{"id":870103,"date":"2026-10-04T04:23:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T04:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870103\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T04:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T04:23:26","slug":"mlb-trade-rumors-projects-59-1-million-for-sixteen-arbitration-eligible-brewers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870103\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Trade Rumors projects $59.1 million for sixteen arbitration-eligible Brewers"},"content":{"rendered":"

MLB Trade Rumors<\/a> has released their annual list of projections for arbitration-eligible players, and the Brewers feature a whopping 16 players on the list, led by catcher William Contreras, second baseman Brice Turang, and first baseman Andrew Vaughn.<\/p>\n

As with everything else this offseason, the arbitration process would be frozen in the event of a lockout, which certainly appears to be the most likely scenario. Either way, the arbitration system itself could change under a new collective bargaining agreement, so these numbers may not hold even if the offseason proceeds normally.<\/p>\n

As things stand now, here\u2019s what MLB Trade Rumors projects:<\/p>\n

William Contreras<\/a> (5.112 years of service): $14.6MM (Brewers hold $14.5MM club option)<\/p>\n

Contreras and the Brewers avoided an arbitration hearing last winter, agreeing to a $9.4 million salary for 2026 with a $14.5 million club option for 2027. That $9.4 million was a new record for a second-year arb-eligible catcher. This time, the option is actually slightly below his $14.6 million projection, the reverse of last year, when the Brewers declined a $12 million option that came in above his projection.<\/p>\n

The Brewers control Contreras through the 2027 season no matter what, so they could theoretically decline his option and try to save some money in arbitration. That\u2019s probably not worth it, for a couple of reasons: one, Contreras is one of the best catchers in baseball, and there\u2019s no guarantee he\u2019d get less in arbitration; and two, they\u2019d risk alienating their starting catcher over what could end up being a negligible amount of money. Not only would that look bad, but there are other ways the Brewers could trim payroll if they choose to. Unless the Brewers decide to trade him, it\u2019d be a surprise if they didn\u2019t pick up the option.<\/p>\n

Contreras put together a season pretty similar to last year\u2019s, hitting .270\/.341\/.417 (108 OPS+) with 18 homers and 94 RBIs across 147 games and making the All-Star team. However, his 2.9 bWAR was nearly a full win less than his 2025 season (3.8). He\u2019ll be a free agent after 2027.<\/p>\n

Brice Turang<\/a> (3.165): $9.5MM<\/p>\n

Turang earned $4.15 million in arbitration last season as a Super Two. He followed his 2025 breakout with an even better season, hitting .268\/.366\/.450 with 21 homers, 100 RBIs, 102 runs, and 19 steals for 7.3 bWAR. He should finish in the top five in NL MVP voting, and his $9.5 million projection, the second-highest on the team, reflects that. Turang remains under club control through 2029.<\/p>\n

Andrew Vaughn<\/a> (5.142): $8.5MM<\/p>\n

Vaughn avoided arbitration with a $7.65 million deal for 2026. He opened the season on the injured list, and by the time he returned, Jake Bauers had turned into one of the Brewers\u2019 best hitters. Still, when he played, Vaughn hit: .306\/.390\/.444 (130 OPS+) in 104 games, albeit with just six homers.<\/p>\n

Next season is Vaughn\u2019s final year of arbitration eligibility, so he and Contreras will hit free agency together after 2027.<\/p>\n

Trevor Megill<\/a> (5.002): $8MM<\/p>\n

Megill avoided arbitration last year by signing a one-year, $4.7 million deal for 2026. While that was more than MLBTR projected ($4.2 million), he earned every penny, posting a 2.63 ERA, 1.85 FIP, 30 saves, and 69 strikeouts over 61 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

Arbitration rewards saves, which is why his projection jumps to $8 million. Like Contreras and Vaughn, Megill will be a free agent after 2027.<\/p>\n

Garrett Mitchell<\/a> (4.040): $2.7MM<\/p>\n

Mitchell finally stayed healthy for a whole season, and the results speak for themselves: .262\/.354\/.416 with 11 homers, 30 doubles, and 14 steals in 145 games, worth 3.4 bWAR. He earned $950,000 in 2026, and his projection nearly triples that, at $2.7 million. Mitchell is arbitration-eligible through 2028.<\/p>\n

Sal Frelick<\/a> (3.072): $2.4MM<\/p>\n

Frelick is entering arbitration for the first time after the worst season of his career: .230\/.295\/.319 (70 OPS+) over 111 games, worth -0.5 bWAR. He\u2019s projected at $2.4 million.<\/p>\n

Joey Ortiz<\/a> (3.030): $2.4MM<\/p>\n

The overall body of work isn\u2019t eye-popping, but Ortiz found another level after moving to third base, and his season-long stats show it: .270\/.328\/.402 over 134 games, worth 2.6 bWAR. He\u2019s projected $2.4 million in his first year of eligibility and might get a bit more.<\/p>\n

David Hamilton<\/a> (3.011): $1.6MM<\/p>\n

Hamilton came over from Boston in the Caleb Durbin trade and played all over the infield, hitting .245\/.314\/.336 with 30 steals in 121 games. With Pat Murphy at the helm, the fact that Hamilton led the majors with 13 sacrifice bunts means something. He\u2019s at $1.6 million.<\/p>\n

Bo Naylor<\/a> (3.014): $1.5MM<\/p>\n

The Brewers acquired Naylor and reliever Codi Heuer from the Guardians on Aug. 1 for outfielder Blake Perkins and reliever Craig Yoho. Naylor hit .143 over 28 games with Cleveland before being optioned in May but posted a .903 OPS with four homers in 14 games with Nashville after the trade. He appeared in only three games for Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

With Gary S\u00e1nchez a free agent and Contreras entering his final year of control, Naylor could get a real look in 2027. MLBTR has him at $1.5 million, which is well worth it if Milwaukee sees him as the backup catcher.<\/p>\n

Quinn Priester<\/a> (2.134): $1.3MM<\/p>\n

Priester spent the entire season on the injured list, ultimately undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in June. Because he spent the year on the 60-day IL, he still accrued major league service time and pay. That\u2019s how he reached 2.134 years of service, just above MLBTR\u2019s projected Super Two cutoff of 2.133. His $1.3 million projection is based mostly on his strong 2025.<\/p>\n

Angel Zerpa<\/a> (4.082): $1.3MM<\/p>\n

Zerpa avoided arbitration at $1.095 million in his first year of eligibility. His 2026 was a lost one, though: just 12 2\/3 innings with a 6.39 ERA before he suffered a UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery. He\u2019s projected for a modest raise to $1.3 million and has two more arbitration years before free agency after 2028. There\u2019s no guarantee he\u2019ll be ready for the 2027 season, which could make him a non-tender candidate.<\/p>\n

Akil Baddoo<\/a> (3.082): $1.3MM<\/p>\n

Baddoo signed a one-year major league deal with the Brewers in December but suffered a quad strain near the end of spring training and spent the start of the season on the 60-day IL. He was activated and optioned to Nashville on May 24 and never appeared in a big league game for Milwaukee. At $1.3 million, and with the Brewers\u2019 outfield depth, he\u2019s probably a non-tender candidate.<\/p>\n

Bryse Wilson<\/a> (5.049): $1.1MM<\/p>\n

Wilson\u2019s 2026 was a roller coaster. After brief stints with the Phillies and Cubs, he signed a one-year major league deal with Milwaukee on July 10, was designated for assignment on Aug. 8, elected free agency, and re-signed with the Brewers three days later. He then landed on the injured list with a lower-back strain on Aug. 31.<\/p>\n

When he was needed, he was solid: a 3.51 ERA over 25 2\/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and just one walk. At 5.049 years of service, 2027 would be his final arbitration year. Wilson is nice to have, but he\u2019s a depth arm; at a projected $1.1 million, he\u2019s an obvious non-tender candidate if the Brewers need the roster spot.<\/p>\n

Hall was one of the Brewers\u2019 best relievers this year. In 47 appearances, he posted a 1.91 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 61 1\/3 innings and finished the season worth 2.0 bWAR. The walks are still a concern (35 in 61 1\/3 innings), but a $1 million projection is a bargain for those results. Non-closers tend to be undervalued in arbitration, but I\u2019d still be willing to bet he gets more than that.<\/p>\n

Grant Anderson<\/a> (3.007): $1MM<\/p>\n

Anderson was a key middle-relief piece for most of the year, posting a 3.36 ERA in 59 innings across 52 appearances. He was optioned to Nashville after the Brewers added pitching at the deadline and later landed on the IL with right biceps inflammation. He\u2019s projected at $1 million.<\/p>\n

Jared Koenig<\/a> (2.158): $900K<\/p>\n

Koenig\u2019s season was pretty much the worst-case scenario. The Brewers placed him on the IL in April with a sprained UCL, which Pat Murphy called a \u201cbig concern,\u201d and he didn\u2019t return until late June, 81 days later. He spent much of the year in the minors (2.21 ERA) and finished with just seven big league innings and a 9.00 ERA. He\u2019s a Super Two, with MLBTR projecting him at $900,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MLB Trade Rumors has released their annual list of projections for arbitration-eligible players, and the Brewers feature a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":870104,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[34976,363,99],"class_list":["post-870103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-milwaukee-brewers-news","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870103","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=870103"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870103\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/870104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=870103"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=870103"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=870103"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}