Arbitration Tracker 2026

[igor67]

I don't think extending catchers is a good idea. Maybe the buy out 1-2 FA seasons early in the career version. However the close to FA prices just leave too much room for a big rapid decline in value at that position. So I don't have a problem with them trying to run cheap here and possibly upsetting the player.

[jay87shot]

Just settle at 9.5 or something, make Contreras happy and since we will likely trade him next offseason the extra for 2027 won't matter much. I do agree that if Vaughn is at 7 whatever that Contreras should be around 10 or more based on career achievements so anywhere in the 9s seems more than fare to me.

[Jopal78]

8 hours ago, jay87shot said:

Just settle at 9.5 or something, make Contreras happy and since we will likely trade him next offseason the extra for 2027 won't matter much. I do agree that if Vaughn is at 7 whatever that Contreras should be around 10 or more based on career achievements so anywhere in the 9s seems more than fare to me.

Maybe somebody else said it, but Contreras is likely going to reset the comparable for a catcher in Year 2 or arbitration, so no surprise the Brewers might dig their feet in, and online posts aside Contreras’ agents certainly new this is how it was going to play out, and likely Wild Bill did too. The ol’ “it’s a business” line.

[markedman5]

 

[wallus]

Don't go on social media as it pertains to that. It makes this place seem like Harvard in comparison 

[patrickgpe]

I am interested to see how much the club option is to buy out his final arby year (assuming there is a 27 season). I thought those are normally player option or mutual, rather than the club deciding if they wish to pick it up or just do the process all over again next season. 

[KCBrewerfan34]

His last contract had the club option included as well. 

[Jastro]

43 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

I am interested to see how much the club option is to buy out his final arby year (assuming there is a 27 season). I thought those are normally player option or mutual, rather than the club deciding if they wish to pick it up or just do the process all over again next season. 

 

[biedergb]

On 1/9/2026 at 9:46 AM, jay87shot said:

Just settle at 9.5 or something, make Contreras happy

Bingo, nice call on the 9.5M.

 

Now - it is reported as a Team option only - and that has a good chance of being picked up assuming he has a good year, correct? And he could still be traded next off season with that option in place, correct?

[mudbutt]

5 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Bingo, nice call on the 9.5M.

 

Now - it is reported as a Team option only - and that has a good chance of being picked up assuming he has a good year, correct? And he could still be traded next off season with that option in place, correct?

The club option is more there so his contract can't be used for future arbitration comparisons. Also sometimes they do it to defer the money a year essentially if there's money on the declined option ie a guy wants 10 mil, team puts in 9 and you make a deal for them to take 9 and 500k on the decline rather than paying him 9.5 outright.

[biedergb]

but again, he theoretically *could* come back next year on that option, or at least be tradeable?

Or would they likely let him walk, and give him a QO?

[Team Canada]

It looks like it's a pure club option like the one he had for this year (that the Brewers declined because it was obviously more than he was going to get). So the Brewers will have a similar decision next year. 

[brewcrewdue80]

1 hour ago, biedergb said:

but again, he theoretically *could* come back next year on that option, or at least be tradeable?

Or would they likely let him walk, and give him a QO?

Brewers still have team control. FA offseason would be 2028 to get ability on a QO.

[biedergb]

2 hours ago, brewcrewdue80 said:

Brewers still have team control. FA offseason would be 2028 to get ability on a QO.

OK, somehow I thought this was his last year of arbitration elgibility.

So he either plays under that option next year, or goes the arbitration route and FA after 2027 season?

[MrTPlush]

13 hours ago, biedergb said:

OK, somehow I thought this was his last year of arbitration elgibility.

So he either plays under that option next year, or goes the arbitration route and FA after 2027 season?

He won’t play under the option. The purpose of the option is basically a tactic to make Contreras never be a data point in arbitration cases in the future.

A jump to $14.5mil next year is unlikely from an arbitration standpoint. He’d basically need to have a 2024 level year or likely even better and still sit outside of the Top 4 in MVP. It becomes a mutual option if he is Top 4 in MVP voting and then he can decline it (still will be arby eligible).

It is why the whole “just pick up the option and be nice to Contreras” thing never made sense even if we aspired to extend him. Contreras is signing these contract knowing the purpose of the option year is merely a contract technicality. No one expects it to be picked up.

[CheezWizHed]

Here's to hoping that Contreras earns the $14.5M team option next year! 

[SeaBass]

2 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Here's to hoping that Contreras earns the $14.5M team option next year! 

Ah, warm and fuzzy thoughts of Contreras morphing into the next Cal Raleigh are dancing in my head.