The Brewers reached the playoffs for the fifth time in sixth seasons, but were upset and swept out of the Wild Card Series by the Diamondbacks, triggering a quick start to what might be a somewhat transformative offseason. Longtime manager come November and has been non-committal about his future in Milwaukee, while the Brewers face tough decisions on a trio of prominent players. Guaranteed Contracts , OF: $136.5MM through 2028 (includes $6.5MM buyout of 2029 mutual option) , SP: $18.5MM through 2027 (includes $1MM buyout of 2028 club option; Brewers also hold $13MM club option for 2029 with no buyout) , SP: $7MM through 2024 (includes $1.5MM buyout of 2025 club option) Total 2024 commitments: $32.75MM Total future commitments: $162MM Option Decisions , 1B/OF: $11.5MM club option for 2024 ($2MM buyout) , SP: $10MM mutual option for 2024 ($1MM buyout) , RP: $7.25MM club option for 2024 ($725K buyout) , RP: $2.5MM club option for 2024 ($150K buyout) Arbitration-Eligible Players ( via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) (5.161): $11.6MM (5.105): $12.4MM (5.049): $15.1MM (5.010): $5.6MM (5.004): $5.9MM (4.111): $5.2MM (4.068): $1.7MM (4.056): $6.5MM (3.093): $1.7MM (3.036): $1.3MM (3.027): $1.7MM (3.011): $1.3MM Non-tender candidates: Lauer, Tellez, Toro Free Agents , , , , , , , , With speculation swirling for years about the po sibility of David Stearns leaving the Brewers to run the Mets front office, a subsection of rumors also formed around Counsell, whose contract (like Stearns) was up at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Stearns deal allowed him to start negotiating with other teams on August 1, and it took a little over a month before Stearns indeed ended up as New Yorks new president of baseball operations. Firing Buck Showalter was one of Stearns first decisions as PBO, thus leaving the Mets in need of a new manager. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has been to retain Counsell, though the skipper asked that any contract talks be put off until after the season. This would seemingly set the stage for Counsell to make a clean exit to Queens, or perhaps to one of the other managerial vacancies (Giants, Guardians, Angels) around the game, or maybe to a season or two away from baseball entirely to recharge his batteries. Only Counsell knows what his next step will be, and should he indeed depart, Attanasio and president of baseball operations Matt Arnold will have to add a new managerial hire to the top of the offseason Roddery Munoz Jersey to-do list. Though Stearns, po sibly Counsell, and po sibly at least one of , , and wont be back next season, it doesnt seem like the Brewers will entertain the idea of a rebuild. This is still a talented roster that just won 92 games, and both Attanasio and Arnold seem committed to the idea of perpetual contention in the model of the Rays or Guardians, without the need to ever fully tear things down like other medium-to-small market teams. That still means some tough budget decisions will have to be made, however. This offseason has always been seen as something of a flashpoint for the Burnes/Woodruff/Adames trio, as all three are entering their final trip through the arbitration proce s and are scheduled for free agency following the 2024 campaign. As per Matt Swartzs arbitration projections for MLBTR, the trio are set to earn roughly $39.1MM in salary next year. Combined with the $26MM that Christian Yelich will receive, thats four players covering around $65.1MM in payroll for a team whose entire Opening Day payroll in 2023 was a touch under $118.8MM. Among the arbitration cla s, the likely non-tenders of and will free up some cash, but closer is also getting a significant raise in his second year of arb eligibility. If Attanasio feels the team is still close to a championship, could he okay a one-year payroll boost and retain all of Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames for what would e sentially be a last dance season? In theory yes, though it seems like 2023 mightve already been that last dance. As much Milwaukee fans dislike the idea of prominent players being dealt for financial reasons, a canny trade would allow the Brew Crew to both save some money and acquire some talent to help the team in both 2024 and beyond. Keeping all of Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames even until the next trade deadline would carry further risk, for one because the 2022 deal is an example of how such a trade can disrupt a clubhouse at midseason. Furthermore, the players trade value could be le sened or erased completely in the event of injury or under-performance a circumstance that has perhaps already happened with two of the three. Woodruff pitched only 67 innings in 2023 due to a subscapular strain in his right shoulder, and more shoulder problems arose right as the postseason began, keeping Woodruff off the playoff roster. Even if this current i sue does prove to be relatively minor, rival teams might already be scared off at the idea of trading for an injured pitcher, and the Crew doesnt want to sell low. In the worst-case scenario of a major shoulder injury, Woodruff mi sing some or all of the 2024 season has greater impact than just on his trade status. For one, the Brewers might be le s inclined to move Burnes if they know theyll also be losing their other ace to the injured list. Woodruffs health situation might erase the need for a trade, since otherwise, Burnes seems like the clear sell-high candidate of the trio after another All-Star season. Even in an offseason with a pitching-heavy free agent market, clubs unwilling or unable to spend on a big long-term free agent deal will have plenty of interest in one year of Burnes services. Conceivably, the Brewers could aim to land pitching as part of a Burnes trade to bolster the rotation in the event of a Woodruff injury. As indicated by last offseasons between the Brewers, Athletics, and Braves, Arnold is willing to get creative in trades, so the team obtaining Burnes wouldnt nece sarily be the team also giving up an arm in return. Rotation depth has traditionally been a strength for the Brewers, particularly in a 2023 season that saw several starters mi s significant stretches. But, beyond Burnes, Woodruff, and Lauers probable non-tender, Colin Rea and Julio Teheran (who combined for 33 starts) are free agents, and Wade Miley can also re-enter free agency by declining his end of a mutual option. Without any of these arms, the Brewers top rotation options are now Freddy Peralta, , Aaron Ashby returning after mi sing all of 2023 due to shoulder surgery, rookie and his nine career MLB games, and pitching prospect on the verge of his Major League debut. Re-signing Rea or Teheran might not be too expensive, and a reunion with Lauer is po sible on a lower salary than his $5.2MM arbitration projection. Miley could potentially also stay if the Brew Crew negotiated a new contract, but if not, expect Milwaukee to target another Miley-esque veteran hurler who can add some stability and innings on a short-term deal. Given how starting pitching has been the backbone of the Brewers run of contending teams, this much flux heading into the offseason is certainly unsettling for the club, making Woodruffs health a huge X-factor. It does help that Milwaukee will be bringing back pretty much everyone from one of the games better relief corps, and its safe to expect a couple more bullpen arms to be cycled in and out as the Brewers look to find another hidden gem of a relief option. The Brewers pitching and defense helped carry the team to the NL Central crown despite an offense that was inconsistent at best. Considering that the Crew need lineup reinforcement and infield help in particular, they might be more compelled to hang onto Adames, despite his down year at the plate. Adames hit 24 homers and still provided outstanding shortstop defense, but his 94 wRC+ (from a .217/.310/.407 slash line) was well below the 116 wRC+ he posted from 2020-22, as Adames hard-contact rates plunged this season. Adames bat did come back to life over the last six weeks of the schedule, so it could be that the 28-year-old simply had an unusually prolonged slump. If looking for po sible causes, his usual spring routine was interrupted by the World Baseball Cla sic, and Adames only played in one game for the Dominican Republic. It could be that with a full and normal Spring Training, Adames will look more like his normal self in 2024, which is good news for the Brewersor a new team. is a gifted enough fielder to at least replace Adames glovework at shortstop, but Turang didnt show much at the plate in his rookie year. Turang had a 60 wRC+, the second-lowest of all MLB players with at least 400 plate appearances last season. While its too early to a sume that Turang cant become at least a pa sable hitter, he is already slated to be Milwaukees first choice at second base next season, so it just creates another hole on the diamond if Turang was moved to shortstop in the event of an Adames trade. and had their moments in 2023 and could contribute if he isnt non-tendered, but the Brewers might prefer having this group as utility depth rather getting steady playing time in a second base platoon. Or, a third base platoon, since the hot corner was a revolving door for much of 2023. and Monasterio handled the bulk of the playing time, but Anderson has already been released, and the Brewers arent likely to bring back late-season pickup Josh Donaldson. Prospect played a lot of third base at Triple-A Nashville last season and is expected to make his MLB debut in 2024, though it remains to be seen if third base will nece sarily be his primary position, as he has been shuffled all around the diamond trying to find an ideal defensive spot. First base was also a weak link before trade deadline acquisitions Mark Canha and Carlos Santana helped stabilize things, though Santana is a free agent and the Brew Crew have a $9.5MM decision to make on Canhas club option. It might not have been a decision Milwaukee nece sarily expected to make when they landed Canha from the Mets, yet Canha played so well (.800 OPS in 204 PA) as a Brewer that exercising the option might easily solve one lineup concern. Canha would probably primarily play first base, but his ability to also play both corner outfield slots provides extra depth, and perhaps gives the Crew some extra leverage in trading from their outfield depth. Moving an outfielder for a third baseman in particular could be helpful, since isnt deep, and the Brewers arent likely to be spending in the / tiers. Turning to the outfield, Christian Yelich isnt exactly back in his old MVP form, but his 122 wRC+ was his highest since 2019. Hes still locked into the left field spot, though Yelich figures to get some DH days to open up playing time for former top prospects (who mi sed most of the year due to shoulder surgery) and , as well as and rookies and . While Yelich is the only established player of this group, there could be enough of a surplus here for the Brewers to explore trades, especially since another highly-touted youngster is waiting in the wings. doesnt celebrate his 20th birthday until March, but he is already ranked as one of baseballs very best prospects after tearing up the minors over his three pro seasons. Chourio has only six games and 24 PA at the Triple-A level, so it is po sible Milwaukee starts him back at Triple-A to begin the season to get the outfielder some more seasoning. However, between Chourios intriguing potential and opportunity open to the Brewers, a big Spring Training performance might put Chourio in center field for Milwaukee on Opening Day. Since Chourio figures to make his MLB debut at some point in 2024, the Brewers might hold off on an outfield trade until they see how everything shakes out. Frelick and Mitchell arent likely going anywhere, but Wiemer is a former top-100 prospect and Taylor has generally been a solid part-timer over his five MLB seasons. Those latter two players might hold appeal to other teams, if perhaps as part of a package deal rather than in a notable one-for-one swap. Turning to the final bench spot, free agent Victor Caratini had a solid season as backup, and might look for more playing time with another team. The Brewers would surely like to re-sign Caratini if po sible, but theyll be on the lookout for another veteran backstop if nece sary. The good news is that the Crew dont nece sarily have to limit themselves to glove-first types, as Conteras made such impre sive strides with his blocking and framing that he now looks like an above-average catcher on both defense and offense. Contreras is the latest example of how the Crew have been able to continually reload their roster. The infamous Hader trade led to Ga ser and joining the Brewers, which led to Ruiz being sent to the As as part of that three-team deal that resulted in Contreras and ace setup man coming to Milwaukee. Naturally not every trade is going to work out quite as swimmingly, but it does provide hope that if Burnes, Adames, or Woodruff are indeed moved, Arnold will be able to again bring back a noteworthy return. Arnold will have to weigh his big trade decisions against how to best upgrade the existing quality on the roster, all while not creating any roadblocks for the impending arrival of Chourio, Black, and Ga ser. Counsells future and Woodruffs shoulder are the two biggest topics facing Milwaukee as the offseason begins, but the Brewers enter a potentially fascinating winter. to read the Brewers-centric live chat Mark Polishuk with MLBTR readers. Connor Norby Jersey