The Milwaukee Brewers come into 2025 with a few question marks still, one of the biggest questions is their infield alignment. With Willy Adames leaving in free agency to join the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee has to sort out the infield. First base is spoken for as Rhys Hoskins opted into his contract for this upcoming season. Barring an injury or trade, it’s likely he will be there on opening day.
The second base will likely be manned by Brice Turang after winning the Gold Glove Award last year. Shortstop and third base are the biggest question marks. The Brewers have Joey Ortiz and he will get one of those spots. They could keep him at third base and then fill shortstop with an outside addition or someone like Caleb Durbin.
Milwaukee could move Ortiz to shortstop and then fill third base with someone on the open market or internally with someone like Durbin.
Brewers Must Explore DeJong Trade: A High-Impact Move Awaits
If the Brewers decide to add an external piece, their top priority should be former All-Star Paul DeJong. Milwaukee was very familiar with him when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals. He would add some more pop in the Brewers lineup, he can play both shortstop and third base. He also adds some playoff pedigree that could push the Brewers even further this year.
DeJong would still be fairly cheap only making $1.75 million and is projected to land a two-year $9.3 million deal this offseason after hitting 24 home runs with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals last season.
Brewers and Star Catcher Headed for Arbitration
The arbitration deadline has passed and the Brewers agreed with five of their six eligible players. Unfortunately, the lone player they failed to reach an agreement with happens to be their most valuable player.
William Contreras, who is in his first arbitration year, is coming off another solid season for the Brewers, finishing fifth in the NL MVP voting as he hit .281/.365/.466 with 23 home runs, 92 RBIs, and 99 runs, in a career-high 155 games this season.
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 at $6.5 million while the Brewers filed at $5.6 million. The Brewers have until February to settle, that’s about when his arbitration hearing would be. If the two sides can agree before the hearing then it wouldn’t need to take place.
The Brewers went to a hearing with another star player Corbin Burnes in 2023. They argued over a $740,000 difference ($10.01 million vs $ 10.75) Contreras is just about on par with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in terms of stats for first-year arbitration-eligible catchers (though Contreras posses more with his bat and Raleigh adds more with his 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+)
This is a fluid situation with another update to come soon. The Brewers don’t want any sort of fallout with their star player.
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