The mutual admiration between the Brewers and star outfielder Christian Yelich has been cemented by a new nine-year, $215 million deal that will almost assuredly keep the 2018 NL MVP from ever reaching free agency.
Christian Yelich's new contract with the Brewers has a full no trade and no opt outs prompting his agent to call it an ‘opt in.' In order to give Mil payroll flexibility, they will defer 4 million a season in the years his salary is maxed out at 26 million. With just 22 million on the books those seasons, the small market Brewers feel they'll have plenty of flexibility to build around Yelich.
Yeli vs. Belli? The MLB rivalry-turned-friendship between the Brewers' Christian Yelich and the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger is explored over an injury-inducing game of Connect Four, table tennis and a winner-take-all beer-chugging contest in spring training.
Spoiler alert: Wander Franco leads our list. Which MLB stars of tomorrow follow the best prospect since Mike Trout in this year's rankings?
Prospect rankings, team lists and features -- here are all the links you need to follow this year's crop of future stars.
Christian Yelich is staying quiet when it comes to his contract situation with the Brewers -- but his teammates are all-too-happy to sing his praises.
Two MVPs. Two very different approaches to getting paid. Here's what the vast difference in their future earnings says about MLB's economic system.
In 2019, the Nationals were the latest team to come from a bit off the radar to win it all. We look at how they did it and who fits the profile for 2020.
A-Rod shares his thoughts on the Astros, Chris Sale is trending toward Tommy John surgery, and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton won't be ready to start the season. Buster and Tim Kurkjian hit on all of that (5:16), plus, Christian Yelich is working toward an extension with the Brewers and baseball has started to buzz about coronavirus. Later, Todd Radom joins the pod to talk about Citi Field and for a quiz (18:07).
Paying the 2018 NL MVP $215 million might be a win-win, but what other young stars looking for long-term deals could strike gold?
If you take away the $26.5M owed to Christian Yelich over the next two years from his current deal, his extension with the Brewers will essentially be $190M over seven years. That's an AAV of about $27M from ages 30 to 36. Fourteen players currently average more than that.
Brewers sign up Christian Yelich.
Christian Yelich, the 2018 National League MVP who won his second straight NL batting title last season, will agree to a nine-year extension with the Brewers worth nearly $215 million, sources told ESPN.
Players like Didi Gregorius have disappointed recently but could deliver big years for their clubs -- and for your fantasy team.
Milwaukee's Lorenzo Cain appeared in his first game of spring training and went 1 for 3 against Kansas City.
The Brewers have signed 23-year-old right-hander Freddy Peralta to a five-year contract extension, a source told ESPN.
Utilityman Brock Holt is guaranteed $3.25 million under his one-year contract with the Brewers, which includes a club option for 2021 and performance bonuses that could make the deal worth $8.25 million over two seasons.
From names you'd forgotten all about to others you still need to learn, here's one player to track in every spring training camp.
Karl Ravech stops by to discuss Kris Bryant leading off for the Cubs, lineup configurations for the Angels, when the NL will have a DH, yellow flags around Aaron Judge, a deep Rays team and his thoughts on Rob Manfred handling the Astros scandal.
After all the heat off the diamond, we've finally got action on it -- along with a look at a key issue each team will sort out on the field.
Christian Yelich was driven last year by a desire to improve on the performance that earned him the NL MVP award in 2018.
Looking at all 30 clubs, don't be shocked when these comeback candidates and rising rookies make their teams.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 11 | 2 | .846 | - | W2 |
| Milwaukee | 7 | 4 | .636 | 3 | L2 |
| Chicago | 8 | 5 | .615 | 3 | W3 |
| Texas | 9 | 6 | .600 | 3 | L2 |
| Oakland | 10 | 7 | .588 | 3 | - |
| LA Dodgers | 7 | 6 | .538 | 4 | L2 |
| Colorado | 7 | 6 | .538 | 4 | L1 |
| Kansas City | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4.5 | W1 |
| LA Angels | 6 | 7 | .462 | 5 | L1 |
| San Francisco | 6 | 7 | .462 | 5 | W1 |
| Cincinnati | 5 | 6 | .455 | 5 | W1 |
| Chicago | 5 | 9 | .357 | 6.5 | L4 |
| Cleveland | 5 | 10 | .333 | 7 | L1 |
| Seattle | 4 | 9 | .308 | 7 | W1 |
| Arizona | 3 | 9 | .250 | 7.5 | L8 |
