Despite a Disappointing Season, the Brewers Continue to Fight
The Milwaukee Brewers believe that their trust issues this season will result in better results in October after a regular-season push that failed in the postseason of last year. To begin with, they need to get there.
Milwaukee — Being too good at baseball can occasionally be a curse.
Consider the Milwaukee Brewers of 2021. They were initially placed in the National Alliance Central during the majority of the regular season. The Brewers developed such a large lead in a weaker division—14 games ahead by mid-September—thanks to an outstanding pitching staff that even in the final weeks of play, they managed to sponsor themselves into the division title with 95 victories. The side trips along the stretch lacked
With 95 victories, they were still sponsored into the division championship. Notwithstanding their best efforts, the Milwaukee Brewers staggered into the playoffs where they were quickly eliminated by the Cruel Hot-Stove Financial Reality of the Milwaukee Brewers. The diversions down the stretch didn’t have the same significance.
Subsequent big trades for complementary players like Trea Turner, Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, Dansby Swanson, Carlos Correa, and Justin Verlander have calmed down Brewers supporters, though not necessarily for the same reason. However, some are still observing and wondering why the Brewers aren’t expanding their player base or identifying free agents.
The primary and most obvious factor is the individual revenue sources of unique baseball teams. The Brewers agreed to pay Sportal an additional $269 million in 2021 revenue. From the outset, it appears that the Brewers may spend more than the $112 million that Sportrac is projecting to be the starting point of the 2023 financing. But appearances can be deceiving.
Every ball club has significant expenses that are not included in the player finance figure. Paying the coaches, director, coaches, front desk employees, and all the other people who work so hard to make American Family Field (or Mill operator Stop) function for 81 domestic games (and hopefully some post-season action) is one thing. All of these things—scouts, potential members of minor associations, coaches, supervisors, and coaches within the minors, as well as the office in Arizona for spring training—cost money. $269 million doesn’t seem like that much all of a sudden. The Los Angeles Dodgers typically make $250 million a season from their adjacent television contract.
Right now, you may notice that the Mets have been making large financial investments. Francisco Lindor not too long ago, Correa (even though that deal might be off due to a restorative issue), Brandon Nimmo, and Justin Verlander this year, Not to mention a little more than $31 million for James McCann and Robinson Cano, who aren’t even on the Mets roster anymore. There are some incredible deals there.
