MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher William Contreras agreed to a $9.4 million, one-year contract Thursday just before the scheduled start of an arbitration hearing in Scottsdale, Arizona.<\/p>\n
The deal includes a $14.5 million team option for 2027 that converts to a mutual option if Contreras finishes fourth or better in this year\u2019s NL MVP balloting.<\/p>\n
The agreement was $175,000 above the midpoint between the $9.9 million Contreras had requested and the $8.55 million offered by the team when they exchanged proposed salaries last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n This marks the second straight year in which the two-time All-Star has agreed to terms on a deal shortly before a potential arbitration hearing. Contreras agreed to a $6.1 million deal<\/a> last year that included a $12 million option for 2026 with a $100,000 buyout. The three-time defending NL Central champion Brewers declined that 2026 club option.<\/p>\n Contreras, 28, batted .260 with a .355 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 76 RBIs in 150 games last year while dealing with a fractured left middle finger<\/a> for most of the season. He had finished fifth in the NL MVP voting in 2024 and was 11th in the balloting in 2024, his first year with Milwaukee.<\/p>\n His 2025 performance represented a dip in production after he won Silver Slugger awards each of his first two years with the Brewers.<\/p>\n Contreras batted .281 with a .365 on-base percentage, 23 homers and 92 RBIs in 2024. He hit .289 with a .367 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 78 RBIs in 141 games in 2023.<\/p>\n He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2024 as well as in 2022 with the Atlanta Braves.<\/p>\n Contreras is on track to become eligible for free agency after the 2027 World Series.<\/p>\n The Brewers acquired Contreras along with reliever Joel Payamps in December 2022 as part of a three-team trade<\/a> with the Atlanta Braves and Athletics. The Brewers only gave up outfielder Esteury Ruiz in the deal.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n