2027 Roster/Salary

[RobertCrawley]

I hope the Brewera give me an early Christmas present and sign Reid Detmers from the Angels.

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, RobertCrawley said:

I hope the Brewera give me an early Christmas present and sign Reid Detmers from the Angels.

They would need to trade for Detmers, he still has two years of Arby's remaining according to Cot's.

Will be interesting to see what direction the new ownership wants to go. I could see a scenario where they try to go "All In" for the final four years of Trout's contract before tearing it down.

[Underachiever]

8 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

They would need to trade for Detmers, he still has two years of Arby's remaining according to Cot's.

Will be interesting to see what direction the new ownership wants to go. I could see a scenario where they try to go "All In" for the final four years of Trout's contract before tearing it down.

Angels have to work on that Rendon extension first.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I know baseball is not sentimental, especially small-market baseball. We're going to have to make some tough choices. I expect Bauers will get a reasonably big money offer, simply because the lefty bat plays, and he has some positional flexibility, at least for the next couple years. I'd make the QO. He might take it, but one year isn't going to hurt anyone, and I suspect he'd be more tempted by a multi-year offer elsewhere.

Bill seems like the guy who should get the Braun, Yelich, Brewer-for-life deal. Yelich has a $20 million mutual option in 2029, so you could give Contreras something like 5/130 and go 20, 25, 25, 30, 30 or something like that, buying out his current 2027 14.5 number. That just take him through his age 33 season, which is really not that bad. You figure the bat plays even if he's not catching as much.

I think the math works, is what I'm saying. We've locked in Chourio, Lara, and Pratt at very reasonable rates. The pitching is young, and there are depth options on the 40-man and coming up. The revenue boost we're going to get is big. The Brewers have shown a willingness to do this kind of deal in the past, and I think Bill is the best guy to get the next one. Ultimately, I think Turang is probably out in 2030 if you do it, but that's probably the case anyway. I'd choose Contreras. Catcher matters, and premium production there, even for just a few years, is incredibly valuable. If someone offers Bill a deal like 7/190 or even broaches 200? Okay, he'll bolt, and we'll go from there. I'd just come in with a strong offer this offseason because it can work for both parties.

[Outlander]

43 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

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.

Regarding Bauers, the qualifying offer still exists under the current agreement that has not expired yet. We will know by Monday if the Brewers offer it. 

Also, it has been said before but a one year deal is way different than a long term contract, it isn't Contreras versus Bauers in any way. If Contreras is willing to take the qualifying offer if it exists in 2028, the Brewers will be more than happy to offer it.

[markedman5]

7 minutes ago, Outlander said:

Regarding Bauers, the qualifying offer still exists under the current agreement that has not expired yet. We will know by Monday if the Brewers offer it. 

Also, it has been said before but a one year deal is way different than a long term contract, it isn't Contreras versus Bauers in any way. If Contreras is willing to take the qualifying offer if it exists in 2028, the Brewers will be more than happy to offer it.

I was taken aback that the deadline for the qualifying offer was already coming up on November 2nd…..  .then I realized that I’m just not used to the Brewers playing this long into the season…..😎

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

16 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

I know baseball is not sentimental, especially small-market baseball. We're going to have to make some tough choices. I expect Bauers will get a reasonably big money offer, simply because the lefty bat plays, and he has some positional flexibility, at least for the next couple years. I'd make the QO. He might take it, but one year isn't going to hurt anyone, and I suspect he'd be more tempted by a multi-year offer elsewhere.

Bill seems like the guy who should get the Braun, Yelich, Brewer-for-life deal. Yelich has a $20 million mutual option in 2029, so you could give Contreras something like 5/130 and go 20, 25, 25, 30, 30 or something like that, buying out his current 2027 14.5 number. That just take him through his age 33 season, which is really not that bad. You figure the bat plays even if he's not catching as much.

I think the math works, is what I'm saying. We've locked in Chourio, Lara, and Pratt at very reasonable rates. The pitching is young, and there are depth options on the 40-man and coming up. The revenue boost we're going to get is big. The Brewers have shown a willingness to do this kind of deal in the past, and I think Bill is the best guy to get the next one. Ultimately, I think Turang is probably out in 2030 if you do it, but that's probably the case anyway. I'd choose Contreras. Catcher matters, and premium production there, even for just a few years, is incredibly valuable. If someone offers Bill a deal like 7/190 or even broaches 200? Okay, he'll bolt, and we'll go from there. I'd just come in with a strong offer this offseason because it can work for both parties.

Great post.  I completely agree.  Bill IS the Brewers.

young/cheap pitching, key young players locked in, Yelich and Woody contracts will be coming off the books, catcher is a premium position.  Hoping Matt can get it done

[MrTPlush]

1 hour ago, Outlander said:

Regarding Bauers, the qualifying offer still exists under the current agreement that has not expired yet. We will know by Monday if the Brewers offer it. 

Also, it has been said before but a one year deal is way different than a long term contract, it isn't Contreras versus Bauers in any way. If Contreras is willing to take the qualifying offer if it exists in 2028, the Brewers will be more than happy to offer it.

Right, that’s why I said I could only see him coming back under a QO acceptance. Or if his market was just that terrible he signed a one year deal.

What I am saying is, we aren’t signing Bauers to a 4+ year contract (imo). If Brewers want to blow WS money on a 30+ year old, they are going to extend already franchise icon and postseason MVP Contreras. In that sense, it very much is Bauers versus Contreras. I can’t see Brewers brass say, “Yah, let’s pony up money for Bauers instead of Contreras.”

[82brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Great post.  I completely agree.  Bill IS the Brewers.

young/cheap pitching, key young players locked in, Yelich and Woody contracts will be coming off the books, catcher is a premium position.  Hoping Matt can get it done

Nobody "is" the Brewers.  Thats kinda the point.  Sure, hard decisions but I would almost guarantee they will not lock William into a long term deal.  They are not going to lock anyone that age into a long term deal.  That is just not how they operate and they are relentless in how they operate.  Churning players and getting rid of stars when the time is right is what they do.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

15 minutes ago, 82brewcrew82 said:

Nobody "is" the Brewers.  Thats kinda the point.  Sure, hard decisions but I would almost guarantee they will not lock William into a long term deal.  They are not going to lock anyone that age into a long term deal.  That is just not how they operate and they are relentless in how they operate.  Churning players and getting rid of stars when the time is right is what they do.

They operated this way with BOTH Yeli and Braun.

And neither of them were playing premium positions. 

[82brewcrew82]

1 minute ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

They operated this way with BOTH Yeli and Braun.

And neither of them were playing premium positions. 

Neither was under this regime and they thought they had a perennial MVP candidates.  Both were far better players than Contreras and I love William.  More recent comps would be Adames, Burnes, Peralta.  They are not signing William and, frankly, I don't think they should.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

2 hours ago, 82brewcrew82 said:

Neither was under this regime and they thought they had a perennial MVP candidates.  Both were far better players than Contreras and I love William.  More recent comps would be Adames, Burnes, Peralta.  They are not signing William and, frankly, I don't think they should.

The point about Braun and Yeli being MVPs is a good one, but we'll have to agree to disagree. 

I think both Braun and Yeli also had big question marks (Yeli coming off a pretty significant injury, for one) and were signed much past their age 33 seasons. Also, William has a top-5 MVP finish as a Brewer, too and been massively consistent even when he was struggling at the plate. He's basically a guaranteed 2-3 win player, with the potential to be worth 5 or 6. 

Will they sign him? No idea. But I think the odds are better than you're implying, and I don't think anyone should be that worried about spending Mark A's money on a premium position with very good offensive production and a World Series MVP to his ledger through his early 30s at a time when the NL has the DH. 

[TURBO]

On 10/30/2026 at 12:08 PM, thammondwis said:

Are there any other minor leaguers that might have a realistic shot at the starting rotation next year.

 

Knoth, Letson, and Hardin are possibilities...

[wallus]

Extending Contreras for the money being thrown around seems like talk after a hot World Series performance.

I hope the team sticks with the formula that has made them successful 

[long ball]

8 hours ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Great post.  I completely agree.  Bill IS the Brewers.

young/cheap pitching, key young players locked in, Yelich and Woody contracts will be coming off the books, catcher is a premium position.  Hoping Matt can get it done

That cheap, young pitching won’t be cheap for much longer. They’ll all start hitting arbitration by 2028/2029. The extensions for pratt, Lara, and Chourio all keep getting more expensive. Turang will keep getting big arbitration raises. 
 

it’s not as simple as Yelich coming off the books. The salary is going to be dispersed more evenly across the payroll here pretty soon rather than right now where you’ve got Yelich/Woodruff taking up a huge portion of it. 
 

That isn’t to say they can’t/wont/shouldn’t extend Contreras, but to do so they’re going to need to be willing to increase payroll. 

[rickh150]

I expect the Brewers to do the following in November 2026. The theme will be to set them up for trades to make them younger, cheaper, and more able to afford pay raises to starting pitchers in 2028/2029.

I expect them not offer Bauers a contract.  They are stacked at 1B with options galore in the minors (Burke/Fischer). Watch them do the QO to hoard draft picks. If Bauers tearfully wants to stay on with Brewers to repeat this would almost be as unexpected as Woodruff.  Then Vaughn is traded.

I expect them to tender Vaughn as the right handed 1B to pair with Burke or Fischer at 1B for 2027. It gives them some experience and serious balance there. 

I expect them to not trade Contreras. With no one knowing when they begin playin 2027, who would be willing to give up top prospects to get him for a fraction of a year? And even more, who would be their catcher? He’ll Adames-like leave via FA in 2028.

I expect Mitchell to be dealt because of Lara and Adamcjewski. It’s prime time to strike with his excellent play and health this season. He only has two years left with the team and I can’t see a big contract being offered anyways to keep him. They also still have Lockridge.

I expect Megill to be tendered only to more proactively look for a trade. If nothing makes sense ala 2026, having him stay on isn’t the worst thing. It would make the team cut cost in other areas.

 

[jw5511986]

On 10/30/2026 at 6:39 PM, 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. 

Was talking with my wife about this last night, I think you absolutely do the 5/130 deal for Bill, it will be atrocious on the back end but we already have that with Yeli and I think Bill is that important to our staff. Would love to keep Bauers as well but I think my north point there is 3/48. At some point we are staring down a roster crunch with guys like Fischer, Made, Adams, Burke, and Pena all probably pushing to be in Milwaukee by end of season 2028. Hard to see where that leaves guys like Bauers, Frelick, and maybe even Turang over the next handful of years.

[igor67]

8 hours ago, rickh150 said:

I expect the Brewers to do the following in November 2026. The theme will be to set them up for trades to make them younger, cheaper, and more able to afford pay raises to starting pitchers in 2028/2029.

I expect them not offer Bauers a contract.  They are stacked at 1B with options galore in the minors (Burke/Fischer). Watch them do the QO to hoard draft picks. If Bauers tearfully wants to stay on with Brewers to repeat this would almost be as unexpected as Woodruff.  Then Vaughn is traded.

I expect them to tender Vaughn as the right handed 1B to pair with Burke or Fischer at 1B for 2027. It gives them some experience and serious balance there. 

I expect them to not trade Contreras. With no one knowing when they begin playin 2027, who would be willing to give up top prospects to get him for a fraction of a year? And even more, who would be their catcher? He’ll Adames-like leave via FA in 2028.

I expect Mitchell to be dealt because of Lara and Adamcjewski. It’s prime time to strike with his excellent play and health this season. He only has two years left with the team and I can’t see a big contract being offered anyways to keep him. They also still have Lockridge.

I expect Megill to be tendered only to more proactively look for a trade. If nothing makes sense ala 2026, having him stay on isn’t the worst thing. It would make the team cut cost in other areas.

 

That's mostly how I see things being approached. I feel like the offseason relief market isn't as great as it used to be, so the potential return on Megill may not be very high compared to past years. And for the most part what we need are high quality prospects not depth at the moment, so I feel that limits options a bit there. I hadn't thought too much about it, but Mitchell is a great sell high candidate. Especially since his arby number should still be pretty low.

[Mr Southpaw]

The contract I would offer to WC

4 years 92 mill with two option years (could total 6 years $150)

2027 (29) $21 mill

2028 (30) $22 mill

2029 (31) $24 mill

2030 (32) $25 mill

2031 (33) $28 mill with Team option $8 mill buyout

2032 (34) $30 mill with Team option $5 mill buyout

If he still has it after the 2030 season, you pay him the money. If not buy him out.

[MrTPlush]

On 10/31/2026 at 11:25 AM, Underachiever said:

Angels have to work on that Rendon extension first.

I remember when a large portion of the forum was begging to sign Rendon. Holy yikes that would have been.

 

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, Mr Southpaw said:

The contract I would offer to WC

4 years 92 mill with two option years (could total 6 years $150)

2027 (29) $21 mill

2028 (30) $22 mill

2029 (31) $24 mill

2030 (32) $25 mill

2031 (33) $28 mill with Team option $8 mill buyout

2032 (34) $30 mill with Team option $5 mill buyout

If he still has it after the 2030 season, you pay him the money. If not buy him out.

Players seemingly care more about the total guarantee and AAV. Thus, why not reverse those numbers and front load an extension? For example,  5 yrs/125 million. Then pay $30M in ‘27, $28 in ‘28, etc. diminishing each season.

That way Contreras gets the big guarantee, resets the AAV as the top catcher in baseball, while Milwaukee retains flexibility if his performance falls off down the road especially as salaries continue to inflate. 

[RobertCrawley]

On 10/31/2026 at 11:47 AM, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Great post.  I completely agree.  Bill IS the Brewers.

young/cheap pitching, key young players locked in, Yelich and Woody contracts will be coming off the books, catcher is a premium position.  Hoping Matt can get it done

Yelich contract done two years from now.

[KCBrewerfan34]

The money you guys are talking for Bill is absurd and completely out of line, think more like 5 years and 85-100 mill. Tops. 
 

5/130 is preposterous 

[sveumrules]

7 minutes ago, KCBrewerfan34 said:

The money you guys are talking for Bill is absurd and completely out of line, think more like 5 years and 85-100 mill. Tops. 

Cal Raleigh signed for 6/$105M when he was still three years from FA.

Contreras isn't signing for less than that when he is only one year away from FA (& coming off World Series MVP).

Would think the bare minimum is topping the 5/$115.5M that Realmuto signed for back in 2021.

[wallus]

WC had under 3 bwar this season and his offensive numbers have gone down. Let that sink in before we throw a large % of our payroll to him