As William Contreras Savors His Spotlight Moment, Will Brewers Consider Extending Him?

[Matthew Trueblood]

The Brewers' star catcher got off to a scorching start this season, then bowed slightly under the heavy workload he insisted upon getting. Now might be a moment when both sides can see clearly and seriously consider guaranteeing the star a spot in the team's firmament.

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Just before Opening Day, the Dodgers signed the man most people believed to be the best catcher in the National League--and perhaps the best in baseball--to a 10-year, $140-million deal. It was shocking for its length, given that Will Smith was gearing up for his age-29 season, but the length is just a way of lowering the tax bills the Dodgers will pay over the life of the contract. In effect, it was a bit more like a seven-year deal for the All-Star backstop, where we could think of the salary distribution as:

• $14 million in 2024
• $21 million in 2025
• $21 million per year for 2026-31

Smith was under team control for 2024 and 2025 anyway, and was actually scheduled to make considerably less than $14 million this year, so the deal gave him more money immediately, then spread much of the remaining obligations across a long span of seasons, some of which everyone involved knows will be played elsewhere or as a role player. The Dodgers also got salary deferrals in the deal, and will be paying him varying amounts for the next 20 years, all told.

William Contreras is in a very different situation from that of Smith. He's much younger (he won't turn 27 until late September), and is two years further from free agency. He'll become arbitration-eligible this winter, though, and after a first half in which he was more heavily used than any other catcher in baseball and as explosive and reliable as any of them, he's claimed the starting spot in the National League's All-Star lineup, at the expense of Smith. If the team and the player don't discuss a contract extension now, they might never agree to one.

That would be ok, of course. The Brewers have (though for how much longer, it's hard to forecast) one of the strongest catching development infrastructures in baseball. Jeferson Quero probably won't be the same caliber of player as Contreras, especially after the injury that ended his season back in the spring, but he's a fine prospect in his own right. The team can and will develop more catchers, over the next three-plus years. By no means is it Contreras or bust, for the next 10 years.

Yet, it's hard not to want to hold onto a player this special. Of the 331 batters with at least 150 plate appearances this season, Contreras is seventh in the percentage of his plate appearances resulting in a batted ball at 100 miles per hour or more. Contreras is an athlete. He's a versatile hitter. He's a ferocious competitor, with all the skills to remain valuable at the most important defensive position on the diamond even as the demands of that position shift drastically. If the Brewers can secure his services for seven or eight more years, as they have with Christian Yelich (who will bat back-to-back with Contreras in Tuesday night's All-Star Game), they have to at least consider it.

At this point, an extension with Contreras would certainly be expensive. He's in full bloom, with this third straight All-Star appearance and all the makings of another half-decade or more as one of the game's elite players at a position in high demand. Still, the limits on catcher usage and their aging curves tend to constrain their asking prices in free agency, which gives the Crew a bit of leverage. A reasonable deal might go:

• $4.5 million for 2025
• $8 million for 2026
• $11.5 million for 2027
• $21 million per year for 2028-33

That would be a $150-million outlay for nine seasons, which is hefty, but far from unmanageable. On Contreras's side, it guarantees him more money than Smith got over one fewer season, and it eliminates the risk of injury or overuse that could sidetrack his career before he gets the payday he's been dreaming of. Paired with the team's existing commitment to Yelich, this kind of contract could foreclose an avenue or two down the road, but it would be worth it. Those two players can anchor even a playoff-caliber lineup, right now and for the next few years. Committing to players like Contreras, who still could have unrealized upside at the plate, also establishes the team as a place where young players can become superstars--and not necessarily leave right after they do.

Tuesday night will be a delightful showcase for the Brewers' two biggest stars. Once the show is over, though, the team should think about its future with each, and about gaining greater long-term control over the one who currently stands to become a free agent sooner.

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[rickh150]

Didn’t Contreras kind of nix an extension already? Need some help with the specifics, but I remember the topic being broached to him and he acted like he had no interest.

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, rickh150 said:

Didn’t Contreras kind of nix an extension already? Need some help with the specifics, but I remember the topic being broached to him and he acted like he had no interest.

Yes, that was the impression he gave when it came up (a couple months ago?).

[Outlander]

Contreras could be tough but should consider talking with Turang about one. Next year will be his last year at the minimum then 4 years of arbitration since he will be super two. Maybe get a season or two of free agency when he is 30/31.