of course we want to perform on the field and put up numbers. But I feel like at the end of the day everyone has the same attitude to win a championship. I think as players we just want to have fun, enjoy our time together and try to win a championship together.”
NOTES: RHP Adrian Houser will open the season on the injured list with a groin problem. Counsell said Houser will probably be out for three weeks. … Counsell said utilityman Brian Anderson could get much of the playing time on right field early in the season. With Tyrone Taylor out early in the season with an elbow injury, the Brewers expect to have an outfield including Christian Yelich at left, rookie Garrett Mitchell at center and Anderson at right.
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