Brewers baseball chief Matt Arnold signaled that William Contreras is central to the team’s plans, despite the club’s history of trading players approaching free agency. Contreras’ postseason impact, elite all-around catching and importance to Milwaukee’s championship make him a possible exception. All-Star closer Trevor Megill is also entering his final year of arbitration, but Arnold made clear he values him, too.

By the Numbers
  • Contreras posted a 1.036 OPS during the postseason.
  • He has caught 1,000 innings in each of the past 3 seasons.
  • Megill recorded 30 saves for the 2nd straight year, while throwing a career-high 61⅔ innings.
Yes, But

Milwaukee has often traded players nearing free agency to secure prospects, but it kept Willy Adames in a similar situation before offering him a qualifying offer. Contreras’ value and the difficulty of finding a top catcher could make the Brewers reconsider their usual approach.

State of Play
  • Arnold has not announced a decision on Contreras, but stressed that he is “really special” and vital to the team.
  • Megill is also approaching free agency, with one arbitration year remaining.
  • The Brewers are preparing to defend their championship rather than assume success will carry over.
Bottom Line

Contreras’ future is unresolved, but Milwaukee’s message is clear: trading a key player for prospects isn’t automatic when that player is central to a championship team.