Jake Bauers’ rise from a player the Brewers once moved on from to one of the biggest names in Milwaukee’s championship run took another stunning turn Monday.
The Brewers extended Bauers a qualifying offer, which would lock in a $23.15 million contract for 2027 if he accepts. The first baseman was one of eight players to receive the offer before Monday’s 4 p.m. CT deadline.
The rest of that group includes Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena, New York Yankees right-handed reliever David Bednar, Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe, San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, Baltimore Orioles left-handed starter Trevor Rogers and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Each player has until Nov. 17 to decide whether to accept and stay put or test free agency, where draft-pick compensation could make the market tougher to navigate.
For Bauers, the offer marks a dramatic shift in fortune. Two offseasons ago, Milwaukee nontendered him after a rough stretch that had him considering retirement.
He had hit .199/.301/.361 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games, and after being nontendered, he and his wife learned she was pregnant. Bauers then re-signed with the Brewers so the family could keep health insurance.
From there, everything changed in 2026. Bauers made $2.7 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility and delivered the best season of his career, leading the Brewers with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs while batting .266/.389/.484.
He carried that production right into October, becoming a major piece of Milwaukee’s march to its first World Series title. His biggest damage came in the NLCS against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bauers finished that series 4-for-14, but he drove in six runs and delivered the swing that stood out most: a two-run homer after an 11-pitch battle in the seventh inning of Game 3, pushing Milwaukee ahead 3-2 in a game the Brewers won 6-2. The blast came immediately after he had sent a long foul ball that would have been a home run.
Some outlets had projected Bauers for a three-year deal worth about $15 million per year. Instead, Milwaukee’s qualifying offer puts a much bigger number on the table: $23.15 million if he chooses to take it.
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