Brewers Rumors: Christian Yelich Close To Signing Giant Contract Extension

The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly close to doing what everyone has wanted them to do for a long time: sign Christian Yelich.

It’s finally happening! According to the very reputable and respected Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Milwaukee Brewers are close to finalizing a long-term contract extension with superstar MVP outfielder Christian Yelich.

According to Rosenthal, the value of the contract will surpass $200MM over seven years, and should be announced later this week.

Saving Their Money

When Yasmani Grandal, Drew Pomeranz, and Mike Moustakas signed elsewhere in free agency, and the Brewers opted for cheaper players on one year contracts, the fans were upset. Why weren’t they spending their money? Why not go all out and sign some help?

Here’s why. They were saving up for Yelich, and while many expected that deal to come around next offseason, they were able to lock up their superstar this spring.

Details Unclear

Yelich currently has three more years left on his contract, including the club option for 2022. Rosenthal still isn’t sure whether the new money will start after that contract or begin right away, which would essentially only add four more years of Yelich in a Brewers uniform, but even still, that’s not bad.

Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting the deal is for nine years.

If the deal is indeed covering nine years, that means the seven years that Rosenthal reported is tacked on to the end of the two guaranteed years currently left. That would keep Yelich in Milwaukee throughout the 2028 season, which would be his age-36 season.

Joel Sherman is reporting that there will be a mutual option at the end of the contract, which would make it a 10 year deal.

The 2022 contract option for $15MM will likely be passed over in this contract, and will be when the new money will kick in at the very latest. Yelich is currently slated to earn $12.5MM in 2020 and $14MM in 2021.

While further details will be reported in the future, this is great news for the Milwaukee Brewers. They are able to keep a generational superstar in their small market and that is great for the game of baseball.

Everyone who called Mark Attanasio “cheap” over the winter, he awaits your apology.

Christian Yelich being in a Brewers uniform for the next 7-9 years is something that should excite every Brewers fans.