The owner of the Milwaukee Brewers addressed concerns about the team’s roster and payroll for the 2020 season, saying that the team lost money in 2019.
Mark Attanasio spoke to reporters at training camp in Maryvale, Ariz. Tuesday. He said the team operated at a loss last year.
#Brewers owner Mark Attanasio says publicly for first time that team operated at a loss in 2019. Details coming on https://t.co/4Lv9nSz6K2.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) February 18, 2020
A question many of you have wanted posed directly to Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio in light of player payroll: Did the team operate at a loss last season? Yes, he says.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) February 18, 2020
The Brewers lost numerous free agents after the season, including catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielders Mike Moustakas and Eric Thames.
Sportrac currently tracks the Milwaukee Brewers’ payroll at more than $91 million for 2020. Last year’s total ended up at nearly $136 million, according to Sportrac.
However, Attanasio says the Brewers are down from last season’s franchise-record million payroll because president of baseball operations David Stearns didn’t find any splashy free-agent fits, instead preferring to rely on depth, versatility and manager Craig Counsell’s knack for balancing options.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
