Back in January, arbitration-eligible players and teams who did not come to an agreement on a salary for the 2026 season at the deadline had to file for the salary they thought the player deserved. This year, 18 players exchanged figures with their clubs to head to arbitration. The Brewers had just one player among that 18, the same one they couldn’t agree with at the deadline last year, William Contreras.
Now that we’re into spring training, the hearings are all done and the verdicts delivered. Some of the 18 players were able to settle with their teams before going into a hearing, however.
The Brewers and William Contreras were one such example of that. Contreras filed for a $9.9 million salary while the Brewers filed at $8.55 million, but ultimately, just before heading into a hearing, the two settled on a $9.4 million salary with a club option for $14.5 million in 2027, Contreras’ last year of team control. That $9.4 million salary figure is a new record for a second-year arb-eligible catcher.
Here’s a quick rundown on the rest of the players who filed for salary figures after that January deadline:
- Reid Detmers (filed at $2.925 million, Angels at $2.625 million) – Angels won hearing
- Yainer Díaz (filed at $4.5 million, Astros at $3 million) – Díaz won hearing
- Isaac Paredes (filed at $9.95 million, Astros at $8.75 million) – Agreed to $9.35 million contract with club option for 2027 at $13.35 million
- Eric Lauer (filed at $5.75 million, Blue Jays at $4.4 million) – Blue Jays won hearing
- Dylan Lee (filed at $2.2 million, Braves at $2 million) – Lee won hearing
- Bryce Miller (filed at $2.625 million, Mariners at $2.25 million) – Agreed to a $2.4375 million contract with club option for 2027 at $6.075 million
- Calvin Faucher (filed at $2.05 million, Marlins at $1.8 million) – Marlins won hearing
- Cade Cavalli (filed at $900,000, Nationals at $825,000) – Agreed to a $870,000 contract with a club option for 2027 at $4 million
- Kyle Bradish (filed at $3.55 million, Orioles at $2.875 million) – Bradish won hearing
- Keegan Akin (filed at $3.375 million, Orioles at $2.975 million) – Orioles won hearing
- Edwin Uceta (filed at $1.525 million, Rays at $1.2 million) – Uceta won hearing
- Graham Ashcraft (filed at $1.75 million, Reds at $1.25 million) – Ashcraft won hearing
- Tyler Stephenson (filed at $6.8 million, Reds at$6.55 million) – Stephenson won hearing
- Vinnie Pasquantino (filed at $4.5 million, Royals at $4 million) – Agreed to a two-year, $11.1 million contract that pays $4.2 million in 2026
- Kris Bubic (filed at $6.15 million, Royals at $5.15 million) – Bubic won hearing
- Tarik Skubal (filed at $32 million, Tigers at $19 million) – Skubal won hearing
- Joe Ryan (filed at $6.35 million, Twins at $5.85 million) – Agreed to $6.1 million contract with club option for 2027 at $13 million
Overall, 12 of the 18 players ended up going to hearings, with the players going 8-4 in those hearings. Six players, including William Contreras, were able to settle with the club prior to heading into the hearing. It was a good year for the players in 2026.