Brewers: Predictions for the 2020 MLB Non-Tender Deadline

The deadline for the Milwaukee Brewers to tender contracts to their arbitration eligible players is tomorrow at 7 p.m. CST.

The next step in the Brewers assembling their 2021 has almost arrived. In less than 24 hours, president of baseball operations David Stearns and company have to decide which arbitration eligible players will be tendered offers for next season and which will become free agents.

We have spent the last several days taking a look at some of the borderline candidates to be tendered or non-tendered by the Brewers. Some have their status up in the air due to questionable 2020 performances, others due to the team’s predicted payroll situation for 2021.

The Brewers have some tough decisions to make by tomorrow. So now that the tender deadline is upon us, here are the predictions for who will and won’t be tendered for 2021.

Tender Predictions

LHP Josh Hader, C Omar Narvaez, C Manny Pina, RHP Brandon Woodruff, 1B Daniel Vogelbach

There are two no doubt, take it to the bank, locks on this list. Josh Hader and Brandon Woodruff are two of the team’s best pitchers and though both are set to receive decent bumps in pay for 2021, they should both undoubtedly be tendered contracts.

Manny Pina should also be relatively safe tomorrow. He has been a staple of the team’s catching corps since 2017 and is projected in the $2.0MM to $2.3MM, which isn’t terribly expensive. Even as it was announced tonight that the Brewers were signing veteran catcher Luke Maile to a major league deal, still expect Pina to be tendered tomorrow.

Omar Narvaez and Daniel Vogelbach come with their questions about whether they can either reverse (Narvaez) or sustain (Vogelbach) 2020 levels of production with Milwaukee. Both have the potential to be solid offensive contributors in 2021 so because of that, their prices, and in Narvaez’s case a lack of other options, the prediction is that both are tendered.

Non-Tender Predictions

SS Orlando Arcia, LHP Alex Claudio, OF Ben Gamel, RHP Corey Knebel, 3B/OF Jace Peterson

Clearly the biggest surprise here would be Orlando Arcia. While certainly no guarantee to be non-tendered, the decision would make sense. Yes, he was more consistent in 2020, but still wasn’t overly incredible and has never lived up to his former top prospect billing.

The Brewers have another shortstop who will need playing time in Luis Urias who can also play third but isn’t exactly an inspiring candidate for that position. With Arcia projected for an offer from $2.7MM to $3.8MM, the prediction is that Milwaukee finally decides to move on.

Another name fans probably hate to see here is Ben Gamel. Though he still provides value as a backup outfielder, the Brewers have other, less expensive players who could fill that role in Tyrone Taylor and Mark Mathias. Financially (Gamel is projected from $1.7MM to $2.1MM) it’s another move that make sense.

Corey Knebel had a mostly disappointing 2020 and has a projected arbitration value of $5.125MM. Though he has the potential to continue his bounceback from 2019 Tommy John surgery, the Brewers have recently shown a penchant for finding solid bullpen arms and would save a lot of money here.

Alex Claudio was non-tendered and re-signed last offseason and the prediction is that the Brewers will attempt that again. And while Jace Peterson isn’t projected for a big pay day ($700k to $900k), like Gamel, the Brewers have others on the roster who can take his place.

A lot can happen even with less than 24 hours remaining until the deadline that could change things. Depending on what happens, we’ll see if these predictions hold up!