The Milwaukee Brewers made progress on their offseason roster decisions Friday, reaching a one-year agreement with first baseman and corner outfielder Jake Bauers while preparing to move forward in the arbitration process with the rest of their eligible players. The club and Bauers settled on a $2.7 million deal for 2026, allowing both sides to avoid arbitration ahead of the leaguewide tender deadline.

All teams were required to decide by 4 p.m. CT whether to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players, a procedural step that ensures those players continue through the salary arbitration system. For players with several years of service time but not enough to qualify for full free agency, arbitration determines their salary unless a deal is reached beforehand. Clubs sometimes choose to non-tender players they project will earn more than the team is willing to commit, immediately sending those players into free agency.

Milwaukee chose to move ahead with its remaining six arbitration cases, a group that includes two especially interesting situations: All-Star catcher William Contreras and outfielder Garrett Mitchell.

Contreras, who has been one of the Brewers’ most productive players since arriving via trade, landed in the arbitration pool after the team declined his $12 million club option for 2026. While the Brewers value his impact both offensively and defensively, the front office calculated that he could come in below the option figure through arbitration, making the tender path more financially efficient.

Mitchell’s case is more complicated because his young career has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries. The former first-round pick suffered a left oblique injury early in the season, and during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville, he reinjured the shoulder he previously had surgically repaired. That setback required another season-ending surgery. Still, Milwaukee remains optimistic about Mitchell’s future. When he visited the team at Dodger Stadium during the NLCS, the organization believed he was progressing toward a full return by the start of Spring Training.

While those decisions will unfold over the coming weeks, the Brewers already have clarity on Bauers’ role for next season. The 30-year-old enjoyed a steady 2025 after a tumultuous path the prior winter. Last offseason, Milwaukee removed him from the 40-man roster before the non-tender deadline, leading Bauers to elect free agency. He eventually returned on a Minor League deal with a spring invite and played his way onto the Opening Day roster.

Bauers contributed as a versatile option across first base, designated hitter, and both corner-outfield positions. In 218 plate appearances, he posted a .235/.353/.399 slash line with seven home runs, providing on-base ability and adaptable depth. The new agreement ensures he will remain part of the Brewers’ positional mix as they look to build on their 2025 campaign.