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Milwaukee Brewers avoid arbitration with William Contreras by inking 2x All-Star to contract
Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Milwaukee Brewers avoid arbitration with William Contreras by inking 2x All-Star to contract

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics  |  By Robin M Adams  |  Last updated Feb 12, 2026 2:21 PM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers saw their pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Arizona on Wednesday. Additionally, the Brewers announced, on that same day, they had agreed to a one-year $1.75 million contract with Gary Sanchez. Presumably, Sanchez will be the team’s backup catcher, just like he was when he played for the Brewers in 2024.

And on Thursday, Milwaukee announced a contract that many fans had been anxious about all winter long. Finally, after months of speculation and worry, the Brewers have come to an agreement with two-time All-Star catcher William Contreras.

The Milwaukee Brewers avoid arbitration with William Contreras


Milwaukee Brewers decline club option on 2x All-Star William Contreras 4 Oct 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) hits a home run against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning during game five of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

On Thursday afternoon, the Brewers themselves announced on social media that they had agreed to a one-year contract with Contreras, avoiding an arbitration hearing. Additionally, his new contract includes a club option for 2027:

The exact details of Contreras’ new contract have not been announced yet. However, he does remain under club control for two more seasons.

Many fans were concerned about the franchise’s relationship with their All-Star catcher and clubhouse leader when they declined his option for this season. They worried that an arbitration hearing would lead to hard feelings, just as it did when Corbin Burnes and the Brewers went to an arbitration hearing together.

Fortunately, the two sides were able to avoid that scenario.

Contreras, who has won the Silver Slugger at catcher twice since coming to Milwaukee, is coming off of a year in which he played through a broken finger in his left hand virtually all season long.

Clearly, the hope is that he will have a bounce back year at the plate now that his finger is fully healed

Standard Batting Table
Season Age Team Lg WAR G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ TB GIDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos Awards
2020 22 ATL NL 0.1 4 10 10 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 .400 .400 .500 .900 136 .393 139 5 0 0 0 0 0 /2
2021 23 ATL NL 0.1 52 185 163 19 35 4 1 8 23 0 0 19 54 .215 .303 .399 .701 85 .305 79 65 3 2 0 1 1 2/H
2022 24 ATL NL 2.6 97 376 334 51 93 14 1 20 45 2 0 39 104 .278 .354 .506 .860 136 .376 138 169 5 1 0 2 1 2D/H7 AS
2023 25 MIL NL 3.7 141 611 540 86 156 38 1 17 78 6 1 63 126 .289 .367 .457 .825 124 .362 126 247 23 5 1 2 2 2D/H MVP-11,SS
2024 26 MIL NL 4.9 155 679 595 99 167 37 2 23 92 9 2 78 139 .281 .365 .466 .831 130 .361 129 277 19 3 0 3 5 *2D/H AS,MVP-5,SS
2025 27 MIL NL 3.9 150 659 566 89 147 28 0 17 76 6 4 84 120 .260 .355 .399 .754 111 .342 117 226 14 3 0 6 4 *2D/37
6 Yrs 15.2 599 2520 2208 344 602 122 5 85 315 23 7 283 547 .273 .357 .448 .805 121 .355 123 989 64 14 1 14 13 2DH/73
162 Game Avg 4.1 162 682 597 93 163 33 1 23 85 6 2 77 148 .273 .357 .448 .805 121 .355 123 267 17 4 0 4 4
MIL (3 Yrs) 12.4 446 1949 1701 274 470 103 3 57 246 21 7 225 385 .276 .362 .441 .803 122 .355 124 750 56 11 1 11 11 *2D/H37
ATL (3 Yrs) 2.8 153 571 507 70 132 19 2 28 69 2 0 58 162 .260 .338 .471 .809 119 .353 118 239 8 3 0 3 2 2DH/7
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/12/2026.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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