Brewers Settle Arbitration Wild Card Dispute With $1.75 Million Deal, Confirming Their Offseason Approach .MH
Approaching the 4 PM CT tender deadline, the Milwaukee Brewers had seven arbitration-eligible players on whom to make a decision. First baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers is the first to re-sign with the team, returning for 2026 on a $1.75 million salary.
In doing so, the Brewers essentially commit to Bauers as a member of the major league roster for the duration of the year. Since he has no minor league options remaining, cutting or trading him would be the only way to clear his spot on the big-league team.
That consideration complicated the prospect of his return, but clearly the front office decided he is worth keeping around despite those constraints.
Hot finish earns Bauers a new Brewers contract
In 2025, his second season in Milwaukee, Bauers hit .235/.353/.399 in 183 at-bats. Primarily in a platoon role, he hit seven home runs and drove in 28. Although a mid-summer injury limited his plate appearance, it was all-around a more productive year in which Bauers raised his OPS 90 points compared to ’24. He also posted a WAR of 0.7 versus -0.4 last season.
At one point, Bauers’ roster status was in flux. After a solid start he struggled mightily before hitting the injured list. In his return, however, he re-established himself as a valuable lefty bat off the bench, balancing the right-handed Andrew Vaughn. A strong September earned him a spot on the playoff roster over the outcast Rhys Hoskins. In that final month, Bauers hit .360/.458/.560 in 50 at-bats. In the postseason he went 4-13 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs.
Earlier this offseason, the Brewers declined Hoskins’ player option, allowing him to pursue his options in free agency.
In addition to Bauers and Vaughn, catcher William Contreras, second baseman Brice Turang, outfielder Garrett Mitchell, and relievers Trevor Megill and Nick Mears were also arbitration-eligible entering the day.
Bauers played last season on an arbitration salary of $1.4 million.
Of the above, Mitchell and Mears are the only ones whose status seems really up in the air. Whereas the four other position players were all key starters and obvious re-signees, Mitchell spent basically the whole year hurt.
Megill saved 30 games before injuring his elbow and returning for the playoffs in a non-closer role. Mears, on the hand, while solid, is more easily replaceable in the bullpen if the Brewers decide to non-tender him.
