MLB Trade Rumors reveals Brewers arbitration salary projections for 2025

In each of the past 14 years, MLB Trade Rumors' Matt Swartz has published projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players every offseason. It's an excellent tool to reference, as historically, the figures are not far off from the ones that come to fruition over the winter even for the notoriously difficult to deal with in arbitration Milwaukee Brewers.

For those following along at home, the arbitration process is best described as an annual pay raise that certain players are eligible for every offseason. In order to qualify, said player needs at least three years of big league service time, but under six years. This is essentially a way to ensure that a player is not stuck playing for the league minimum all the way until he reaches free agency for the first time.

Things don't always work out in the players' favor, though. A team can elect not to give them a raise at all, but instead non-tender them, meaning pass on giving them a new contract at all. This usually only happens to players on the fringe of a 40-man roster spot. Alternatively, if player and club don't agree to a figure on his new contract, they go to an arbitration hearing and things can get rather awkward.

Brewers' All-Star catcher, closer up for arbitration this offseason

For next season, MLBTR projects the following arbitration salaries for Brewers players that are eligible (they are ranked by their unofficial service time):

• Hoby Milner (5.068) $2.7 million
• Aaron Civale (5.058) $8 million
• Devin Williams (5.056) $7.7 million*
• Jake Bauers (4.084) $2.3 million
• Eric Haase (3.159) $1.8 million
• William Contreras (3.112) $7.6 million
• Nick Mears (3.022) $900K
• Trevor Megill (3.002) $2 million

* Williams' contract is unique, as the Brewers hold a $10.5MM club option over him for the 2025 season. If they choose not to pick it up, they'd owe him a $250K buyout.

For those who are not math wizards, this comes out to roughly $33 million on the Brewer's upcoming payroll, which is no small number for a club that typically doesn't rank near the top of league-wide payroll leaderboards.

On the surface, most of these players feel likely to be tendered a contract. Contreras, Williams, Megill and Civale are the locks. Bauers, Milner and Haase are far from sure things. The one wild-card here is Mears, whom Milwaukee acquired at the deadline because they loved his stuff, but felt like he wasn't being utilized properly in Colorado.

Mears made 13 post-deadline appearances for the Brewers, ultimately posting a 7.30 ERA and 6.25 FIP through 12.1 innings of work. He remained a high-strikeout pitcher, but his stuff was too hittable too frequently. For just $900K, it's likely the Brewers bring him back for another go, but it's not going to be a shock if he gets non-tendered alongside the other four candidates.

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