William Contreras Has "Minor" Surgery On Middle Finger

[Matthew Lenz]

The Milwaukee Brewers saw catcher William Contreras's production dip a little bit in 2025 due to a broken left middle finger. The finger had actually been broken since 2024, though no announcement was made until May of 2025.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold provided an update, stating Contreras had "minor" surgery to repair his broken left middle finger. He's going to be sidelined for five to six weeks, but should otherwise be healthy by the time pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

Despite the dip, Contreras was still productive at the plate, sporting a 113 wRC+ over 659 plate appearances. He has 17 home runs and has stolen six bases as well. While those numbers are impressive considering the importance of your left hand for a right-handed batter, his most impressive feat may be that he played in 150 games, only second to J.T. Realmuto.

Yesterday, the Brewers declined his $12 million option (earning Contreras a $100K buyout), meaning the two sides will go through arbitration again this season. The move is expected to save the Brewers less than $1 million, as MLBTR projects Contreras to make $11.1 million via arbitration.

You have to wonder how that sits with Contreras, given the sacrifices he made for the team—is saving a few hundred thousand worth it with your superstar catcher? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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[SF70]

It could end up saving far more than a “few hundred thousand “. A half million saved this offseason would lead to possibly double that next year with compounding.

I think we see a compromise of some sort with the parties agreeing to fair deal for both sides.

[CheezWizHed]

Maybe declining the option will spur talks for a long-term deal instead? 

[Frisbee Slider]

Contreras receives a $100,000 buyout check (he otherwise would not have received) for the ‘insult’ of the Brewers exercising their choice to trust the collectively bargained arbitration process, which I assume they will still avoid.

I trust the Brewers do a fair job communicating their business thinking before, during and after the decision. 

[Frisbee Slider]

11 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Maybe declining the option will spur talks for a long-term deal instead? 

Like 99% of players, it is hard to imagine Milwaukee being happy with paying over $100M for a player that is in their 30’s and assuredly past their prime.

Brewers have two more seasons of Contreras. Yelich has three seasons left on his deal. Maybe we give Contreras the Yelich money in 2029 and beyond? 

I assume we hope Quero is the future but maybe Contreras becomes our Salvador Perez 🤷‍♂️

[CheezWizHed]

4 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Like 99% of players, it is hard to imagine Milwaukee being happy with paying over $100M for a player that is in their 30’s and assuredly past their prime.

Brewers have two more seasons of Contreras. Yelich has three seasons left on his deal. Maybe we give Contreras the Yelich money in 2029 and beyond? 

I assume we hope Quero is the future but maybe Contreras becomes our Salvador Perez 🤷‍♂️

Maybe "long term" was overstated... the Brewers put together the last deal to (theoretically) avoid arby this year.  Perhaps they can cover the next two years and buy a year of FA (obviously no buyouts if you do that)?  Or at least avoid arby this and next year. 

[Frisbee Slider]

2 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Perhaps they can cover the next two years and buy a year of FA

That could be nice. At the same time, I think Contreras will be eager to get his $100M guarantee after 2027 season. 

Whoever signs Contreras in 2028 will have a 30-year-old catcher with a lot of miles on him. If anyone can fight through injuries and aging, it is probably Contreras, though.

 

[Jopal78]

2 hours ago, Matthew Lenz said:

The Milwaukee Brewers saw catcher William Contreras's production dip a little bit in 2025 due to a broken left middle finger. The finger had actually been broken since 2024, though no announcement was made until May of 2025.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold provided an update, stating Contreras had "minor" surgery to repair his broken left middle finger. He's going to be sidelined for five to six weeks, but should otherwise be healthy by the time pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

Despite the dip, Contreras was still productive at the plate, sporting a 113 wRC+ over 659 plate appearances. He has 17 home runs and has stolen six bases as well. While those numbers are impressive considering the importance of your left hand for a right-handed batter, his most impressive feat may be that he played in 150 games, only second to J.T. Realmuto.

Yesterday, the Brewers declined his $12 million option (earning Contreras a $100K buyout), meaning the two sides will go through arbitration again this season. The move is expected to save the Brewers less than $1 million, as MLBTR projects Contreras to make $11.1 million via arbitration.

You have to wonder how that sits with Contreras, given the sacrifices he made for the team—is saving a few hundred thousand worth it with your superstar catcher? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

 

View full rumor

 

Ok, why would the Brewers declining their half of option bother Contreras a bit?
 

Unless he and his representatives are all nincompoops, they would have known at the time he signed it, that he would unlikely be awarded a salary in excess of 12 million dollars. Thus he’s got nothing to lose and gets an extra $100,000 for an option unlikely to be exercised anyway.

The only alternative explanation is he and his agents believed he would likely do better than 12 million for 2026 and he inexplicably signed the club option anyways. That would mean they’re all idiots .
 

 

[CheezWizHed]

3 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

That could be nice. At the same time, I think Contreras will be eager to get his $100M guarantee after 2027 season. 

Whoever signs Contreras in 2028 will have a 30-year-old catcher with a lot of miles on him. If anyone can fight through injuries and aging, it is probably Contreras, though.

 

 I think you'd have to assume that he follows his brother to 1B or at least DH at the end of the contract.  If he remains healthy enough to stay at catcher, it is a bonus.  

Plenty of catchers have done it well into their 30s. 

[Matt]

Extending Contreras is insane.

[CheezWizHed]

Certainly hope William's middle finger will be ready to give it to the Dodgers next year! 😉