3 important offseason milestones Brewers fans should be aware of before lockout arrives

After a memorable 2026 season, in which the Milwaukee Brewers won the franchise's first-ever World Series title, what's expected to be a modified offseason has abruptly arrived. A jam-packed Monday brought contract option decisions, nominations for major end-of-season awards, and confirmation that the Brewers have extended NLCS MVP Jake Bauers the qualifying offer. The fast pace of the offseason is unlikely to slow down over the next four weeks.

With Major League Baseball expected to enter into a work stoppage at the end of the day on December 1, players and club executives will try to fit a full offseason of work into the month of November. Free agents hoping to have their 2027 destinations set in stone before the lockout ensues, and front offices wishing to have their rosters close to set before the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is implemented will together combine for what should be an exciting month of roster moves and notable transactions.

As previously alluded to, the deadline for teams to extend qualifying offers and pick up options included on the back-end of players' contracts has passed, but there exist several other key milestones during the month of November that will shape the Brewers' construction of their 2027 roster. Here are three that fans should be aware of as the offseason gets into full swing.

3 important offseason dates during the month of November that Brewers fans should look out for

GM Meetings: November 9-12

The Winter Meetings are scheduled to take place from December 7-10 in Orlando, Florida, this year, but those meetings are all but certain to be canceled by the lockout. As a result, this year's General Manager's Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada, will take on more importance.

Given that most teams will want to move quickly with offseason trades, hoping to complete them before the lockout begins, groundwork for said deals and perhaps even their finalization could take place during the GM Meetings from November 9-12. Regardless of whether or not it yields more activity, the GM Meetings will likely serve as an opportunity for front office heads like Matt Arnold to communicate the team's vision for the following season.

Qualifying offer deadline: November 17

Jake Bauers has officially been extended the one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer, and the 2026 breakout slugger will now have a full two weeks to decide whether or not to accept it. It's undoubtedly a ton of money for Bauers, whose previous career-high single-season salary was the $2.7 million he brought in during the 2026 campaign. However, after the season Bauers put together in 2026, the first baseman is likely to earn more money, and a multi-year contract, on the open market.

The Brewers would be ecstatic if Bauers accepts the qualifying offer and returns to the team for one more season. Though $23.15 million is certainly a hefty sum for the cash-strapped Brewers, adding a "free agent" of Bauers' caliber without the risk of long-term salary allocations is undoubtedly a move Milwaukee can afford. Notably, Brandon Woodruff didn't make his decision to accept the Brewers qualifying offer last year until the day of the deadline, and it's likely Bauers, who will explore the free agent market in the meantime, will do the same.

Non-tender deadline: November 20

Shortly after Bauers makes his qualifying offer decision, the Brewers will have to make a few difficult decisions regarding whether or not to tender contracts to eligible players on their 40-man roster. For the most part, the Brewers' decisions at the non-tender deadline will be easy, as the club is likely to tender contracts to a majority of their eligible players. However, there is at least one decision that poses an interesting dilemma for Matt Arnold and company.

Left-handed reliever Ángel Zerpa, who the Brewers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last December, is projected, by MLB Trade Rumors, to make $1.3 million in his second year of arbitration in 2027. However, Zerpa, who is in the midst of Tommy John surgery recovery, is unlikely to pitch until at least August of next year. Do the Brewers tender him a contract knowing he will likely only be available for a few weeks at the end of the season, or cut ties with their 2025-26 offseason trade acquisition? Outside of Zerpa, Grant Anderson, who is expected to make $1-1.5 million in his first year of arbitration, is a potential, albeit unlikely, non-tender candidate. Otherwise, expect the Brewers to make the easy decision of tendering the rest of their eligible players' contracts for the 2027 season.

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