Each year MLB trade rumors releases their salary projections for arbitration-eligible players. In their 2023 projection article, 18 Brewer salaries were listed for a total of $79.9M. If you combine these projections with Christian Yelich’s $26M 2023 salary, Freddy Peralta’s $3.5M and Aaron Ashby’s $1.0M, then the total cost rises to $110.4M. Kolten Wong and Brad Boxberger also have club options looming at $10M and $3.0M as well.
In this article, we are going to focus on the arbitration-eligible players. For those not familiar, arbitration is a process that helps determine a players salary. Players reach arbitration based on time in the league and only occurs while a player is under club control (unless an extension occurs). Arbitration lasts three to four seasons depending upon service time.
Here are the 2023 salary arbitration projections for the eligible Milwaukee Brewers players.
- Corbin Burnes: $11.4M
- Hunter Renfroe: $11.2M
- Brandon Woodruff: $11M
- Willy Adames: $9.2M
- Rowdy Tellez: $5.3M
- Eric Lauer: $5.2M
- Luis Urias: $4.3M
- Adrian Houser: $3.6M
- Devin Williams: $3.2M
- Brent Suter: $3.1M
- Victor Caratini: $2.8M
- Matt Bush: $2M
- Keston Hiura: $2M
- Trevor Gott: $1.4M
- Mike Brosseau: $1.2M
- Hoby Milner: $1.1M
- Luis Perdomo: $1M
- Jandel Gustave: $900K
As expected, the Brewers' two dominant starters in Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are projected to get nice pay increases as they continue to navigate through the arbitration process. The Brewers could elect to sign either one of them to a long-term extension, but it will cost them. They both are under club control until the conclusion of the 2024 season.
2023 is Devin Williams' first year of arbitration, which is why his salary projection is lower at $3.2M. For those wondering, Josh Hader’s salary projection for 2023 is $13.6M. Hader made $4.1M in his first year of arbitration with the Brewers.
From a position player standpoint, Willy Adames is projected for a big salary increase. He did break Robin Yount’s home run record last season and fell just short of 100 RBI. Rowdy Tellez is projected to earn $5.3M, which is a big bump up from his $1.9M 2022 salary.
Given the magnitude of arbitration-eligible players and the rising costs, this should make for a very interesting non-tender deadline this off-season.
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