The Milwaukee Brewers began their World Series defence in earnest on Monday, exercising William Contreras’s $15.5 million option for 2027 and extending a $23.15 million qualifying offer to Jake Bauers, according to Brew Crew Ball’s report of the club’s moves.
Contreras would have remained under club control even if the option had been declined, but the Brewers chose to pick it up — a salary close to the $14.6 million he had been projected to earn in arbitration, and a clear signal that the All-Star catcher remains central to their plans. He is under club control for one more year before free agency.
Bauers faces a big decision
Bauers, who enjoyed a career year capped by winning NLCS MVP honours, is one of eight players across the majors to receive a qualifying offer this winter. He has until November 17 to accept the one-year, $23.15 million deal or test free agency, where projections suggest a two-to-three-year contract worth $17-19 million per season.
The Brewers also declined options for Gary Sánchez ($8.5 million) and Antonio Senzatela ($14 million), making both free agents, while JoJo Romero and Brandon Woodruff also hit the open market as their contracts expired.
Depth departures confirmed
Lefty Jared Koenig cleared waivers, was outrighted to the minors and elected free agency, while fellow left-hander Thomas Pannone also elected free agency on October 29. Koenig, 32, has pitched in 146 big-league games since 2022 and is expected to find a deal this winter.
The moves come after a historic season: a franchise-record 103 wins, an 11-2 playoff record and a first World Series title in club history, sealed with a 4-1 series win over Tampa Bay. Keeping the core together — Contreras, Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich and Jacob Misiorowski among them — is the priority, but the Brewers know the market will test their resolve.
Champions face the market’s reality
Winning a World Series changes a club’s maths: every player costs more, every decision carries more scrutiny, and the rest of the league circles your roster. Milwaukee’s early moves — keeping Contreras, making Bauers choose, letting the depth arms walk — are the first steps in defending a title. The Brewers won with the 19th-highest payroll in baseball; keeping this group together without breaking that model is the winter’s great challenge.
