Brewers 2024-25 offseason primer: Free agents, arbitration, key dates and deadlines

Brewers club contract options

• Freddy Peralta ($8MM)
• Devin Williams ($10.5MM)
• Colin Rea ($5.5MM)
• Eric Haase ($1.4MM)

The club option decisions the Brewers have to make will be much easier. Freddy Peralta's club-friendly option of $8 million is an easy pick up for the front office. While Peralta has had his ups and downs throughout the season, that salary for a veteran team leader and front man of the rotation is a no-brainer.

Colin Rea's club option also is an easy pick up for the Crew. Rea, like Peralta, made every turn in the rotation this year remaining healthy and eating up innings. A couple poor late-season outings brought his ERA up to 4.29, but he was in the mid-3s for the majority of the season. The Brewers love what Rea has brought and it's highly likely they bring him back on this contract for next year.

Devin Williams is the toughest decision of the three. They won't be letting him hit free agency, but Williams has a $10.5 million club option that was designed to lock in his final year of arbitration. However, his arbitration projection this year is only $7.7 million, far lower than what his club option is far. This is in large part because Williams missed two-thirds of the season with a back injury. He wasn't able to rack up his usual save totals, so the raise he'd get in arbitration would be lower.

The Brewers could decline Williams' option, meaning they'd simply be going through the arbitration process one more time with him. That is, of course, if they don't trade him first, in which case his new team would have to go through the arbitration process with him.

Eric Haase is also arbitration eligible but has a club option for 2025 that's valued at $1.4 million per Spotrac. If it's declined, he's still arbitration eligible, but he's projected by MLB trade rumors to earn $1.8 million in arbitration, so picking up the option appears probable, especially with Gary Sanchez likely to hit the open market.

Brewers player contract options

• Rhys Hoskins ($18MM)

The Brewers don't usually give out player options, but they did in order to land Rhys Hoskins last offseason. Now, they have to await his decision on if he wants to return to Milwaukee for one more year or hit the open market once more.

It would appear that Hoskins is likely to opt in to his 2025 contract and return to Milwaukee. While the power numbers were solid with 26 home runs, he had his worst overall season to date. His .214/.303/.419 slash line were well below career norms and his 98 OPS+ was below league average. Combine that with Pete Alonso and Christian Walker also hitting the free agent market at first base this winter, and it's not a good time for Hoskins to test the waters.

Hoskins is unlikely to find a better deal than $18 million for the 2025 season, which means opting in and returning to Milwaukee is the smart play. It gives the Brewers an experienced first baseman in the heart of their order while their young corner infield prospects are still developing in the upper minors. If Hoskins were to leave, the Brewers would need to go out and find another stopgap solution at first base.