Brewers extend qualifying offer to Jake Bauers; 5 become free agents

The Milwaukee Brewers are putting their money where their mouth is regarding one of their key players from the World Series run.The team extended a one-year qualifying offer of $23.15 million to first baseman Jake Bauers, the National League Championship Series MVP, as part of a flurry of moves ahead of free agency officially beginning at 4 p.m. Nov. 2.Bauers has until Nov. 17 to either accept or reject the Brewers' offer. Coming off a breakout year in which he had an .874 OPS and slugged 26 homers for the World Series champions, there will be ample interest in Bauers for far more than the price tag of the qualifying offer. But Bauers, an integral piece of the clubhouse who came to greatly appreciate playing in Milwaukee, could get more in 2027 alone on the qualifying offer than as a free agent.While Bauers is not yet technically a free agent, catcher Gary Sánchez and pitchers Antonio Senzatela and Dustin May are after their mutual options were not exercised. The Brewers declined the options on Sánchez and Senzatela, while May turned down his $20 million option.Pitchers Bryse Wilson and Jared Koenig also became free agents after clearing waivers and electing free agency. Wilson will become a minor-league free agent.Outfielder Akil Baddoo, who spent the entire season at Class AAA Nashville, was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates to round out the club's moves.The Brewers' 40-man roster now stands at 33 players.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers extend qualifying offer to Jake Bauers; 5 become free agents