The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up deals with all their arbitration-eligible players Thursday except for one notable holdout: William Contreras.
The All-Star catcher’s heading to an arbitration hearing after the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement by Thursday’s deadline.
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.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 8, 2026
It’s not exactly the end of the world. Contreras will still get paid well for 2026, and he’ll be behind the plate when the season starts.
But arbitration hearings can get messy in ways that pre-deadline negotiations don’t.
Here’s the thing about arbitration – it forces teams to essentially argue against their own players. The Brewers will have to present a case for why Contreras deserves the lower salary figure rather than his higher ask.
That dynamic has created some awkward situations before. Players hear their organization pick apart their performance and contributions. It doesn’t always leave hard feelings, but it can.
For a player like Contreras – one of the best catchers in the game – you’d think Milwaukee would want to avoid that scenario entirely.
The 27-year-old has been everything the Brewers hoped for since acquiring him from Atlanta. He’s provided steady defense behind the plate and legitimate pop in the lineup, making him a cornerstone piece for their playoff hopes.
Now both sides will present their cases to an arbitrator, who’ll decide between the two salary proposals. Winner takes all.
It’s a process that works, but it’s not always pretty. And for a Brewers team that’s built around chemistry and continuity, it’s not ideal timing with one of thier most important players.
