Report: Brewers ink 21-year-old Luis Lara to 7-year extension
Lara, a switch-hitting outfielder from Venezuela, is listed as the No. 5 prospect in the Brewers’ farm system and No. 91 overall in baseball.
MILWAUKEE —
For the second time this year, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed another one of their top prospects to a deal before they have even made a plate appearance in the majors. This time, it’s 21-year-old Luis Lara.
According to reports, the Brewers and Lara have agreed to a seven-year contract with three club options that will guarantee around $31 million when made official. The new contract will cover 2026 to 2032, with club options for 2033 and 2035. When all is said and done, the deal maxes out at $78 million if all incentives are reached.
The contract puts him on the 40-man roster, but he is still not being called up, according to reports.
The Brewers’ farm system was recently crowned the best group of prospects back in May, according to MLB.com. Lara, a switch-hitting outfielder from Venezuela, is listed as the No. 5 prospect in the Brewers’ farm system and No. 91 overall in baseball.
He started playing minor league ball at the age of 17. He is currently playing for the Nashville Sounds (triple-A affiliate). In 56 games this year, Lara is batting .338 with a .947 OPS, seven home runs, 18 stolen bases and 39 walks to 32 strikeouts.
These types of deals and extensions for minor leaguers, or younger players, have become the Brewers’ bread and butter. Brewers fans might remember similar types of deals for Jackson Chourio, Freddy Peralta and, most recently, Cooper Pratt.
Pratt, a 21-year-old shortstop in the Brewers’ farm system, just two months ago signed an eight-year deal for over $50 million. Pratt is ranked No. 4 in the Brewers system and No. 63 overall in baseball. Pratt also has yet to make his major league debut.
Pratt’s deal comes two years after the Brewers inked Chourio to an eight-year deal worth around $82 million. That set a record for a player who had yet to appear in MLB.
These deals are basically gambles for a smaller-market team, like the Brewers, to gain extra years of control at an affordable price, if things pan out performance-wise for the player. It’s also a way for these high-end prospects to secure generational wealth before appearing in the majors.
Top Headlines
WATCH: ‘Wild West’: Shootout on Milwaukee’s east side caught on camera