MLB podcaster unimpressed by Milwaukee Brewers 'p***ing off' ace Corbin Burnes over contract dispute in arbitration

During arbitration, the Milwaukee Brewers and their star pitcher, Corbin Burnes, have been at odds over a contract dispute. Burnes had a breakout season in 2021 before filing for salary arbitration following a disappointing postseason in 2022. The five-year veteran lost the arbitration case, which resulted in a $10.01 million settlement rather than the $10.75 million requested by Burnes. The Brewers have received a great deal of criticism from the baseball community as a result of this.

MLB podcaster Jared Carrabis took to Twitter to express his criticism of the way the Milwaukee Brewers handled the situation:

"When will teams learn that saving a couple million bucks is not worth p***ing off one of your star players in an arbitration hearing? I will never understand why some teams don’t pull out all the stops to avoid having to do this."

When will teams learn that saving a couple million bucks is not worth pissing off one of your star players in an arbitration hearing? I will never understand why some teams don’t pull out all the stops to avoid having to do this. https://t.co/BmzrZt19or

Arbitration is the process by which players and teams negotiate contracts before the start of the season. During this process, the player and team present their arguments for the player's worth, and an independent arbitrator decides on a fair salary for the upcoming season. This process can be contentious, as teams often try to save money by presenting lower salaries than the player feels they deserve.

While Corbin Burnes did receive a raise, many feel that the Brewers undervalued him and that the process has damaged the relationship between the team and their star player. Corbin Burnes was the NL Cy Young award winner in 2021 and was also the NL strikeout leader in 2022. He expressed his disappointment at losing the arbitration case and admitted that it affected his relationship with the organization. His current contract is till 2024 after which he will enter free agency.

What does the future hold for Corbin Burnes

While Corbin Burnes will head into spring training with his focus on the upcoming MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers, there is no telling what the future holds for him. Many players soon lose motivation when they feel undervalued by their team and seek a contract elsewhere and Burnes will have no shortage of suitors if he decides to go down that road.

@Jared_Carrabis You’re screwing over one of your best players. He now hates you and has no desire to stay past the rookie deal. KC I believe is doing this with Singer and I hate it.

The Brewers are not the only team guilty of undervaluing their star players during the arbitration process. However, in a league where talent is increasingly hard to come by, teams should be doing everything in their power to retain their top players. The Brewers have a talented team that could compete for the World Series in 2023, but they risk alienating their star players and damaging team chemistry if they continue to undervalue their talent.