2027 Roster/Salary

[baseball101]

Congratulations to the World Champion Milwaukee Brewers. I just started looking at salaries and options and arbitration. Looks like some sizable salaries won’t be back. May and Senz in particular. Brewers are set up well for the future. I wouldn’t mind going after an established 2-3 rotation starting pitcher. What say you?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

6 minutes ago, baseball101 said:

Congratulations to the World Champion Milwaukee Brewers. I just started looking at salaries and options and arbitration. Looks like some sizable salaries won’t be back. May and Senz in particular. Brewers are set up well for the future. I wouldn’t mind going after an established 2-3 rotation starting pitcher. What say you?

They literally have that guy already on the roster in Quinn Priester, who is expected to be full-go for Spring Training. Don't forget how great that guy was in 2025. He wasn't a fluke, either. Guy has legit TOR-type stuff.

[baseball101]

Just now, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

They literally have that guy already on the roster in Priester, who is expected to be full-go for Spring Training. Don't forget how great that guy was in 2025. He wasn't a fluke, either. Guy has legit TOR-type stuff.

I understand what you are saying however he may not come back the same. Big question marks after Miz, Henderson, Gasser. Lots of options but lots of questions.

[TrackCoach]

I keep running the numbers in my head and I cannot express how well set up it seems the Brewers are set up with the roster moving forward financially.  I would love to see someone with more talent and time to do a breakdown of the 2027 expected numbers to see what I am missing.  It seems to me after letting some of the obvious players walk (May, Sanchez, etc) the Brewers are in a great spot with some flexibility to pursue talent, or as I would prefer, lock up some more in house talent.

 

 

Brewers_2027_All_Current_Players_Salary_Estimates.xlsx

[RubenQuevedoFanClub]

If Ive learned anything from Matt Arnold the past couple seasons its that you can never have enough pitching.

[39Streak]

First candidate for rotation?  How about Ashby?  Injuries took him down.  He’s clearly back with a starters mix of pitches.  He’s a huge weapon in the pen.  But could be TOR.

1.  Miz

2.  Ashby

3.  Henderson

4.  Gasser

5.  Priester

6.  Harrison

Pen:

Megill

Uribe

Hall (2 inning guy)

Patrick (2 inning guy)

Drohan (2 inning guy)

Romero!  (Would love to have him back)

Final pen spot is rotation of guys with options like Gordon, Anderson, Crow, Sproat

 

[adambr2]

Assuming he didn’t price himself out of our range with his late season run, I think a Freddy Peralta reunion would make total sense. 

Much different relying on him as our 3 or 4 than our ace.

But this is only assuming his market is cooler than expected and he’s available for like 3/60. If it’s more years than that I would look elsewhere. 

[liveforoctober]

21 minutes ago, 39Streak said:

First candidate for rotation?  How about Ashby?  Injuries took him down.  He’s clearly back with a starters mix of pitches.  He’s a huge weapon in the pen.  But could be TOR.

1.  Miz

2.  Ashby

3.  Henderson

4.  Gasser

5.  Priester

6.  Harrison

Pen:

Megill

Uribe

Hall (2 inning guy)

Patrick (2 inning guy)

Drohan (2 inning guy)

Romero!  (Would love to have him back)

Final pen spot is rotation of guys with options like Gordon, Anderson, Crow, Sproat

 

There is a kid down in Nashville - Cameron Wagoner - and I really think he has a good chance to break camp with the big league club next spring or whenever we start play again. Big tall righty, he might even make Megill available for trade and just bump into Uribe's spot. Was really good in Biloxi and then nearly unhittable in Nashville when he got moved up.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

The latest brewers run has shown us that it is better to sign multiple lower priced pitchers than go after one big name high priced veteran.  Those players are just too risky for a team like the Brewers.  We have many internal options, but I'm hoping for a few projects and minor league vets to be signed.... Maybe another unsuspecting trade, where someone sarcastically proclaims "Woah solvd!  World series here we come".  which after yesterday says a lot.

[wallus]

6 hours ago, baseball101 said:

Congratulations to the World Champion Milwaukee Brewers. I just started looking at salaries and options and arbitration. Looks like some sizable salaries won’t be back. May and Senz in particular. Brewers are set up well for the future. I wouldn’t mind going after an established 2-3 rotation starting pitcher. What say you?

Trevor Rogers is the guy to go get if you are signing a FA pitcher.

[thammondwis]

20 hours ago, 39Streak said:

First candidate for rotation?  How about Ashby?  Injuries took him down.  He’s clearly back with a starters mix of pitches.  He’s a huge weapon in the pen.  But could be TOR.

1.  Miz

2.  Ashby

3.  Henderson

4.  Gasser

5.  Priester

6.  Harrison

Pen:

Megill

Uribe

Hall (2 inning guy)

Patrick (2 inning guy)

Drohan (2 inning guy)

Romero!  (Would love to have him back)

Final pen spot is rotation of guys with options like Gordon, Anderson, Crow, Sproat

 

So who are likely to be in the mix for starting rotation in spring training (for this discussion assume CBA gets settled prior to spring training with no major differences).

Here are some names I can come up with

Miz, Henderson, Harrison, Gasser, Drohan, Priester, Ashby (I think he is more valuable in pen), Patrick (probably more likely in pen), Woodruff (FA/Retire?), Coleman Crow, Brandon Sproat, Coltan Gordon

Does anyone above not belong or anyone I'm missing.  Are there any other minor leaguers that might have a realistic shot at the starting rotation next year.

From that list Miz, Henderson, and Gasser would be locks at this point?  Seems like a lot of good options for the final 2 spots.

[DR28]

12 minutes ago, thammondwis said:

So who are likely to be in the mix for starting rotation in spring training (for this discussion assume CBA gets settled prior to spring training with no major differences).

Here are some names I can come up with

Miz, Henderson, Harrison, Gasser, Drohan, Priester, Ashby (I think he is more valuable in pen), Patrick (probably more likely in pen), Woodruff (FA/Retire?), Coleman Crow, Brandon Sproat, Coltan Gordon

Does anyone above not belong or anyone I'm missing.  Are there any other minor leaguers that might have a realistic shot at the starting rotation next year.

From that list Miz, Henderson, and Gasser would be locks at this point?  Seems like a lot of good options for the final 2 spots.

Priester is a lock as well.

[tmwiese55]

I really wouldn't mind seeing Hall, and even Ashby, be given one more crack at starting.

[Team Canada]

Probably a good idea to spin up a separate 2027 rotation thread.

[RobertCrawley]

Mayday has already opted out. I hope we are able to make a play for Bauers and Romero, 

Brewers Free Agents & Option Decisions (2026–27)

Player    Position    Contract Status / Type    Details

Brandon Woodruff    Pitcher (RHP)    Unrestricted Free Agent    Longest-tenured Brewer hitting the open market (not eligible for a qualifying offer).

Jake Bauers    First Baseman    Unrestricted Free Agent    Hits free agency after a breakout offensive season.

JoJo Romero    Pitcher (LHP)    Unrestricted Free Agent    Reliever acquired at the trade deadline.

Gary Sánchez    Catcher    Free Agent / Mutual Option    Had a mutual option for $1.75 million ($250K buyout), expected to test free agency.

Dustin May    Pitcher (RHP)    Free Agent / Mutual Option    Declined or faced a $20 million mutual option with a $500K buyout.

Antonio Senzatela    Pitcher (RHP)    Club Option (Declined/FA)    $14 million club option with no buyout that the Brewers are expected to decline.

Bryse Wilson    Pitcher (RHP)    Free Agent / Non-tender candidate    Designated for assignment and re-signed late in the year.
 

[Brewers Downunder]

Priester will be like a fresh recruit in 2027. Pretty handy!

[baseball101]

I would love to count on Priester, I just don’t think you can. I also want no part of extending Bauers. Just too many hitters in the minors that profile as a 1st baseman. I’m sure I am in the minority however I would either trade Wild Bill now or just play out his contract. I think the Crew is deep with impact bats but short on arms. 

[sveumrules]

Catcher attrition rates are scary, but you gotta spend the windfall somewhere and Contreras has more than earned it so I'd offer him something like 6/$145M (or 5/$130M on top of the $15M or so he is already going to make in Arby's).

Have a feeling Bauers might just take the QO for a shot at a repeat with his homies and to show that he wasn't a one year wonder, then hit the market next offseason after the CBA dust has settled.

Other big offseason item would be an extension for Made. If he is amenable and signs, that probably means one of Hamilton or Ortiz is trade bait. Maybe Vaughn too if Bauers does take the QO.

Wouldn't deal from the four big league OF. Guys like Bauers, Lockridge, Perkins, Jones, Matos, etc accounted for almost 400 PA last year. Plenty of PT for everyone, even on the off chance they all stay healthy all year.

If Woodruff doesn't retire, I'd imagine he is back on a one year deal with incentives. Beyond that I think I counted like 15 pitchers currently on the 40 Man that should be back, plus guys like Wagoner, Hardin, Letson, Knoth headlining the non-40 Man guys that could potentially make an impact at some point in 2027.

All that said, pitcher attrition rates are even scarier than catcher attrition rates, so I'd make acquiring more arms the primary focus of any offseason trades that might go down. Depending how things go with Contreras, Bauers, and Made that could make Burke, Quero, Dinges, or Jett some of the more likely trade candidates among the guys currently on the BF Top 20. 

[82brewcrew82]

Boy, if they can figure out Harrison and Preister, that would be a fever dream rotation.

[Lathund]

I wouldn't make huge changes this offseason. I'd stick with Contreras for the rest of his contract. Extension if they can agree to something that makes sense, otherwise QO. QO for Bauers would depend on how much they like Adams/Fischer/Burke (And to a lesser extent Black and Wilken). If he accepts, I'm trading Vaughn.  

I have no idea what Woodys market is. If he's up for a cheap deal with incentives for IP, I'm all for it. 

Regardless of whether Made signs an extension and gets promoted early or not, I'm keeping both Ortiz and Hamilton. Both have options, and we saw with the Bae/Ornelas situation that depth is good to have. 

Lots of talk about trading Mitchell or Frelick, I don't see any reason to. Plenty of playing time to go around for Chourio/Mitchell/Frelick/Lara/(Bauers). Depth is good, if some prospect OF (Adamczewski?) is too good to not promote, then you can consider a trade. All four have options remaining too should it come to that. 

Backup C (Or primary if Contreras is traded, which I expect he won't be) is the last one then. Quero is out of options, so it's either waivers, trade, or opening day roster. If he can catch, he's the OD backup. If he can't, he's gone. Naylor has an option, so he'll be in AAA if Quero is on the roster, opening day backup otherwise. I don't know how good Wood and Miller are defensively (I *think* Wood is better?), but could be solid backups if they are decent. If they don't believe in them or in Quero's catching, signing a defensive specialist wouldn't be a bad move. Let Contreras DH against some tough lefties, keep him off his feet a bit more while getting some elite defense in there. Knees aren't immune to the rigors of catching, no matter how motivated you are to play every day. 

Onto pitching. Miz, Henderson, Gasser seem a clear 1-3. Priester if healthy, and Harrison if he's back to himself (I think he will be). Woodruff if the above deal allows for it too. Drohan, Crow, Sproat are solid back of the rotation backup 40-man options. Ashby if they're willing to entertain the idea. Gordon and Stallings are depth. Patrick too, but I think they don't view him as a starter. Hardin and Letson in AAA. A ton of depth, even if much is untested. If no Woody, I wouldn't mind some veteran signing though to get us through the regular season. 

Bullpen will have some of the guys squeezed out of the rotation, along with the returning A bullpen, as well as some possible relief prospects (Wagoner for one). Zerpa and Fitzpatrick returning at some point too, though obviously not opening day. Megill is a possible trade candidate. Could go either way on that. Trading him and signing the best available reliever for the money saved would net a prospect or two for a small downgrade. But I also don't think the return is huge, and financially there is no great pressing need so perhaps just ride it out. If no QO for Bauers, and no other big spending, then this could even be a year to spend some money on 1-year deals in the bullpen. 

 

There's no real pressure or need to make any big moves. The team is also young enough and with a good enough farm that they're also not forced to trade any expiring contracts if they don't want to. I would say though that I'd be surprised if all three "expensive" expiring contracts (Vaughn, Contreras, Megill) are on the roster in 2027, but it's certainly doable should they choose to keep them all. But as I think I say every year in these posts, the team will do at least one move that noone predicted. Like last year, trading/releasing every player who played 3B for the Brewers in 2025. 

[Brewcrew82]

14 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Catcher attrition rates are scary, but you gotta spend the windfall somewhere and Contreras has more than earned it so I'd offer him something like 6/$145M (or 5/$130M on top of the $15M or so he is already going to make in Arby's).

Have a feeling Bauers might just take the QO for a shot at a repeat with his homies and to show that he wasn't a one year wonder, then hit the market next offseason after the CBA dust has settled.

Other big offseason item would be an extension for Made. If he is amenable and signs, that probably means one of Hamilton or Ortiz is trade bait. Maybe Vaughn too if Bauers does take the QO.

Wouldn't deal from the four big league OF. Guys like Bauers, Lockridge, Perkins, Jones, Matos, etc accounted for almost 400 PA last year. Plenty of PT for everyone, even on the off chance they all stay healthy all year.

If Woodruff doesn't retire, I'd imagine he is back on a one year deal with incentives. Beyond that I think I counted like 15 pitchers currently on the 40 Man that should be back, plus guys like Wagoner, Hardin, Letson, Knoth headlining the non-40 Man guys that could potentially make an impact at some point in 2027.

All that said, pitcher attrition rates are even scarier than catcher attrition rates, so I'd make acquiring more arms the primary focus of any offseason trades that might go down. Depending how things go with Contreras, Bauers, and Made that could make Burke, Quero, Dinges, or Jett some of the more likely trade candidates among the guys currently on the BF Top 20. 

You think it would be that much for Contreras, huh? 

I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 5/$100M might be enough given that's about $15M more than his brother got and right in the neighborhood of Cal Raleigh's deal. 

Not sure I would go all the way up to 5/$130M. 

[sveumrules]

29 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 5/$100M might be enough given that's about $15M more than his brother got and right in the neighborhood of Cal Raleigh's deal. 

I think his main target on any potential extension is going to be breaking the current AAV for a catcher, JT Realmuto at $23.1M signed back in 2021. 6/$145 gets him to just over $24M per year. Would think the lowest he would maybe willing to go is like 5/$125M. If they structured it at $15M then $27.5M times four it would get him the new Brewers single season record (currently Yelich at $26M) for whatever that might or not be worth.

JTR's deal covered his age 30 to 34 seasons where he put up 2602 PA of 107 wRC+ for 17.2 WAR with two peak level seasons (4.6 and 6.7 WAR), followed by three league average ones (2.0, 1.9, and 2.0 WAR).

If William plays it out, puts up numbers around his four year average with the Brewers (120 wRC+ and 4.5 WAR), plus leads them on another deep postseason run, I would guess his target would be around 6/$150M on the open market.

If he has a peak level season (say like a 140 wRC+ and 6.0 WAR), and we are somehow existing in that one in a quintillionth timeline where the Brewers make history two years in a row, Bazooka Bill might be looking to push Posey (8/$167M) or Mauer (8/$184M) money for the high bidder. Maybe something like 7/$185M in that scenario?

[MrTPlush]

I’ll put it here since the thread is more neutral versus the catchers thread.

I can’t envision any chance Bauers returns under just about any circumstance…minus a QO if that exists. If the Brewers are willing to drop $15mil a year for someone 30+, I’m sorry, but they are just going to sign Contreras to an extension. No way they pay both and no way they pick Bauers over Contreras. 
 

Jake Bauers was an incredible story, but I think the book is closed.

[cragi]

36 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

If he has a peak level season (say like a 140 wRC+ and 6.0 WAR), and we are somehow existing in that one in a quintillionth timeline where the Brewers make history two years in a row, Bazooka Bill might be looking to push Posey (8/$167M) or Mauer (8/$184M) money for the high bidder. Maybe something like 7/$185M in that scenario?

If that's really the potential market for Bill, there is no way I see the Brewers event talking about it.

I feel this is kind of the World Series over-exuberance that gets teams in trouble and thats not the Brewers way. Pump the brakes.

Setting aside just the issue of locking up that much payroll, there is no guarantee Bill catches for more than a few years and I dont see them taking on 1b/dh years for anyone intentionally. Too many in the system already.

Posey was only 26 and had won ROY and had just won the MVP. Massive difference.

Mauer was only 26 and had just won the MVP. Massive difference.

Those were young franchise MVP players. 

[RobertCrawley]

1 hour ago, Brewcrew82 said:

You think it would be that much for Contreras, huh? 

I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 5/$100M might be enough given that's about $15M more than his brother got and right in the neighborhood of Cal Raleigh's deal. 

Not sure I would go all the way up to 5/$130M. 

The game of baseball is hard on catchers. A 5 year deal is a risk. But the way Contreras takes care of his body, it's less of a risk than for some other others.