The Milwaukee Brewers are drawing a pretty clear line when it comes to William Contreras: don’t bother calling unless you’re talking extension, not trade.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Milwaukee is telling interested teams that Contreras is staying put. The club also wants to work out a contract extension with its All-Star catcher, reinforcing the idea that he remains a core piece of what the Brewers are building.
At the same time, the Brewers are taking a different approach with Trevor Megill. Milwaukee is listening to trade offers for the closer, which gives the front office two very different paths as it tries to manage its championship roster.
None of this comes out of nowhere. Earlier reports had already pointed to Contreras as unlikely to move, while Megill was seen as a possible trade candidate.
Contreras is still at the center of Milwaukee’s plans after helping the franchise win its first World Series championship. He was named World Series MVP and finished the regular season with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs.
The Brewers exercised his $15.5 million club option for 2027, but that still leaves him on track to reach free agency after next season unless the two sides can agree on an extension.
Megill is on a similar clock. The veteran closer posted 30 saves with a 2.63 ERA in 63 appearances in 2026.
Milwaukee has shown before that it’s willing to move established pitchers who are getting close to free agency, with Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta all having been traded in the past. That history is part of why Megill keeps coming up in trade chatter.
Even so, being open to offers doesn’t mean a deal is coming. The Brewers could easily decide the return isn’t worth weakening the bullpen and keep Megill in place.
For now, the message is straightforward: Contreras is staying behind the plate, and Milwaukee is keeping its options open with Megill. The real issue is whether the Brewers can lock up their catcher long term before free agency gets too close.
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