William Contreras Is Just One Of Many Looming Arbitration Battles For Brewers

[Steve Drumwright]

As if the time crunch wasn’t already enough with a lockout looming in just over a month, the Milwaukee Brewers have plenty of decisions regarding their players who are up for arbitration.

There are 16 players going through the process, several for the first time. Only the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox have more at 17. Decisions aren’t just monetary. Some might be facing reduced playing time in 2027—or at least a fight for their roster spot.

Here is who is up for arbitration on the Brewers and what they are projected to make, via MLB Trade Rumors. Decisions on nontendering players aren't due until Nov. 20, with some players cutting deals before then to return. Most decisions will come down on that day, however.

1B Andrew Vaughn, $8.5 million

If I told you that a Brewers first baseman hit 26 homers this year, you would have been hard-pressed to say that it was Jake Bauers. Vaughn, whose career had a resurrection after coming over from the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Aaron Civale in June 2025, hit nine homers in 254 plate appearances, including five homers in July, his first month with the team. This year? Vaughn hit just six long balls in 331 plate appearances, but had a very nice batting average as part of a .306/.390/.444 slash line, driving in 43.

Prediction: The Brewers will have time to make a decision on Vaughn, who is in his last year of arbitration eligibility. He is not coming back at $8.5 million regardless of what happens with Bauers as he hits free agency and is due for a nice payday. The Brewers should have an idea whether they can re-sign Bauers by the time Nov. 20, the non-tender deadline, rolls around. It could be up to Vaughn if he will take a cut from the $7,650,000 he made in 2026 or choose to hit free agency. The guess here is Vaughn will be elsewhere in 2027.

C William Contreras, $14.6 million

If you had any doubt about the catcher’s value, all you had to do was watch what he did in the postseason, especially the World Series, as he was named MVP for everything he did. He was on his game, particularly defensively, while delivering big hit after big hit. Contreras had a .270/.341/.417 slash line during the regular season, which produced an OPS+ of 108, the lowest mark in his last four seasons. Still above average.

Prediction: This is Contreras’ last trip through arbitration before he hits free agency following the 2027 season. The Brewers avoided a hearing with Contreras last offseason with a last-minute deal for $9.4 million (Brewers offered $8.5 million while Contreras sought $9.5 million). This year’s projection is $14.6 million, which is similar to the $14.5 million club option built into the previous settlement. Contreras is also a star Brewers player entering the dreaded final year of club control, which led to the exits of Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta (contract extension, not club control). As with others on this list, the Brewers will have a shorter window and an uncertain contractual landscape under the upcoming new collective bargaining agreement. A trade is certainly possible considering Contreras’ value will be the highest it has ever been, but the guess here is that the Brewers give him the Willy Adames treatment and take him to the end of his contract. There is not a great option in the minors waiting to take over as Jeferson Quero dealt with injuries this season, relegating him to mainly a designated hitter role (70 of 118 Triple-A starts).

RHP Bryse Wilson, $1.1 million

The right-handed reliever certainly had a strange travel itinerary for 2026. He signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last offseason and started the year at Triple-A, then had an opt-out in June, so the Phillies called him up for a game before being designated for assignment. The pitching-desperate Chicago Cubs traded for Wilson, pitched him in two games, and DFA’d him. Wilson then landed with the Brewers, who had him on the MLB roster for 2023-24. He served as part of the B bullpen and did a solid job, posting a 2.95 FIP (3.51 ERA) over 13 appearances and 25⅔ innings.

Prediction: Considering the MLB minimum is expected to be $1 million next season, bringing Wilson back would seem to be on the table, but perhaps on a minor-league contract to protect against any moves the Brewers make during the offseason, including a probable frenzy once the lockout ends.

RHP Trevor Megill, $8 million

The right-hander was very good, serving as the closer after initially sharing the role with Abner Uribe to begin the season. Megill was nails at the back end of the bullpen, converting 30 of 33 save opportunities while putting up a 1.85 FIP (2.63 ERA) with a career-best 6.2% walk rate and a strikeout rate of 28.5%, right near his 28.8% career mark. He also had a .181 opponent batting average, the best of his career.

Prediction: Like Contreras, Megill is in his last year of arbitration and will be a free agent after 2027. His projected arbitration number of $8 million doesn’t blow the Brewers’ budget after he made $4.7 million in 2026. But as mentioned in the Contreras item above, Megill will be a popular trade candidate and one the Brewers might be more apt to move, getting prospects in return in the cycle of life with the Brewers. Uribe could become the closer if Megill does leave.

LHP Angel Zerpa, $1.3 million

The left-hander, acquired from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears last offseason, looked really good in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela and then in his early-season outings. But then he started to struggle and required season-ending Tommy John surgery in May after just 12 appearances. That puts Zerpa out until late 2027 if not the entire year.

Prediction: The price to bring Zerpa back is very low and a no-brainer at anything in this neighborhood. With some looming CBA changes, you wonder if the Brewers sign Zerpa to a two-year deal that would guarantee him being with the Crew in 2028.

CF Garrett Mitchell, $2.7 million

The center fielder had a breakout season while staying healthy for the first time since the Brewers drafted him in the first round of the 2020 draft. Mitchell established himself as the everyday center fielder with a .262/.354/.416 slash line, 11 homers and 65 RBIs. He stole only 14 times and was caught 11 times while playing in 145 games after being in just 141 over the past four seasons. Mitchell made the Brewers’ top defensive play of the postseason when he robbed Manny Machado’s ninth-inning drive in Game 4 of the NL Division Series. His defense is tremendous, but he could use more fine-tuning at the plate while increasing his success stealing bases.

Prediction: Mitchell is in his second year of arbitration, and his projected $2.7 million salary is a bargain based on what he produced this year. Do the Brewers bank on Mitchell staying healthy in 2027 based on the training changes he made last offseason and blossom into the player they envisioned when they took him with the 20th overall pick in 2020? Or do they sell high on Mitchell knowing Luis Lara and Brandon Lockridge can man center field? While the Brewers will listen to offers for Mitchell, he returns next season.

2B Brice Turang, $9.5 million

Already among the elite defensive second basemen in all of MLB, Turang has blossomed offensively the last two seasons. After hitting just .218 as a rookie in 2023, he posted a career-high .288 average in 2025. While that number slipped to .268 in 2026, he did hit career highs of 21 homers and 100 RBIs, resulting in an .816 OPS, the best of his four MLB seasons. He just missed a 20-20 season with 19 stolen bases, his lowest total. He was also a force in the postseason on both sides of the ball.

Prediction: No decisions to be made here yet. Turang joined the arbitration process last year as a Super 2, making $4.15 million this year and projected to nearly double that this offseason to $9.5 million. Under club control through 2029, you wonder if the Brewers try to get Turang to sign an extension covering the next three seasons, perhaps buying out at least one free-agent year. Otherwise, the rumblings about moving Turang could begin following the 2027 season.

OF Akil Baddoo, $1.3 million

The outfielder was a weird signing for the Brewers to begin with last offseason, signing a split contract. He never appeared in the majors this season and slashed just .252/.342/.469 in 64 games at Triple-A Nashville while dealing with injuries.

Prediction: Baddoo will be nontendered or traded.

LHP DL Hall, $1 million

Did anyone on the Brewers have a better, yet so quiet, 2026 than the left-handed reliever? Hall had a 1.91 ERA (3.88 FIP) in 47 appearances and 61⅓ innings. His walk rate was very high at 14.5%, while his 26.6% strikeout rate was solid. He developed into more leverage situations at the end of the season and when they presented themselves in the postseason. He picked up three playoff wins.

Prediction: Again, with the MLB minimum expected to be $1 million in 2027, even doubling Hall’s projected salary would be a bargain for a reliable bullpen lefty as he goes through arbitration for the first time.

RF Sal Frelick, $2.4 million

The right fielder is not only one of the heart-and-soul players on the roster, but also one of the leaders. He faces offseason surgery on his right shoulder, with that injury contributing to his down season offensively. After being in contention for the NL batting title in 2025 before finishing with a .288/.351/.405 slash line, 12 homers and 63 RBIs, Frelick posted a .230/.295/.319 slash line with four homers and 40 RBIs in 384 plate appearances. But his season will be remembered for the big tying home run in Game 2 of the World Series.

Prediction: In his first year of arbitration, Frelick is still very affordable at this price. But the Brewers’ outfield is becoming more crowded with the addition of Luis Lara and Mitchell establishing himself in center. At some point, another team will come after Frelick and the Brewers should seriously listen.

3B-SS Joey Ortiz, $2.4 million

After being the Opening Day shortstop, Ortiz was knocked off the position when Cooper Pratt was called up in June to make his MLB debut. That moved Ortiz into a platoon at third base with David Hamilton, but that also seemed to free up Ortiz offensively. Ortiz was slashing .207/.299/.262 before Pratt’s promotion, then finished the season with a .270/.328/.402 slash line with nine homers and 45 RBIs. He also provided his top-shelf defense at both positions, standing out more at the hot corner than shortstop, where he was very steady, his error in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the World Series notwithstanding.

Prediction: Ortiz is hitting arbitration for the first time. There is no doubt the Brewers would bring him back at anywhere near the $2.4 million he is projected to make in 2027. Complicating Ortiz’s outlook is the presence of Jesus Made, the top overall prospect in baseball who could be ready to make his MLB debut on Opening Day, if not sometime during the season. Ortiz may be attractive to another team, especially one looking for defense, but the Brewers will be happy having him on the roster in 2027.

C Bo Naylor, $1.5 million

Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians along with right-handed reliever Codi Heuer at the trade deadline, Naylor was around for depth and played in just three games during the final two months, mostly seeing action at Triple-A Nashville. He is offensively challenged, as evidenced by his career slash line of .200/.280/.374 with 41 homers and 128 RBIs in 349 games. He did hit double-digit homers in 2023-25 with the Guardians.

Prediction: Up for arbitration for the first time, the Brewers would probably be satisfied to enter 2027 with Naylor as their backup catcher, but nothing more than that. The $1.5 million price tag could probably be settled with a split contract, leaving the Brewers wiggle room with possibly bringing Gary Sanchez back. A nontender candidate, too.

3B David Hamilton, $1.6 million

The versatile infielder, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin deal, was a surprising offensive force as the Brewers tapped into his speed. He led MLB in bunt hits and was the second-fastest baserunner behind Chandler Simpson of the Tampa Bay Rays. Even in a part-time role, he stole 30 bases and had a .245/.314/.336 slash line with four homers and 26 RBIs. Had two cool postseason moments, homering in the ninth inning of the clinching Game 4 of the NL Championship Series, then again to tie the game in Game 4 of the World Series. He also had a crucial error in World Series Game 4.

Prediction: All those words are nice, but Hamilton is strictly a platoon player, albeit a valuable and versatile one. In arbitration for the first time, he turned in a solid season defensively after having a grand total of one game at third base previously, then 87 this year. Also filled in nicely at shortstop. Like Ortiz, Hamilton’s future with the Crew depends on what Made’s status is. If Made is with the team on Opening Day, one of Ortiz or Hamilton won’t be (both do have minor-league options remaining).

RHP Grant Anderson, $1 million

A key member of the Brewers’ B bullpen group, the right-hander had a solid second season with the Brewers. In 52 games and 59 innings, Anderson had a 4.32 FIP (3.36 ERA) with a 9.8% walk rate and 22.1% strikeout rate. He won’t excite you with anything he does, but a good guy to have on the roster.

Prediction: Anderson, a first-timer in arbitration, wasn’t on any of the postseason rosters, but that doesn’t diminish his value. He is likely to return at this price.

LHP Jared Koenig, $900,000

Remember him? The one-time valuable left-handed reliever sustained an elbow injury at the outset of the regular season after three outings. He came back for six appearances at the end of June and through mid-July, but was then optioned to Triple-A Nashville. He was good at Nashville, putting up a 2.21 ERA over 23 games and 20⅓ innings.

Prediction: Also in arbitration for the first time, Koenig coming back at what is a minimal deal seems like a simple decision. It was surprising that he didn’t come up at any point down the stretch; perhaps that was because of Hall’s emergence and the acquisition of JoJo Romero, who will be a free agent this offseason.

RHP Quinn Priester, $1.3 million

This was a lost season for last year’s surprise starting pitcher. Priester was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder, but said during the postseason that he was on track to be ready for Opening Day.

Prediction: Going through arbitration for the first time, Priester is coming back from a tricky injury. The price tag makes it a no-brainer to bring him back even before considering what he did in 2025 after coming over in an April trade from the Boston Red Sox. He should be in the mix for a rotation spot in 2027.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

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