Champions' First Calls: Brewers Keep Contreras, Cut Three Loose on Option Night

The Milwaukee Brewers wasted no time turning from celebration to business, making their first major roster calls of the offseason on Monday night just days after winning the franchise's first World Series. The headline decision was to pick up All-Star catcher William Contreras on his 15.5 million dollar club option for 2027, setting his salary in stone before the looming labour uncertainty. Contreras would have remained under team control regardless, but Milwaukee clearly believed he would have earned more than that figure in his final year of arbitration after an All-Star season capped by World Series MVP honours. Elsewhere, the Brewers declined right-hander Antonio Senzatela's 14 million dollar club option with no buyout, turned down catcher Gary Sanchez's 8.5 million dollar mutual option at a cost of 250,000 dollars, and saw right-hander Dustin May decline his own 20 million dollar mutual option for a 500,000 dollar buyout. All three become free agents. The club also lost relievers Bryse Wilson and Jared Koenig, who elected free agency after being outrighted, while outfielder Akil Baddoo was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh.