The Brewers have several players who are arbitration eligible at the end of the season as well as at least a few key players (
Steve Green,
Josh Schaeffer) who will be free agents in the offseason if not extended before then.
Wanting to get a head start on clarifying the roster for 1980, the club reached agreement with three of their arbitration eligible players on one-year extensions in the past few days: backup catcher
Kirk Patnode, who has become the key leader in the clubhouse and is also getting more playing time with
Zacarias Martell experiencing some decline in production, long-time utility infielder
Joe Willemse, who is such a smart little player who provides sterling defense at three positions and a clutch bat, and superstar first baseman
Brett Taranto.
