The Major League Baseball general manager meetings have wrapped up after a three-day stint in Las Vegas as executives from all 30 clubs met for one of the more crucial iterations of the annual event. 

This is because, as the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association continue to navigate a tense impasse over the next collective bargaining agreement, a work stoppage has a very high chance of occurring. The current CBA is set to expire on Dec. 1.

Despite the uncertain future of MLB moving forward, perhaps no executive walked into the GM Meetings with their head held higher than Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. 

Arnold's Brewers are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history. At least for one more season, they get to be the sole owners of that title while the 29 other teams continue the quest for the mountaintop. 

Arnold and his front office are probably still riding high from being the champs, but now they are tasked with defending the title.

According to an ESPN report, that is what was at the forefront of Arnold’s mind during the meetings.

ESPN MLB writers Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and Jesse Rogers reported on the focus for each franchise moving forward, given what was said at the meetings. 

Regarding the Brewers, the trio of writers acknowledged that the team does not have many needs, especially after winning the World Series. However, according to Arnold, the organization is now targeted.

Milwaukee is no longer assuming the role of the hunter; it is the hunted, and that reality has Arnold acting with a sense of urgency to ensure that the Brewers have their ducks in a row. According to ESPN's report, Arnold was working diligently just days after they celebrated their championship parade. 

Those conversations extended to skipper Pat Murphy, who is not only a World Series champion manager now but was also recently named the National League Manager of the Year for an unprecedented third straight time. 

Arnold told Rogers that he wants to ensure that the right things are in place for the Brewers to be able to repeat, and he converses with Murphy every day about the future of the team. 

It is no surprise that this is the franchise’s mindset, but since this is a first for Milwaukee, it brings a different kind of challenge to the table. Arnold and Murphy have been celebrated time and time again as individuals for what they have constructed with the Brewers, and now it is time to show they can retain what all teams want the most.