The Milwaukee Brewers are not big spenders and often trade players before they hit the open market, knowing they won't be able to afford them in free agency.
Just look at Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader and Devin Williams for proof. They let Willy Adames walk in free agency without even making a long-term offer as well. However, when it comes to the pitchers, they knew they could reload through the farm and when it came to Adames, they knew they had Cooper Pratt, Luis Peña, Joey Ortiz and Jesús Made in the organization as well. As much as it will hurt Brewers fans to hear, when Brice Turang nears free agency, the team will likely trade him or let him walk too.
The Brewers' young core is helping them compete for a championship right now, and they have no reason to change the way they do business. They already have Jackson Chourio locked up for years to come. Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara are signed to extensions as well. Guys like Sal Frelick, Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz can all be replaced with young players the Brewers believe in coming up through the farm system right now. However, there is one player who is integral to their success without a successor in the organization: William Contreras.
The Brewers landed Contreras as part of a three-team deal with the Atlanta Braves and Athletics. They gave away one of the prospects they got in the Josh Hader deal to get him, and he has been worth it. He has been an All-Star twice with the Brewers and has taken huge strides defensively. He catches nearly every game and brings a ton of energy to the Brewers.
He has one more year before hitting free agency, which is around the time the Brewers start thinking about trading players like him, who are due for big paydays. However, they made an exception for Adames, letting him play out his deal and then leave in free agency. At the very least, that's what they should do for Contreras, but they really need to go ahead and pay him.
What makes Contreras different than other past stars in the Brewers organization? Well, for one, the Brewers don't have a replacement ready in the minor leagues. Jeferson Quero is the Brewers' No. 11 prospect, but he hasn't really been tearing up in Triple-A. He still has another year before the Brewers really need him if Contreras leaves, and he could be the backup catcher next year, but right now he does not look like the future behind the plate.
Good catchers are not easy to find, and elite catchers are even harder to find. Contreras is not a player the Brewers can simply replace as they did with other players. Christian Yelich is the highest-paid player on the Brewers currently, and after next season, he has a $20 million mutual option for 2028. After that, it's safe to assume that even if he stays in Milwaukee, it will be for much less money.
The Brewers have operated with one big contract for years, and Contreras could be that star after Yelich's money is off the books.
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