2026 Offseason and Beyond Trade/Free Agent Ideas

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

With Ashby having such a strong postseason could there be any teams willing to offer a kings ransom for him? He has 3 years left so I am talking like 4 players with at least 2 of them being higher end guys. I think it could be a shrewd move, Ashby is crazy good but he can get a little shaky at times. Clearly he has a ton of value as a swing/multi inning high end arm but if he isn't going to start and we could get the value of a high end controllable starter for him I think we would have to consider it.

Why would we want to trade (arguably) our best pitcher from the NLCS who is under team control for 3 more seasons?

 

 

[PBTank]

Only reasons to trade Ashby are that he’s getting expensive for a reliever and if they get blown away by an offer.  After watching him this postseason, he could definitely take over the closer role if needed in 2027 and beyond.  His salary isn’t bad for a closer.  I think they are hanging on to him for at least 2027.  
 

The Brewers this offseason are in great shape roster wise.  The first base position will need to be addressed.  I feel they should offer Bauers the QO and see how things shake out.  If he accepts it or resigns, Vaughn should be traded.  If he leaves, they hang onto Vaughn.  Otherwise, they are in great shape to listen to offers but not necessarily actively shopping anyone. Ashby, Magill, any of there controllable starting pitching depth, Contreras, Ortiz, Mitchell, and Frelick could all interest other clubs.  The Brewers do not need to trade any of them.  But if the right offer comes along I’m sure they will definitely listen.  

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Extend Bill for 4/100 with a team option for a 5th year….

he’s signed for 2027 at $14.5M, so an extension of 4/100, with a $25M option (10 buyout) for 2032 would make it effectively a 5/124.5 deal

i believe that would set the record for a catch in AAV.

Bill is the heartbeat of this team.  Let’s get is done

[Mr Southpaw]

22 minutes ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Extend Bill for 4/100 with a team option for a 5th year….

he’s signed for 2027 at $14.5M, so an extension of 4/100, with a $25M option (10 buyout) for 2032 would make it effectively a 5/124.5 deal

i believe that would set the record for a catch in AAV.

Bill is the heartbeat of this team.  Let’s get is done

Exactly! Heartbeat of the team. A 33 year old catcher/1B DH is not too old.  Make him the second captain!

[SF70]

2 more wins for the start of baseball’s first Small-Market Dynasty.

Yes, the ‘27 roster is in great shape — we likely lose Bauers, but since our system is in such a great place we can bring everyone back in an attempt to win a title next year. The PS revenue will be the difference-maker. The team should be able to afford a Megill-Ashby backend at ~16M, with Contreras at whatever he’ll get, I believe $12M-$15M. 

If Bauers leaves we should be able to afford Vaughn and go with a veteran, battle-tested team in an attempt to hopefully go back-to-back.

The ‘27 lineup should be smack-dab in the sweet-spot of prime-age, peak performance + experience.

Chourio (23), Junior year.

Turang (27), senior year.

Contreras (29) 5th yr senior.

Yelich (35) past-prime.

Vaughn (29) 5th yr senior.

Mitchell (29) senior year.

Pratt (23) sophomore year.

Lara (23) sophomore year.

Frelick (26) senior year.

Hamilton (28) 5th yr senior.

Miz (25) Junior yr.

Henderson (25) sophomore yr.

Harrison (26) Junior yr.

Gasser (27) Junior yr.

Priester (27) Junior yr.

Megill (33) past-prime.

Ashby (28) 5th yr senior

Uribe (26) senior yr.

Hall (28) senior yr.

Then with a system loaded with upper-minors hitting & pitching talent.

The Golen-age of Brewers fandom is upon us.

[SF70]

26 minutes ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Extend Bill for 4/100 with a team option for a 5th year….

he’s signed for 2027 at $14.5M, so an extension of 4/100, with a $25M option (10 buyout) for 2032 would make it effectively a 5/124.5 deal

i believe that would set the record for a catch in AAV.

Bill is the heartbeat of this team.  Let’s get is done

Contreras is likely to want a record-breaking contract for a catcher. A 4 year contract with an option is a pipe-dream.

Ride-out his walk year, which could be epic and thank William for his time here. 

26 man roster. Take a hit at C, but make up for it in other areas. Besides I have unadulterated faith in this FO to make sure we don’t have a black-hole at catcher, post Wild-Bill.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

15 minutes ago, SF70 said:

Contreras is likely to want a record-breaking contract for a catcher. A 4 year contract with an option is a pipe-dream.

Ride-out his walk year, which could be epic and thank William for his time here. 

26 man roster. Take a hit at C, but make up for it in other areas. Besides I have unadulterated faith in this FO to make sure we don’t have a black-hole at catcher, post Wild-Bill.

The 5 year contract I proposed would be a record for a catcher.  Key with Williams is the intangibles.  He has solid but not elite “Joe Mauer or Buster Posey” offensive skills.

do we really think any catcher will get longer than a 5 year deal at Age 29?

[liveforoctober]

I understand the appeal of wanting Contreras long term and I do think there are some Yadi intangibles that he mimics here but I will just note that giving him a multi-year lucrative contract is the exact opposite approach of what has gotten us to this point as a franchise. I personally would be shocked if it happens. We will run it back next year with him in his age 29 year. Then if he wants to play on a 1yr QO deal at ~$26mil+ in '28 we can absorb it for a season. He likely turns that down for a big contract somewhere though.

Contreras might be one of the anomalies, but catchers don't generally age well, I just can't see Arnold & Co tying up big money in him long term.

 

 

[jay87shot]

On 10/23/2026 at 5:01 PM, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Why would we want to trade (arguably) our best pitcher from the NLCS who is under team control for 3 more seasons?

 

 

I wouldn't want to trade him, I am more asking what would be the value where we have to think hard about it. He has been beyond sensational, but at the end of the day he is a reliever who has had arm issues in the past and at times can struggle with control. If someone offered us the value of a high end starter with 3 years of control we would have to consider it, it would be hard to send him away. Say the Nats (just picking a pitching needy team with a good farm) are desperate to offer Travis Sykora, Jarlin Susana, Miguel Sime, and Alejandro Rosario (4 crazy high octane arms with some control issues) is that an offer we could say no to? 

[jay87shot]

I would love to give Contreras an extension and 4/100 seems reasonable. The problem is that we don't extend aging players and we can't be stuck with to many guys like Yeli where we aren't getting value out of our money spent. I would much rather try and extend guys like Henderson, Gasser, Uribe, Harrison, Made, Fischer, etc. or even attempt to go big and extend Misi or Turang with that 100 million. We've seen Contreras struggle for a month here or there as he ages those slumps get worse and his defense will slow. We just don't pay guys for what they have done and I wouldn't change that even if William is deserves that contract.

[sveumrules]

31 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

I would love to give Contreras an extension and 4/100 seems reasonable.

Are you talking 4/100 on top of the $15M or so he is already slated to earn in Arby's this year?

If so, that would come in just below the 5/$115.5M that Realmuto signed for back in 2021. Would think that Contreras is going to want something like 5/$120M or 6/$150M to establish a new AAV for catcher on any extension he signs.

[jay87shot]

40 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Are you talking 4/100 on top of the $15M or so he is already slated to earn in Arby's this year?

If so, that would come in just below the 5/$115.5M that Realmuto signed for back in 2021. Would think that Contreras is going to want something like 5/$120M or 6/$150M to establish a new AAV for catcher on any extension he signs.

Someone early just said 4/100, I just went with that as a potential home town discount. I agree on the open market (if he was a free agent after this year at least) he would probably eclipse the Realmuto deal.

[cragi]

i’ve been a proponent of re-signing Contreras, but if that’s really the price tag for him then I agree that’s just not the Brewer style. 

The CBA could change the economics here, of course but as of today that wouldn’t work because it gets away from their strategy.

Another factor to keep in mind is that the Brewers no longer have to reach for keeping talent like they may have had to with Yelich

Players want to play here now and we don't have big gaps in the system like we used to. They can truly build from within and don't have to worry about covering like before 

[TURBO]

52 minutes ago, cragi said:

Players want to play here now and we don't have big gaps in the system like we used to. They can truly build from within and don't have to worry about covering like before 

Agreed on every position, but not catcher.

We do not have an obvious build from within candidate currently in the system, that can step in and take William's place.

Quero was supposed to be that guy, but I don't think he is the automatic replacement any longer.

 

[cragi]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

Agreed on every position, but not catcher.

 

yes i agree which is what ive also been saying about needing to make trades for adding catching talent into our system.

[Trail]

3 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I would love to give Contreras an extension and 4/100 seems reasonable. The problem is that we don't extend aging players and we can't be stuck with to many guys like Yeli where we aren't getting value out of our money spent. I would much rather try and extend guys like Henderson, Gasser, Uribe, Harrison, Made, Fischer, etc. or even attempt to go big and extend Misi or Turang with that 100 million. We've seen Contreras struggle for a month here or there as he ages those slumps get worse and his defense will slow. We just don't pay guys for what they have done and I wouldn't change that even if William is deserves that contract.

That’s the problem with resigning wild Bill. Much as you’d like to… There are too many younger players that you really should extend, or at least try. Personally, I think we should trade him this off-season even though the team is primed for another deep run next year. Maximize value, and probably get a pretty decent catcher back in whatever trade you make.. Matt Wood, Marco, Dinges and Quero can duke it out for back up

[tmwiese55]

Assume they do win it this year, and assume that middle ground extension doesn't work with Bill.  I'd go with keeping him next year to go for the repeat. You're still getting the draft pick back for him.    Of course, if there is an overwhelming offer to trade then you have to do it. But based on the only so-so type returns they've gotten for all the other trades the last few years I don't think that whopper of a deal will be out there.   

And that's not to say that they still haven't come out well on all the other trades, just that none of the packages on paper at the time were in the 'holy cow' type level with overall top 20 ranked type prospects coming back.   But considering the value Bill gives us and with going into next year as probably the #2 favorite to win the WS, I think you go for that title and take the draft pick. 

[PBTank]

4 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I wouldn't want to trade him, I am more asking what would be the value where we have to think hard about it. He has been beyond sensational, but at the end of the day he is a reliever who has had arm issues in the past and at times can struggle with control. If someone offered us the value of a high end starter with 3 years of control we would have to consider it, it would be hard to send him away. Say the Nats (just picking a pitching needy team with a good farm) are desperate to offer Travis Sykora, Jarlin Susana, Miguel Sime, and Alejandro Rosario (4 crazy high octane arms with some control issues) is that an offer we could say no to? 

That would be very difficult to say no to.

[wntrtxn21]

1 hour ago, tmwiese55 said:

Assume they do win it this year, and assume that middle ground extension doesn't work with Bill.  I'd go with keeping him next year to go for the repeat. You're still getting the draft pick back for him.    Of course, if there is an overwhelming offer to trade then you have to do it. But based on the only so-so type returns they've gotten for all the other trades the last few years I don't think that whopper of a deal will be out there.   

And that's not to say that they still haven't come out well on all the other trades, just that none of the packages on paper at the time were in the 'holy cow' type level with overall top 20 ranked type prospects coming back.   But considering the value Bill gives us and with going into next year as probably the #2 favorite to win the WS, I think you go for that title and take the draft pick. 

I 100% agree! Contreras is the life blood of this team and a middle of the order bat. Next year I'm assuming Bauers is going to be too expensive and they let him walk so the Crew desperately needs William's bat. A good hitting catcher is very hard to find so If they can extend him, do it. Yelich is on the books through 2028 ($20M mutual option for 2029 that won't be picked up) so his $26M would offset some of the extension money.  In 2028 if the extension is just too pricey for Milwaukee, make the QO and take the pick.  I see the Crew making a try for a 3B with some power to offset Bauers' loss.  Made should be ready after next year so Milwaukee could trade Turang for a nice return and install Made at 2B.

[GAME05]

20 hours ago, wntrtxn21 said:

I see the Crew making a try for a 3B with some power to offset Bauers' loss.  Made should be ready after next year so Milwaukee could trade Turang for a nice return and install Made at 2B.

But we've also got Pena and Jett and lots of 1b/3b prospects. I agree with adding power, but that best comes by upgrading RF. 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

21 hours ago, GAME05 said:

But we've also got Pena and Jett and lots of 1b/3b prospects. I agree with adding power, but that best comes by upgrading RF. 

Hard to see the Brewers moving off Frelick. Murphy adores the guy. 

[cragi]

4 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Hard to see the Brewers moving off Frelick. Murphy adores the guy. 

I dont know how much influence Murph has on keeping players. Frelick is a good clubhouse guy whose injuries would make selling low tougher right now. But they should be listening to offers on both Frelick and Mitchell. Lara is signed long term or I would say him as well. Too much value in any of those 3 to sit on the bench or platoon for the next few years, and we need to have roster room. Any would be a big trading chip to a team with excess pitching or catching talent.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

7 minutes ago, cragi said:

I dont know how much influence Murph has on keeping players. Frelick is a good clubhouse guy whose injuries would make selling low tougher right now. But they should be listening to offers on both Frelick and Mitchell. Lara is signed long term or I would say him as well. Too much value in any of those 3 to sit on the bench or platoon for the next few years, and we need to have roster room. Any would be a big trading chip to a team with excess pitching or catching talent.

I agree that something is going to have to happen with the OF depth eventually, especially since Payne and Adamczewski aren't especially far away as well. And I was convinced that Caleb Durbin would be a building block after his nice debut last season, and we know how that turned out. 

[cragi]

Frelick and Mitchell being first rounders with speed and defense, and starters on a likely WS champion with plenty of contract left has to be interesting to someone.

[jay87shot]

2 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Hard to see the Brewers moving off Frelick. Murphy adores the guy. 

Agreed, he isn't going to be expensive so as a 4th OF he is fine, no one will give us great value and I don't think a rebound back to a .280-.300 hitter is a stretch at all. I could see the team exploring him playing some 3B again this offseason as well. If we possibly got a really good offer for Hamilton he could be an occasion backup or spot start for Joey at 3B until Made is ready.