Brewers May Decline Senzatela's 2027 Option
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired reliever Antonio Senzatela at the trade deadline, but he carries a $14 million club option for 2027. ESPN's Jeff Passan lists that option as unlikely to be exercised this winter. Milwaukee's payroll structure, which currently has no player above $12 million besides Christian Yelich and Brandon Woodruff, makes paying a reliever that much unlikely.
The Brewers acquired Senzatela at the trade deadline alongside JoJo Romero. Senzatela posted a 3.61 ERA before the deal, but his performance with Milwaukee has dipped to a 5.87 ERA across 16 outings, giving him a 4.12 season ERA overall.
Milwaukee's payroll is tightly structured, with only Christian Yelich and Brandon Woodruff earning over $12 million annually. Since Senzatela's 2027 club option is worth $14 million, and ESPN's Jeff Passan considers it unlikely to be exercised, the team appears poised to decline it, especially as Romero also heads to free agency.
The decision could affect Brewers fans by altering the team's bullpen depth for the 2027 season, potentially influencing their playoff chances and ticket sales. It may also signal to other small-market clubs and players that high-priced relief contracts are becoming less common, which could reshape how future reliever deals are negotiated across the league.