The Milwaukee Brewers are embarking on their offseason journey with a noticeable roster shakeup. Key moves included giving Willy Adames the qualifying offer, paving the way for his free agency, and choosing not to pick up Wade Miley’s option.

A pivotal decision on their docket concerned Frankie Montas’ mutual option for 2025. At first glance, leaving this on the table appeared to be a no-brainer, given Montas’ post-trade performance—a 4.55 ERA over 11 starts replete with control issues and susceptibility to hard hits.

Given the hefty $20 million price tag, most anticipated the Brewers would opt out on their end.

But surprisingly, Montas beat them to the punch by declining his side of the deal, effectively rendering the decision irrelevant and simultaneously opening up a host of intriguing questions regarding his choice.

Milwaukee’s brass likely breathed a sigh of relief with Montas clearing his own path. The Brewers’ financial prudence has been evident this offseason, opting out of deals for more accomplished players with lesser financial commitments. The notion of willingly shelling out $20 million for Montas seemed unlikely from the start.

Delving into Montas’ rationale, several theories emerge. Despite his performance being emblematic of a player shaking off the remnants of shoulder surgery throughout most of 2024, his strikeout rate saw a significant uptick after relocating to Milwaukee, particularly in September following some mechanical tweaks.

Montas might be betting on his resurgence attracting interest from other teams, perhaps eyeing a multi-year contract offering greater security and overall financial stability. Alternatively, he might have wanted to control the narrative, choosing to opt-out rather than waiting to be released.

Montas’ path forward remains uncertain. The troubling .637 slugging percentage hitters managed off his cutter paints a daunting picture.

While it’s a stretch to imagine Montas securing more than the present value he turned down for the 2025 season alone, the perpetual demand for pitching talent might see him land a multi-year deal. Such a contract could provide overall security and a higher cumulative payout, even if the single-season figure falls short of $20 million.