Brewers 2024-25 offseason primer: Free agents, arbitration, key dates and deadlines

Another offseason has arrived too soon. The Milwaukee Brewers finally won a playoff game, but still failed to advance beyond the first round. Now they face an offseason where they face the loss of their starting shortstop and a roster crunch that could hinder making additions.

The 2024 season was largely a success for the Brewers. A new manager, trading away Corbin Burnes for prospects, not having Brandon Woodruff all season, there were many changes that went against the Brewers but they still succeeded. The postseason success continues to elude them, however. As hard as it was to find success this year, it won't be getting much easier in 2025.

The pending free agency of Willy Adames is the headline of Milwaukee's offseason. Brewers brass have been publicly pessimistic about their chances to re-sign their slugging shortstop. That will leave a void in the Brewers infield that will need to be filled somehow. Whoever fills it is not likely to provide 32 home runs and 112 RBI like Adames provided in 2024.

The Brewers are also going to face some very tough 40 man roster decisions. After the conclusion of the World Series, players on the 60 day IL will be put back on the 40 man roster. The Brewers have seven players that ended the season on the 60 day IL. With a small free agent class, Milwaukee will need to find a way to create roster flexibility.

In this article, we'll take a look at every aspect of the Brewers offseason roster decisions as a primer to get you ready for how this offseason will shake out. Let's start with the important dates

Brewers important offseason dates

• Five days after World series: Free agency opens, option decisions, qualifying offers due
• Nov. 5-7: GM Meetings in San Antonio, TX
• Nov. 15: 40 man roster protection deadline
• Nov. 19: Deadline to accept or reject qualifying offers
• Nov. 22: Non-tender deadline
• Dec. 9-12: Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX
• Dec. 12: Rule 5 Draft
• Jan. 10: Arbitration filing deadline
• Jan. 27-Feb.14: Arbitration hearings

Eligible players file for free agency the day after the World Series. They cannot sign with a new team until five days after the World Series. This gives the team a five day exclusive negotiating window with their own players. The Brewers also have to make a decision on a qualifying offer for Willy Adames by that fifth day and make their decisions on the six players with mutual or club options for 2025.

If the Brewers extend a QO to Willy Adames, which carries a $21.05 million salary for 2025, he has until November 19th to accept or reject the offer. He's likely to reject it.

The deadline to add prospects to the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft is on November 15th and then a week later is the deadline to tender arbitration eligible players contracts for 2025.

The Winter Meetings this year are in Dallas from December 9th through the 12th. This is the biggest week of activity on the baseball offseason calendar when it comes to trades, free agent signings, and rumors. The Meetings culminate in the Rule 5 Draft on the final day.