2 players the Brewers should think about extending during the 2025-2026 offseason

The Milwaukee Brewers' young core remains just that, young, but with each passing season, their Major League experience grows, and so does their cost to retain. Jackson Chourio is already locked up long-term and looks every bit the future face of the franchise, but ensuring he’s surrounded by current players like William Contreras, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, or Jacob Misiorowski beyond their arbitration years could be a smart, forward-thinking play by the front office.

With Contreras and Turang already in arbitration and Frelick just a year away, the cost of keeping Milwaukee’s young core is only going up. Locking in key players before the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, where a potential salary cap will be a major topic, could be a smart move for the Brewers. This offseason presents a crucial opportunity for the front office to secure long-term stability before the financial landscape of the game potentially shifts.

Two players the Milwaukee Brewers should think about extending during the 2025-2026 offseason

C William Contreras

Handing out a contract extension to Contreras could be both tricky and a little risky, but it could also pay off in a big way as a long-term deal would keep him in Milwaukee throughout his physical prime, giving the Brewers stability at one of the game’s most demanding positions. Additionally, Contreras has openly expressed his gratitude and passion for the organization, most notably in a heartfelt letter released before postseason play, suggesting that a slight discount might not be out of the question.

Even with those factors in mind, any extension would likely make Contreras one of the highest-paid catchers in baseball by today’s standards, at least before the 2026 CBA negotiations. One possible approach for Milwaukee could be to honor his $12 million salary for 2025, then have him sign a two-year deal where he earns $15.5 million for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, with a club option attached for 2028. This extension would lock Contreras into Milwaukee for just one additional year beyond team control, but possibly two. It also would give him a contract that surpasses Sean Murphy’s peak annual salary of $15 million, a meaningful benchmark given that Atlanta traded Contreras in 2022 and chose to extend Murphy immediately afterwards.

A shorter-term extension like this could work well for both sides. Milwaukee would keep Contreras under contract through his age-30 season, while he’d still have the opportunity to test free agency as soon as age 31. If he continues to perform at a high level, another significant payday could await him. But if his production begins to decline, as often happens with catchers entering their 30s, the Brewers would have kept him under wraps during his peak years.

More likely, Contreras's camp will want more years of guaranteed money, as they are also aware of trials of aging at the catcher position and want to secure as many years under contract as possible before that possible regression sets in. This complicates things for the Brewers, who have been known to stretch their payroll every once in a while, but hardly ever, outside of a few cornerstone-type players, dole out long-term contracts. Contreras certainly has an argument when claiming that he belongs among the bunch with the "franchise cornerstone" title.

INF Brice Turang

Each season Turang has spent in the majors, he’s made noticeable strides in his development. After a rough showing at the plate during his rookie campaign, Turang took a major step forward in 2024, flashing the potential of a contact-first, high-average hitter. He also became a legitimate threat on the basepaths, eclipsing the 50 stolen base mark while also showcasing his defensive abilities by earning Platinum Glove honors as a second baseman.

In 2025, Turang once again established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders, while also taking another step forward offensively. He raised his batting average even higher and showed a notable boost in both power and overall production. Manager Pat Murphy even described Turang as a “power hitter” and rewarded his progress by slotting him into the three-hole for several games, a testament to his growing impact in the lineup.

What makes Turang’s extension case particularly interesting is his positional value. At the moment, any extension discussions would likely be based on second baseman market comparisons. However, Turang was on track to win the starting shortstop job last spring before an injury shifted him back to second base. If the Brewers were to extend him this offseason under second-base market terms, and he later transitions to shortstop while taking another leap forward offensively, it could turn into an absolute bargain extension for the front office.

As the Brewers look ahead, striking the right balance between affordability and competitiveness will remain essential. With several key young players already in or nearing their arbitration years, the front office should at least be opening dialogue with the players to gauge interest in potential extensions. Both Contreras and Turang have been key members to what Milwaukee is building, and rewarding them with additional security could prove to be a pivotal move for the franchise’s long-term success.