MLB Trade Rumors projects $32 million for seven arbitration-eligible Brewers

MLB Trade Rumors has released their annual list of projections for arbitration-eligible players, and the Brewers feature seven players on the list, led by catcher William Contreras and first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

Here is the full breakdown of players by projected salary:

William Contreras (4.112 years of service): $11.1 million (Brewers hold a $12 million club option with a $100,000 buyout)Andrew Vaughn (4.142 years): $7.8 millionBrice Turang (2.165 years): $4.4 millionTrevor Megill (4.002 years): $4.2 millionJake Bauers (5.084 years): $2 millionNick Mears (4.022 years): $1.6 millionGarrett Mitchell (3.040 years): $1 million

Let’s take a look at each of those players.

Contreras, wrapping up season three with the Brewers, made $6 million in 2025, as the team was able to avoid an arbitration hearing with their star catcher. The team also agreed to a $12 million club option with Contreras for 2026, with a $100,000 buyout. Given that he’s projected to earn $11.1 million in arbitration, don’t be surprised if the team takes that buyout and looks to take their chances on agreeing to a number less than $11.9 million in arbitration.

After two seasons of garnering MVP votes, Contreras took a slight step back in 2025, though he still was a key contributor. Across 150 games, the Brewers backstop hit .260/.355/.399 (111 OPS+) with 17 homers, 76 RBIs, 89 runs, and six steals while catching baserunners at a 26.8% clip (22/82), the best mark since 2021 with Atlanta (10/27 for a 37% clip).

Contreras is still arbitration-eligible for 2027 before becoming a free agent after that season.

Vaughn, acquired from the White Sox for Aaron Civale earlier this year, has been everything the Brewers could have hoped for and more. While he was worth a dismal -1.8 bWAR across 48 games with the White Sox, he turned in 1.3 bWAR with Milwaukee over 64 games in the final three months of the season, slashing .308/.375/.493 with nine homers, 46 RBIs, and 26 runs scored. The former No. 3 overall pick also came up with a huge three-run homer in Monday night’s Game 2 NLDS win over the Cubs.

He avoided arbitration with the White Sox this season, agreeing to a $4.6 million contract. Due to Vaughn’s demotion to Triple-A for part of this season, he’s still arbitration eligible for both 2026 and 2027, meaning he’ll be a part of the same free agent class as Contreras.

Turang is the only newcomer to arbitration among this group of seven, as he’s heading into his fourth (third full) MLB season with Milwaukee. The NL Platinum Glove winner will get a hefty pay raise no matter what the result of arbitration, as he made just $777,100 in 2025. He’s projected to earn $4.4 million in 2026.

After a solid season in 2024, Turang took another major step forward in 2025, adding some power to the mix. Across 156 games, he hit .288/.359/.435 (121 OPS+) with 18 homers, 81 RBIs, 97 runs scored, and 24 steals while continuing to play plus-plus defense, totaling 5.5 bWAR.

Turang will almost certainly fit into the “Super Two” category, as the minimum cutoff has been set between 2.115 and 2.134 each year since 2013. This would make Turang arbitration eligible each season through 2029.

Megill, 31, is entering his second arbitration season, after avoiding an arbitration hearing and agreeing to a $1.94 million contract with Milwaukee for 2025.

The 6-foot-8-inch righty has turned in a trio of really solid seasons with Milwaukee since 2023, totaling a 2.88 ERA, 2.62 FIP, and 162 strikeouts across 128 innings while picking up 51 saves. While he faced an injury down the stretch, he figures to continue to play a prominent role in the Brewers’ bullpen in the postseason and into 2026.

Megill is still arbitration eligible for both 2026 and 2027, making him a free agent after the 2027 season at age 33 (though he’ll turn 34 that December).

Bauers, 29, was a free agent last winter before the Brewers brough him back on a minor league deal that turned into a major league contract, as he earned $1.4 million in 2025. He’s the most experienced player on this list, at least in terms of service time.

After several seasons of being just fine and turning in a negative bWAR, the left-handed hitting first baseman turned in a solid year in 2025, hitting .235/.353/.399 as the left-handed platoon to Vaughn down the stretch. He added seven homers, 28 RBIs, 28 runs, and eight steals.

Next season is Bauers’ last arbitration-eligible year before he hits the open market next fall. He’s projected to earn $2 million in 2026.

Mears, 29 today, was acquired from the Rockies at last year’s trade deadline and has turned into a solid piece of Milwaukee’s bullpen. He avoided arbitration in his first arb-eligible season this year, earning $963,000 in 2025.

After struggling last year with the Crew (7.30 ERA, 6.25 FIP over 12 1/3 innings), Mears turned in the most efficient season of his career, pitching to a 3.49 ERA, 3.86 FIP, and striking out 46 over 56 2/3 innings.

Projected for a modest bump to $1.6 million in 2026, Mears is still arb-eligible in 2027, making him a free agent that fall.

Mitchell, 27, is entering his first arbitration year. He earned $772,000 in 2025.

The outfielder has not been able to stay healthy for most of his career, appearing in just 113 MLB games over the last three seasons as he’s dealt with various injuries. In 25 games this season, he hit just .206/.286/.294 with no homers three RBIs, nine runs scored, and three steals across 78 plate appearances.

Due to that lack of health, it should come as no surprise that Mitchell’s salary is projected at just $1 million for his first arbitration year. Mitchell will have three arbitration-eligible seasons, making him a free agent after the 2028 season.

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