William Contreras Agrees to One-Year, $6.1 Million Deal with Milwaukee Brewers, Avoiding Arbitration

It’s a Brew-tiful day for William Contreras.

The 27-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball catcher and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a one-year contract guaranteeing $6.1 million, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

William ContrerasContreras gets a $6 million salary this year, and the Brewers have a $12 million option for 2026 with a $100,000 buyout.

A two-time MLB All-Star, Contreras had asked for $6.5 million and had been offered $5.6 million when proposed figures were exchanged.

His deal with the reigning National League (NL) Central champions includes a team option for 2026.

Contreras batted .281 with a .365 on-base percentage, 23 homers and 92 RBIs in 155 games last year and was an All-Star for the second time in three seasons. He hit .289 in 2023 with a .367 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 78 RBIs in 141 games.

The Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America selected Contreras as the Brewers’ most valuable player in each of the past two seasons.

The Brewers acquired him from the Atlanta Braves after the 2022 season.

Willy Adames Agrees to 7-Year, $182 Million Contract with San Francisco Giants

Willy Adames has $182 million reasons to smile…

The 29-year-old Dominican professional baseball shortstop has agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, the largest outlay in franchise history, per ESPN.

Willy Adames,Adames was the Giants’ top target this winter.

With the best free agent on the market, Juan Soto, likely to choose his team in the next 48 hours, San Francisco struck a deal with Adames, who was also being considered by teams in the running for Soto. 

Adames has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ lineup for the past four seasons after arriving in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Adames’ 30-homer power is rare for a shortstop and the Giants have struggled to find a replacement for Brandon Crawford, who manned the position for 13 seasons.

The deal, which is pending a physical, breaks the franchise-record $167 million given to catcher Buster Posey, who is in his first year as the Giants’ president of baseball operations. It will include a $22 million signing bonus, according to sources.

Adames had career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (112) and stolen bases (21) in 2024 while finishing fifth in FanGraphs wins above replacement among shortstops. Adames also tied the major league record for most three-run home runs in a single season with 13, helping the Brewers to the National League Central title.

Other teams were considering using Adames as a third baseman, but the Giants will hope his glove continues to match his offensive output. Over his seven-year career, Adames has slashed .248/.322/.444 with 150 home runs, 472 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

Frankie Montas Agrees to Two-Year, $34 Million Deal with New York Mets

Frankie Montas is headed to the Big Apple.

The 31-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher, a right-hander, has agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the New York Mets, per ESPN sources.

Frankie MontasWith Montas’ deal, the Mets add a veteran to a thinned-out rotation in the team’s first free agent signing of what’s bound to be a busy winter.

Montas joins Kodai Senga and David Peterson among Mets starters after Sean ManaeaLuis Severino and Jose Quintana reached free agency.

While a reunion with any of the three pitchers who anchored New York’s playoff rotation is not out of the question, the Mets pivoted to Montas, who can opt out of the deal — which is pending a physical — after the first season.

Montas has shown flashes of frontline starter potential, with a splitter, slider and cutter complementing a fastball that sits around 96 mph.

The Cincinnati Reds gave him a one-year, $16 million deal last year despite Montas throwing only 1⅓ innings in 2023 following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The team eventually traded Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers and he finished the season with a 4.84 ERA over 150⅔ innings, with 148 strikeouts, 66 walks and 24 home runs allowed.

With the free agency of the three pitchers, first baseman Pete Alonso, designated hitter J.D. Martinez, outfielder Harrison Bader and the ending of payments on Justin Verlander‘s and Max Scherzer‘s salaries, the Mets have shaved around $150 million off their payroll from last season.

They remain among the favorites to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who shares an agent, Scott Boras, with Montas. New York has engaged in conversations about a vast array of free agents beyond Soto, though signing him to a record deal would not preclude the Mets from pursuing other big names.

New York is coming off a surprising run to the National League Championship Series. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Mets, they snuck into the playoffs with a furious late-season run, ousted Milwaukee in the wild-card round, thumped Philadelphia in the division series and pushed the NLCS to six games against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Starting pitching was a fundamental part of their run. Despite losing Senga, their Opening Day starter, for the majority of the season, the Mets finished with a 3.91 starters’ ERA, getting better-than-expected seasons from Manaea, Severino and Quintana, all of whom were signed to short-term deals similar to Montas’.

Houston Astros Star Jose Altuve Earns Silver Slugger Award for the Seventh Time

Jose Altuve has earned another special MLB prize…

The 34-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman led the field of Silver Slugger honorees, picking up the award for the seventh time in his career.

Jose AltuveMajor League Baseball revealed the 2024 Silver Sluggers on Tuesday, as voted on by major league managers and coaches. The group features seven first-time winners and 14 different clubs with at least one honoree.

Altuve was picked as the American League second baseman winner after he batted .295 with a .789 OPS, 20 home runs, 31 doubles and 65 RBIs in 153 games in 2024. He was an MLB All-Star for the ninth time.

Other Latino players to win in the American League include Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielders Juan Soto of the New York Yankees and Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles.

Latino players receiving Silver Slugger awards in the National League include Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny MachadoNew York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The full list of winners is as follows:

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Second base: Altuve, Astros
Third base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Outfield: Judge, Yankees; Juan Soto, Yankees; Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
Designated hitter: Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics
Utility: Josh Smith, Texas Rangers

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
First base: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Second base: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Third base: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Outfield: Jackson Merrill, Padres; Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers; Jurickson Profar, Padres
Designated hitter: Ohtani, Dodgers
Utility: Betts, Dodgers

Houston Astros Slugger Yordan Alvarez Named a Starter for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game

Yordan Alvarez will be getting in the game…

The 27-year-old Cuban professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros has been named a starter for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Yordan AlvarezAlvarez is now a three-time MLB All-Star and will make his first starting assignment after making the American League (AL) team as a reserve in 2022 and 2023.

With this fan election, he is now the first Houston designated hitter to win the honor.

Alvarez topped the Orioles DH Ryan O’Hearn in the final fan vote, garnering 52% of the votes. The Astros designated hitter and left fielder is hitting .297 (93×313) with 19 doubles, 18 homers, 46 RBI and a .910 OPS in 82 games this season.

But Alvarez isn’t the only Astros player to make the starting roster…

For the ninth time, Jose Altuve has been selected as an MBL All Star and the sixth time he has been elected as a starter.

Altuve, who already owns the most MLB All-Star nominations in Astros history, joins Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar (9) and Rod Carew (6) as the only AL second basemen to win six fan elections.

He earned his starting assignment this season by topping the Rangers 2B Marcus Semien in the final vote, by taking 55% of the total votes.

Altuve is having another stellar season, hitting .308 (106×344) with 17 doubles, 13 homers, 38 RBI, 13 stolen bases and an .828 OPS in 83 games,” the Astros said.

Other Latino American League MLB All-Star Game starters include Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians and Juan Soto of the New York Yankees.

Latinos set to represent the National League as starters include Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres.

The game is set for Tuesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

Here’s a look at the starters:

NL All-Star starters:
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Trae Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers
Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres

AL All-Star starters:
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Thyago Vieira Acquired by Arizona Diamondbacks

Thyago Vieira is headed to the Grand Canyon State.

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed the 31-year-old Brazilian right-handed pitcher off waivers on Thursday following his one-game stint with the Baltimore Orioles.

Thyago VieiraVieira was designated for assignment on Monday by the Orioles, who acquired him and minor league pitcher Aneuris Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 25 for minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings.

Vieira’s lone appearance for the Orioles was May 27, when he didn’t retire a batter while allowing a triple, four walks and three runs in an 11-3 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox.

The Brewers designated him for assignment on May 20 after he recorded one save with a 5.64 ERA, 13 walks and 25 strikeouts in 22⅓ innings over 16 relief appearances.

In parts of five seasons with the Seattle Mariners (2017), Chicago White Sox (2018-19), Brewers (2023-24) and Orioles, Vieira is 2-2 with two saves, a 6.71 ERA, 32 walks and 51 strikeouts in 51 innings over 42 relief appearances.

Baltimore Orioles Acquire Thyago Vieira From Milwaukee Brewers

Thyago Vieira is headed to Maryland.

The Baltimore Orioles have acquired the 31-year-old Brazilian professional baseball pitcher and reliever in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Thyago Vieira,Baltimore got Vieira and minor league pitcher Aneuris Rodriguez from Milwaukee for minor league right-hander Garrett Stallings.

Vieira had no record and a 5.64 ERA in 16 appearances with Milwaukee this season before he was designated for assignment Monday.

The right-hander is 2-2 with two saves and a 6.18 ERA in 41 career big league appearances, also playing for the Seattle Mariners and the Chicago White Sox.

Stallings was a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2019 amateur draft. He went 0-1 with a 5.67 ERA in 11 games, four starts, for Triple-A Norfolk this season.

Gary Sánchez Signs One-Year Contract with Milwaukee Brewers

Things are brewing for Gary Sánchez.

The Milwaukee Brewers have signed the 31-year-old Dominican professional baseball catcher to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2025.

Sánchez hit 19 homers last season while playing for the San Diego Padres and New York Mets.

In 75 games, he had a .217 batting average with a .288 on-base percentage, .492 slugging percentage and 47 RBIs.

He played three games for the Mets and 72 games for the Padres.

Sanchez owns a .225 career batting average with a .309 on-base percentage, 173 homers and 448 RBIs in 741 regular-season games with the New York Yankees (2015-2021), Minnesota Twins (2022), Mets and Padres.

The Brewers already have William Contreras returning at catcher after he batted .289 with a .367 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 78 RBIs last season to help Milwaukee win the National League Central title. Contreras was selected as the Brewers’ most valuable player last season by the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Milwaukee lost its backup catcher from last season when Victor Caratini signed with the Houston Astros, though the Brewers have since signed Eric Haase to a major league deal and Austin Nola to a minor league deal. The Brewers also could choose to have both Contreras and Sánchez in the lineup by making one of them a designated hitter.

To make room on the roster, the Brewers designated infielder Jahmai Jones for assignment.

The Brewers on Wednesday also made official their signing of injured right-hander Brandon Woodruff to a two-year deal.

The backloaded $17.5 million contract includes a mutual option for the 2026 season.

Woodruff is expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season while he recovers from shoulder surgery.

“I’ll take it day to day, week to week, month to month, see where I’m at, at the end of the year,” Woodruff said. “If it makes sense, maybe. If not, I’ll be ready to go for ’25.”

Woodruff will receive $2.5 million this year and $5 million in 2025. The deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2026 with a $10 million buyout, half payable January 15, 2026, and the remainder July 15, 2026. The contract also grants Woodruff a full no-trade provision and a hotel suite on road trips.

Yasmani Grandal Reportedly Agrees to One-Year, $2.5 Million Contract with Pittsburgh Pirates

It’s all hands on deck for Yasmani Grandal.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are adding the 35-year-old Cuban professional baseball catcher, a two-time MLB All-Star, according to multiple ESPN reports.

Yasmani GrandalThe Pirates and Grandal have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, according to the reports.

Pittsburgh is searching for depth at catcher with Endy Rodriguez — who started 57 games in 2023 as a rookie — already ruled out for 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in December. He got injured while playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic.

Grandal would join a catching situation that includes 2021 first overall pick Henry Davis, Jason Delay and Ali Sanchez.

Grandal is a career .237 hitter while playing for four teams across 12 seasons, including the past four years with the Chicago White Sox.

Grandal hit .234 with eight home runs and had 33 RBIs in 118 games with the White Sox in 2023.

The Pirates have remained bullish that Davis can become an every-day catcher even though he spent the vast majority of his rookie season playing right field. Adding Grandal gives the Pirates a little bit of flexibility as Davis continues to refine his work defensively.

Grandal provided power at the plate during his prime. He has topped 20 home runs in a season five times, most recently with Chicago in 2021. He made a pair of All-Star teams earlier in his career, first in 2015 while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and again in 2019 while with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Christian Arroyo Agrees to Minor League Deal with Milwaukee Brewers

Things are brewing for Christian Arroyo.

The 28-year-old half-Puerto Rican professional baseball player has agreed to a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Christian Arroyo An infielder, Arroyo hit .241 with a .268 on-base percentage, 3 homers and 24 RBIs in 66 games for the Boston Red Soxlast season. He played primarily second base but also made appearances at shortstop and third base.

He also has big league experience at first base and right field.

Arroyo has a .252 batting average, a .299 on-base percentage, 24 homers and 120 RBIs in 295 regular-season games. He has played for San Francisco (2017), Tampa Bay (2018-19), Cleveland (2020) and Boston (2020-23).