Contreras filed at $6.5 million while Milwaukee filed at $5.6 million
With Thursday’s arbitration deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers managed to reach an agreement with five of their six arb-eligible players. Unfortunately, the lone player they failed to reach an agreement with also happens to be their most valuable player.
William Contreras, who is in his first arbitration year, is coming off another great season in a Brewers’ uniform, finishing fifth in NL MVP voting as he hit .281/.365/.466 (129 OPS+) with 23 homers, 92 RBIs, 99 runs, and nine steals across a career-high 155 games, accumulating 4.9 bWAR.
After making just $767,000 in 2024, Contreras entered arbitration this season with a projected salary of $7.6 million, per MLB Trade Rumors. According to Mark Feinsand, Contreras filed yesterday at $6.5 million while the Brewers filed at $5.6 million.
Arbitration exchange update: William Contreras filed at $6.5 million; the Brewers filed at $5.6 million.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 10, 2025
As noted by Curt Hogg, the Brewers can still negotiate with Contreras until his arbitration hearing — as they did last year with Devin Williams — which would likely take place in early February. If the two sides can reach a consensus prior to that time, the hearing wouldn’t take place.
Arbitration filings for the Brewers’ two-time MVP. Unless the sides reach a post-11th hour agreement of some sorts — similar to the Devin Williams situation last year — the Brewers will once again go to an arbitration with a star player. https://t.co/gQj25ZPzoj
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) January 10, 2025
Notoriously, the Brewers went to a hearing with Corbin Burnes over a $740,000 difference ($10.01 million vs $10.75 million) back in 2023. For what it’s worth, Contreras is just about on par with Mariners’ catcher Cal Raleigh in terms of his stats among first-year arbitration catchers (though Contreras adds more offensive prowess and Raleigh brings the defensive value). Raleigh received a $5.6 million contract this year.
Top first-year catcher arb salaries
1. Buster Posey $8m (9.8 WAR, 164 wRC+)
2. Cal Raleigh $5.6m (5.4 WAR, 117 wRC+, Plat. Glove)
T3. Matt Wieters $5.5m (4.1 WAR, 107 wRC+)
T3. Adley Rutschman (2.8 WAR, 104 wRC+)
5. Will Smith $5.25m (4.3 WAR, 124 wRC+) https://t.co/uqr7OjZAm3— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) January 10, 2025
Stay tuned for more updates as the Brewers will look to avoid any sort of fallout with their star catcher ahead of his arbitration hearing.