2026 Brewers Positional Analysis: Catcher – Brewers

Since William Contreras came to visit in a 3-group commerce again in December 2022, catcher has been a secure place for the oft-churning Milwaukee Brewers. His well being and manufacturing are essential to the Brewers’ success in 2026, and reuniting him with an outdated buddy as a backup ought to present a really succesful duo behind the plate.

BREWERS CATCHERS AT A GLANCE:
Starter: William Contreras
Backup: Gary Sanchez
Depth: Reese McGuire*
Prospects: Jeferson Quero, Marco Dinges

*On a minor-league deal; might choose out if not added to lively roster by a sure date
Brewers fWAR Ranking Last Year: sixth out of 30
Brewers fWAR Projection This Year: fifth out of 30

THE GOOD
A two-time All-Star with two Silver Sluggers in his cupboard, Contreras appeared in 150 video games for the Brewers final yr, hitting .260/.355/.399 with 17 house runs. Those numbers have been down from the previous three seasons, as his OPS was the bottom he is had with the Brewers. However, his manufacturing nonetheless wasn’t unhealthy. Contreras was an above-common hitter, with an OPS+ of 111 (100 is common; greater is best). Much of the decreased manufacturing traces to a fractured left center finger that he performed by way of a lot of the 2025 season. Defensively, Contreras was good in 2025. His throwing accuracy improved, and his framing and blocking have been additionally above-common. Now, with the harm points (hopefully) behind him, Contreras will look to get again to his earlier stage of offensive output.

A two-time All-Star fellow (though these honors got here in 2017 and 2019), Gary Sánchez returns to the Brewers after a yr away in Baltimore. Like Contreras, Sánchez handled accidents final yr. He was sidelined with wrist irritation early within the season, and had a extreme knee sprain that pressured him onto the 60-day IL in early July. Sánchez is nicely previous his peak offensively. He was slightly below common when final he performed for the Crew, with a 94 OPS+ by way of a slash line of .220/.307/.392 and 11 house runs in 280 plate appearances. Defensively, Sánchez grades out significantly worse than Contreras, however he is playable there. He will present most of his worth together with his bat in 2026 and can look to contribute on Contreras’s days off behind the plate—in addition to in occasional spots within the designated hitter position.

Reese McGuire is the third veteran catcher within the group, and will see a job in 2026. I wrote about him probably contributing within the house run column earlier than the Brewers signed Sánchez, and that would nonetheless be an choice if one of many two names above goes down with an harm—and if McGuire stays within the group. McGuire had a profession yr in 2025 with the rival Cubs, hitting 9 house runs in 44 video games. However, McGuire has by no means performed greater than 89 video games in a season, so do not count on him to hit that quantity this yr except catastrophe strikes. The 31-yr-outdated is enough catching depth, and that is the position he may play in 2026 for the Brew Crew.

THE BAD
There aren’t numerous downsides for this place group outdoors of accidents, however one factor to keep watch over is opponents stealing bases. The Brewers have carried out a very good job containing the operating sport (.49 stolen bases allowed per sport in 2025, 2nd-fewest in MLB), and they’re going to look to proceed that in 2026. However, Contreras gave up a little bit of sheer arm power to be extra correct this season. If he continues to lose steam and an inexperienced pitching employees struggles to carry runners, they could lose that elite standing in steals prevention.

THE BOTTOM LINE
This place group has the best-rating fWAR projection of any division of the Brewers roster, for good cause. Contreras is a key cog within the Brewers’ profitable machine. Keeping him on the sector and wholesome must be a precedence. Looking forward, he will not be a free agent till after 2027, however creating a successor must be a precedence.

Jeferson Quero and Marco Dinges are each prime-10 prospects within the Brewers’ farm system, in response to MLB.com. However, quick-time period success depends solely on Contreras, and the more than likely final result is that he is among the greatest catchers in MLB this season. All different concerns are mere emergency fallback plans.