The Brewers announced decisions on three options decisions today. First baseman Rhys Hoskins and left-hander Jose Quintana both had mutual options declined and are now free agents. The club also turned down a club option on catcher William Contreras, who remains under club control via arbitration.
Contreras, 28 in December, qualified for arbitration for the first time a year ago. He and the Brewers couldn’t agree on his salary for 2025, his first of three arb years, prior to the January 15th filing deadline. Late in January, they avoided a hearing by agreeing to a one-year deal with a club option. It was a $6.1MM guarantee in the form of a $6MM salary for 2025 and a $100K buyout on a $12MM club option for 2026.
In the season which just ended, Contreras still put up decent numbers but he played through a finger fracture and wasn’t quite at his previous level. His .260/.355/.399 line translated to a 113 wRC+, indicating he was 13% above league average, but he was 26-39% better than par in the three previous seasons.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Contreras for $11.1MM in his second arbitration season, a bit below the value of the club option. Presumably, Milwaukee’s internal projections are somewhat similar. They will give Contreras the $100K buyout for now. Later, they will try to get him signed for his second arbitration season with a salary below $12MM, therefore saving a few bucks.
The other two decisions were more straightforward. Mutual options are mostly an accounting measure designed to move part of the guarantee to the end of the deal. It’s been more than a decade since a mutual option was exercised by both parties.
Hoskins, 33 in March, signed with the Brewers going into the 2024 season. He had missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn ACL. It was a two-year deal with an opt-out halfway through. He would make $12MM in 2024 with a $4MM buyout on an $18MM player option, followed by an $18MM mutual option for 2026 with a $4MM buyout.
Ideally, Hoskins would have returned to form before heading back to free agency, but it didn’t play out that way. He hit .214/.303/.419 in 2024. That translated to a 101 wRC+, indicating he was barely above average. That wasn’t awful but also wasn’t good enough for a guy who isn’t an especially strong defender or baserunner. He triggered his player option and returned to Milwaukee for 2025.
His bat ticked up slightly this year, as he hit .237/.332/.416 for a 109 wRC+, but he missed about two months with a sprained left thumb. He got Wally Pipped by Andrew Vaughn while he was out and was left off the club’s playoff roster.
The Brewers will move on while Hoskins will look for a new opportunity elsewhere. His reputation should be enough for a major league deal but his age and recent performance will likely limit him to one-year deals.
Quintana, 37 in January, lingered in free agency last offseason. The Brewers grabbed him in March, signing him to a one-year deal with a $4MM guarantee. That broke down as a $2MM salary and a $2MM buyout on a $15MM mutual option.
The lefty had a decent year, making 24 starts with a 3.96 earned run average, though he worked around a subpar 16% strikeout rate. His .259 batting average on balls in play was on the low side, which is why measures like his 4.81 FIP and 5.04 SIERA feel his ERA should have been about a full run higher. He’ll take his buyout and look for his next opportunity. Despite the low strikeouts, a solid veteran innings eater like Quintana will still be in line for a major league deal.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
Andew Vaughn outperformed Hoskins in Milwaukee this season. I could see Hoskins being of some interest to the Red Sox as a RH 1B/DH option
Good for Vaughn salvaging his career. He was drowning in the cesspool known as the Chicago White Sox
Hoskins was looking good in May but plummeted soon thereafter. He might have to sign a minor league deal this time.
He’ll get a MLB deal, probably only a one year deal with maybe a mutual option.
Contreras decision is interesting. It will likely save them money but at the cost of potentially igniting some resentment. Maybe they look to trade him this offseason.
Maybe Brewers are hoping to sign Contreras to a deal that buys out both of his arbitration years, 2026 and 2027, and has already made him that offer.
The Brewers value William very highly — Pat Murphy praised him nightly for his work behind the plate. I’m sure the team wants to sign him to a multiyear deal despite having his successor, Jeferson Quero, on the 26-man roster. The Brewers want to get the best out of William after watching him battle injuries for two seasons. So, a new deal and more in-season rest appears to be the game plan.
It could create some resentment but this is how the Brewers have to operate to remain competitive. 800k is a massive difference for a tight budget team.
That one surprised me. They do have Quero ready if it causes hard feelings.
penny wise and pound foolish
So going forward what does this tell you? Don’t play hurt and then the fans get on your case for being soft. Your employer will claim you’re not good and pays you less via comps or less production because you were hurt. Know you know why when many guys get a long term deal they have a whole new outlook on what they will do to win at all costs.
Every team fights to keep arb players salaries as low as possible. Its not just that they save 500k-1m, its that his next arb estimate is lower, and in turn his lower arb2 number helps keep other players salaries down.
Some players take it personal(Corbin Burnes), but most guys understand its just business.
Quintana needs to go to the Reds to complete his NL Central tour.
A true professional, he should be celebrated by every team he’s played for.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Conteras starts playing some firstbase this year if Quero does any hitting.
Cardinals could use quintana
Nats could get Hoskins as a “lottery ticket” type deal. Tack on a 2nd year or option so if he plays well the return is more at the deadline.