Brewers Announce William Contreras News on Thursday

As Contreras prepares for another demanding season, the Brewers faced a decision on his contract. He remains under team control for the next two years, which also mark his final seasons of salary arbitration.

On Thursday, the deadline for Milwaukee to settle contracts with arbitration-eligible players, the team announced agreements with several key contributors, including closer Trevor Megill and second baseman Brice Turang.

However, Contreras was notably absent from the list. Moments later, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com confirmed the situation. “The Brewers have agreed to deals with all of their arbitration-eligible players, except for William Contreras, who is likely headed for an arbitration hearing, per source," Feinsand reported on X.

It is unusual for a player of Contreras’s caliber to reach the point of an arbitration hearing. Teams often prefer to avoid the process with franchise players in order to maintain goodwill and signal long-term commitment.

Contreras is not just another regular catcher. He is a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and finished top five in National League MVP voting in 2024.

With free agency looming after the 2027 season, Contreras is positioned to command a significant payday. He remains firmly in his prime and has already built a track record as one of the league’s most impactful catchers.

Across six MLB seasons, he has established himself as a consistent offensive force while handling the rigors of catching. Originally debuting with the Atlanta Braves, he was traded to Milwaukee in what has proven to be a lopsided deal favoring the Brewers.

For now, Contreras’s future in Milwaukee hinges on arbitration, but his body of work suggests that when he does reach free agency, he will be among the most sought-after players on the market.