The deadline to tender contracts is a week away. Which Brewers are at risk of not being tendered a contract?
As the offseason progresses, one of the next big deadlines is for tendering contracts. Commonly known as the non-tender deadline, it is the day that teams have to decide whether or not to tender contracts to their players with six or fewer years of service who are not currently signed to a contract. Those who are not offered contracts are non-tendered and enter the free agent pool. This year’s deadline is set for November 22.
This offseason, the Brewers have 10 arbitration-eligible players that they will have to make decisions on (though they already decided on two, as noted below). Let’s take a look through these players. (All projections listed are from MLBTradeRumors.com)
Locks to Receive Contracts
- Devin Williams ($7.7 million)
- William Contreras ($7.6 million)
- Trevor Megill ($2 million)
These are the players that have no question on receiving a contract. All three are major parts of the organization and will have contracts tendered for next season. Contreras and Megill are definitely going to be significant contributors next season. Williams likely will be as well, but the question around him is if he’s going to be a trade candidate or not. There haven’t been any specific rumors around him yet, but with just one year of team control remaining, he’s the most likely trade target. Either way, he’ll be tendered a contract to keep him on the roster.
Likely will Receive Contracts
- Aaron Civale ($8 million)
- Joel Payamps ($2.8 million)
- Eric Haase ($1.8 million)
- Nick Mears ($900,000)
These players aren’t locks like the first three, but all still have strong cases to be tendered contracts for 2025. Civale is expected to earn the most of these players as he enters his final year before free agency. The projected contract of $8 million is pretty reasonable for him based on his stats, and the Brewers won’t find much better in free agency for a contract at the same amount. Payamps put together another good season in 2024, and with two years of control remaining, $2.8 million is a very reasonable contract. Haase is expected to be the Brewers’ backup catcher to start 2025, so he’s not likely going anywhere yet, especially with three years of control remaining. Mears is the one player in this group that didn’t show as much in his time with the Brewers. However, the Brewers seem to be committed to him, as shown when they included him on the wild card roster. With three years of control and a projected salary not much more than the major league minimum, he’s a low-risk option to tender for 2025.
On the Bubble
- Hoby Milner ($2.7 million)
Milner is the one candidate that could go either way. After an impressive 2023 season, Milner’s numbers took a big hit in 2024. His ERA rose from 1.82 to 4.73, but his FIP was almost identical (3.13 vs. 3.14). His strikeout rate (8.3 K/9 vs. 8.9 K/9) and walk rate (1.8 BB/9 vs. 1.9 BB/9) were also very consistent between 2023 and 2024. He is nearing free agency, and this will be his final year of arbitration. Considering some of the money-saving moves the Brewers have made in the past, a non-tender here is not out of the question.
Outrighted/Free Agents
- Jake Bauers ($2.3 million)
- Bryse Wilson ($1.5 million)
The fate of these two was set at the start of the offseason, when both were outrighted off of the 40-man roster. They could both still re-sign with the Brewers this offseason, but it would be on a lesser deal or a minor league deal.