ESPN’s Jeff Passan just dropped the word: reliever Antonio Senzatela’s $14 million team option for 2027 with the Milwaukee Brewers is as good as gone. This isn’t some nail-biter, folks. This is a slam-dunk, no-brainer decision for the Brewers front office. They aren’t picking it up, and honestly, if they did, it would be absolutely stunning.
Milwaukee’s Smart Money Play Doesn’t Include This Reliever
The Brewers are known for building a contender with a payroll that’s not exactly hitting the league’s top tiers. They’re smart with their money, choosing when and where to spend. If it’s for the right pitcher or position player, yeah, they’ll open the wallet. But this $14 million option for Senzatela? It doesn’t fit the mold. Passan himself was blunt, stating it’s “Unlikely to be picked up… Antonio Senzatela, Brewers, $14 million (no buyout).” This guy is not coming back next year, plain and simple.
From Rocky Mountain Highs to Brewers Lows
Let’s talk about Senzatela’s path to this point. He’s a 31-year-old right-handed reliever, but for most of his MLB career, he was a starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. And let’s be real, his time there was incredibly underwhelming, rocking a 5.09 ERA across 212 games. Yikes, right? This season, though, he made the move to the bullpen with the Rockies and actually found some success. We’re talking a 3.61 ERA in 34 outings, good enough for the Brewers to actually trade for him. That’s where the story takes a turn, and not for the better.
The Numbers Don’t Lie For Milwaukee
Since joining Milwaukee as a mid-season trade deadline pickup, Senzatela has been a completely different player, and not in a good way. His ERA with the Brewers? A staggering 5.87 across 16 outings. That’s a huge jump from his Rockies bullpen numbers and it screams “mistake” for the trade. Considering those struggles since he put on a Brewers uniform, it’s crystal clear why this $14 million option decision for their front office has an obvious answer. There’s no buyout to worry about either, which just makes it even easier.
So, for the Brewers, this isn’t a tough call. It’s a strategic move that aligns with their history of smart spending. Look for them to keep building that contender, but definitely without Senzatela’s $14 million on the books.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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