Brewers: The 10 Biggest Contracts in Franchise History

Here are the ten biggest contracts in Brewers franchise history.

#7 (Tied): 2B Rickie Weeks – Four Years, $38.5MM

Coming off of his best season in 2010 where he led the league in plate appearances, at bats, and hit-by-pitches, the Brewers went ahead and locked up Rickie Weeks for the next four years. With injuries playing a bit of a role in his first season on the long-term contract, Weeks copied and pasted his season from a year ago, enough so to notch his first career All-Star appearance.

Weeks ended up finishing his contract with the Brewers before going to Seattle. By the end of his tenure he finished top 10 in the Brewers’ all-time list in multiple categories such as at-bats, plate appearances, runs scored, doubles, triples, and walks.

#7 (Tied): SP Ben Sheets – Four Years, $38.5MM

At the time of the extension signing, the four-year, $38.5MM contract given to Ben Sheets was the biggest contract in Brewers history. The two-time All-Star deserved every penny and continued to show out on his new contract as he earned two more All-Star appearances, as well as becoming the first Brewers pitcher to start a midsummer classic.

Sheets ended his time in Milwaukee as an All-Star, pitching a 3.09 ERA, as well as leading the league in shutouts (3). As the franchise’s second-leading pitcher in strikeouts (1206) and bWAR (25.6), he ranks as one of the greatest pitchers in Milwaukee history.

#6: SP Jeff Suppan – Four Years, $42MM

A majority of fans tend to look at this contract as possibly one of the biggest busts in franchise history as far as free agent signings go. Jeff Suppan wouldn’t even make it to the end of his contract, being released by the team midway through his fourth and final year of the deal.

Appearing in 110 games with the Brewers from 2007 to 2010, Suppan posted a 5.08 ERA while finishing with a 29-36 record. The lowest ERA he would end up putting up in a single season would be 4.62 in the first season of his contract.

#5: OF Ryan Braun – Eight Years, $45MM

Coming off of a phenomenal 2007 rookie season where he won the Rookie of the Year and finished 24th in the MVP voting, Ryan Braun jumped on his first big contract. Things only got better from there.

Braun spent the next five seasons piling up All-Star appearances and Silver Slugger awardswinner, as well as finishing top 15 in MVP voting every year, actually winning the award in the team’s 2011 playoff season. He led the National League in hits in 2009, slugging and OPS in 2011, and runs, homers, and OPS in 2012.