At the start of the offseason, we looked at the initial payroll projection for 2026. While not much has changed to the roster since then, there have been some adjustments. As the end of January approaches, and pitchers and catchers are set to report in just 13 days, the starting payroll is getting closer to a set amount. Let’s take a look at what has changed since then. (If you want to review the original projection from the end of October, you can find that post here.)
Milwaukee, WI
Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cleveland Guardians
The Milwaukee Brewers have surprised a lot of observers of the sport this year. They’ve gotten out to baseball’s largest division lead despite losing their best player and their longtime, highly respected manager, despite a season-long injury to Brandon Woodruff, despite their All-Star closer not getting his first save of the season until August. Most pundits picked them to finish fourth or fifth in the National League Central.
Perhaps the only team in the majors that has been more surprising than the Brewers this year is the Cleveland Guardians. Many expected that Cleveland would be one of several teams that could compete for a relatively weak American League Central, but they certainly weren’t the favorite: they were 76-86 last season, and there weren’t any major offseason additions that would make them a clear favorite. Additionally, their best starting pitcher, Shane Bieber, made only two starts before going down with a UCL injury that required Tommy John surgery.
It turns out none of it has mattered. Cleveland improbably jumped out to the best record in baseball, where they still sit at 72-49, a half-game ahead of the Yankees for the league’s best record. And they’ve got a comfortable 4.5-game lead on the Minnesota Twins (the preseason favorite) in the AL Central.
How have they managed it? The number one reason is that that they’ve got the best bullpen ERA in the league…by more than half a run. Emmanuel Clase has been the best reliever in baseball this season (a 0.64 ERA and only seven walks through 56 1⁄3 innings), but it’s not just him: Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Tim Herrin all have ERAs of 2.20 or lower in at least 49 innings.
They’ve also gotten solid production from their lineup, led by José Ramirez, who I think might make it to the Hall of Fame one day. A perennial MVP candidate that seemingly no one ever thinks about, Ramírez this season has 31 homers, 98 RBIs, 27 doubles, and 27 stolen bases in 30 tries. He’s on pace to surpass 5 WAR for the fourth straight season, and for the sixth time since 2016. He’s backed up in the lineup by Steven Kwan, who is no longer flirting with a .400 batting average, but who is third in the league in hitting at .325. Josh Naylor, for the third straight season, is providing a valuable run-producing role, as he has 26 homers and 88 runs batted in. One other player with solid production this year: former Brewers farmhand David Fry, who made an All-Star team this year as a 28-year-old DH in his second season. Fry was the PTBNL in the March 2022 trade for reliever J.C. Mejía. That one didn’t work out.
It’s worth noting that the last couple of weeks have been a little strange for the Guardians. From August 3-9, Cleveland lost seven in a row, their longest skid of the season by far. But they have won five in a row since then: the last two of a four-game set in Minnesota and a three-game sweep of the Cubs.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, August 16 @ 7:10 p.m: Aaron Civale (4.88 ERA, 5.47 FIP) vs. Gavin Williams (4.38 ERA, 3.18 FIP)
Gavin Williams is a second-year pitcher who just turned 25 at the end of July. He had an excellent rookie season in which he had a 3.29 ERA in 82 innings across 16 starts. Things have not been as smooth in 2024—he has a 4.38 ERA in 39 innings—but his FIP is just 3.18, and he’s done a good job striking out batters (9.7 per nine) and limiting homers (only three in 39 innings). Williams missed the first three months of the season after suffering an elbow injury in spring training, so he may still be settling in. He is coming off his best start of the year: six innings, four hits, one run, and no walks in a 2-1 victory over the Twins on Saturday.
Aaron Civale is also coming off one of his best starts this season: 6 1⁄3 innings and two runs allowed in an 8-3 victory over Cincinnati last Friday.
Saturday, August 17 @ 6:15 p.m: Freddy Peralta (4.11 ERA, 4.14 FIP) vs. Tanner Bibee (3.39 ERA, 3.40 FIP)
Freddy Peralta’s frustrating season continued Monday, when he allowed two two-run homers in six innings against the Dodgers in a 5-2 loss. He’s faced some good pitching lately (including two recent matchups with one of the NL’s Cy Young frontrunners in Chris Sale), and he’ll do so again on Saturday as he takes on Cleveland’s best starting pitcher this season, Tanner Bibee.
Bibee has allowed two or fewer runs in each of his last four starts, and on the season he’s 10-4 with solid peripherals (9.7 K/9, 2.2 BB/9). Bibee, who is 25 and right-handed, is in his second year, and he’s been quite good in both.
Sunday, August 18 @ 1:10 p.m: Colin Rea (3.72 ERA, 4.56 FIP) vs. Ben Lively (3.71 ERA, 5.02 FIP)
Ben Lively (no relation to Blake, as far as I know) is a bit of a journeyman: he’s 32 and first appeared in the majors with Kansas City in 2017 but this is the first season in which he has reached 100 innings pitched in the majors. He didn’t appear in a major league game between 2019 and 2023, when he resurfaced with Cincinnati. He’s had a reasonably good season, at 10-7 with a 3.71 ERA, but there’s some reason for dubiousness, as his 5.02 FIP is significantly higher than his ERA. He doesn’t strike out many batters and gives up some walks and homers, all indicators of trouble, but he’s managed to limit damage this season.
Lively’s not completely unlike his counterpart on Sunday, Colin Rea, who has been excellent for much of the season but got shelled by Los Angeles on Tuesday. Rea and Lively have nearly identical ERAs on the season, though that bad outing against the Dodgers inflated Rea’s, and while Rea’s FIP isn’t as bad as Lively’s it’s still a solid tick higher than his ERA at 4.56.
Prediction
Cleveland comes in having won five in a row and they are thus hotter than Milwaukee, but they lost seven straight before that, so Milwaukee actually has the better record over the last two weeks. I’ll give Milwaukee the edge because they’re at home, but it should be a close, fun series between two of baseball’s best.
Milwaukee County officials are calling for an “emergency action” after learning that the contract covering health insurance for thousands of county employees has lapsed.
During a Jan. 29 committee on finance meeting, Milwaukee County Supervisors learned that the county’s health care contract with UnitedHealthcare expired at the end of last year. County Corporation Counsel Scott Brown said the contract is one of the “single most important contracts in the county.”
“I think there’s enormous risk to us operating … without this contract,” Brown said.
News with a little more humanity
WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” newsletter keeps you connected to the state you love without feeling overwhelmed. No paywall. No agenda. No corporate filter.
The county’s deputy corporation counsel William Davidson said there could be “catastrophic risk” if the county does not move to approve a contract soon. He said the ability for county employees to “receive and pay for services might be affected.”
Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor said he was angry, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
“This is crazy,” Taylor said.
In an interview with WPR Friday evening, Taylor said more than 3,000 county employees are covered by the plan. He said coverage for employees is continuing under the old contract. However, Brown said if an employee does have a large claim before a new contract is signed, the lapse could leave UnitedHealthcare “in a position to deny it.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who is running for governor as a Democrat, said Crowley has “directed administration officials to resolve the situation and work with the Board of Supervisors to approve the contract next week.”
During the Jan. 29 meeting, Milwaukee County Human Resources Director Tony Maze said he hired an outside actuary to do the request for proposals for a health plan for employees in an attempt to save money. When pressed about the issue by county supervisors, Maze said he did not follow the county’s rules for the request for proposal process.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Anne O’Connor called for an emergency meeting Monday morning in response to what she called “damage control mode.”
“I feel like what I am hearing is extremely concerning, to the point where I think we have to consider some emergency action, ” O’Connor said.
That meeting will be held Monday at 10 a.m.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2026, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
Here are some reminders for the projection.
- The majority of these numbers are from Spotrac, which has estimated payroll numbers for all MLB teams.
- Per the CBA, the minimum salary for players in 2026 is $780,000. Any pre-arbitration player has this salary listed by default. These salaries can be slightly different for each player, but not by a significant amount.
- This is not a roster projection for 2026. Some players on this list are currently in the organization but may be planned for a minor league role. This is just in place to show what a minimum commitment would be. Minimum salaries can be swapped out for any other minimum salary player that would be in the minors.
- While I do not think the Brewers will break camp with 14 position players and 12 pitchers, that is how it is set up below due to current commitments. That will change before the season.
- In the initial payroll for 2026, I included the declined options after the 2025 season. Spotrac has moved those numbers to the 2025 season, so I have also adjusted for that to keep the numbers consistent.
- The final projected payroll for 2025 was $156,266,827, per Spotrac. That was 18th in MLB.
First, here are the projections for the initial roster.
Position Players |
Bench Players |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| C – William Contreras | $9,900,000* | C – Jeferson Quero | $780,000 |
| 1B – Andrew Vaughn | $7,650,000 | 1B – Jake Bauers | $2,700,000 |
| 2B – Brice Turang | $4,150,000 | UT – Andruw Monasterio | $780,000 |
| 3B – Caleb Durbin | $780,000 | OF – Garrett Mitchell | $950,000 |
| SS – Joey Ortiz | $780,000 | OF – Akil Baddoo | $1,250,000 |
| LF – Jackson Chourio | $7,000,000 | ||
| CF – Blake Perkins | $780,000 | ||
| RF – Sal Frelick | $780,000 | ||
| DH – Christian Yelich | $26,000,000 | ||
| Total | $57,820,000 | Total | $6,460,000 |
Starting Pitchers |
Relief Pitchers |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Woodruff | $22,025,000 | Aaron Ashby | $5,700,000 |
| Quinn Priester | $780,000 | Trevor Megill | $4,700,000 |
| Jacob Misiorowski | $780,000 | Angel Zerpa | $1,095,000 |
| Chad Patrick | $780,000 | Abner Uribe | $780,000 |
| Logan Henderson | $780,000 | Jared Koenig | $780,000 |
| Grant Anderson | $780,000 | ||
| DL Hall | $780,000 | ||
| Total | $25,145,000 | Total | $14,615,000 |
Summary |
Amount |
|---|---|
| Position Players | $57,820,000 |
| Bench Players | $6,460,000 |
| Starting Pitchers | $25,145,000 |
| Relief Pitchers | $14,615,000 |
| Initial Total for 2026 | $104,040,000 |
Here’s a summary of what has changed since the original payroll:
- Brandon Woodruff accepted his qualifying offer. That added his $22.025 million salary into the payroll. Even though Woodruff accepted the offer, he will also receive the buyout for his option being declined (that is factored into 2025 payroll).
- William Contreras is the one player who still has a pending arbitration decision. Currently, he is estimated at $9.9 million, which is what he filed for. The Brewers filed for an $8.55 million salary. A deal could still happen before the hearing, but the salary will be somewhere between those two numbers.
- Every other player that is in an arbitration year agreed to their salary. The contract amounts have been added above.
- The following players have been removed: Freddy Peralta, Isaac Collins, Nick Mears
- The following players have been added: Brandon Woodruff, Ángel Zerpa, Akil Baddoo
The total above is just the initial total based on the projected active roster. However, there’s still more money to factor in to the payroll. If you compare it to the active roster at the end of the season, the Brewers only had just over $84 million of their $156 million total on the active roster. Here’s where the rest of the payroll came from. (Some rounding is used in the table, so actual amounts will be slightly different.)
Source |
Amount |
|---|---|
| Injured List (End of Season) | $15,800,000 |
| Traded/Released Players (Not on roster at end of season) | $15,200,000 |
| Declined Options | $16,600,000 |
| Deferred Salaries | $2,800,000 |
| Player Benefits | $18,000,000 |
| Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool | $1,666,666 |
| Minor-League Contracts | $2,700,000 |
| Total | $72,766,666 |
Some of those numbers will be in the 2026 payroll as well. Specifically, the last four numbers will be very similar to 2025. The first three will be different in 2026. For the moment, there will not be any options to consider after the 2026 season, so that number can be ignored.
As for the other two numbers, it’s difficult to include a solid projection. Those numbers can easily be inflated by circumstances during the season. For example, if we looked at the injured list at the end of 2024, that was highly inflated due to Yelich finishing the season on it. If we go back to 2022, the traded/release player number was significantly higher because Lorenzo Cain’s final year salary was included. That would also result in the active payroll having a lower figure due to the changes in players, but those numbers end up in the IL or traded/released categories instead.
There’s one other factor that Spotrac considers in their payroll estimate. Even though the initial projection factors in 26 players, Spotrac adds in the payroll for 12 additional pre-arbitration players. Considering the Brewers were paying for seven IL players and eight players not on the team anymore (not counting two who were paid under $10,000), adding in 12 more players is a reasonable estimate. Those 12 players would make $9.36 million total. (Spotrac uses a slightly higher $820,000 estimate for pre-arbitration players, but the CBA minimum is at $780,000.)
What we can expect for 2026 is similar to the 2025 payroll. In terms of cash payroll, the total will at most be around that $156 million mark. The Brewers have been in the $140-$156 million range in recent years and that likely will not change. With that in mind, here’s a comprehensive look at the estimated payroll for 2026.
Source |
Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial Projected Roster | $104,040,000 |
| Additional Roster Players | $9,360,000 |
| Deferred Salaries | $2,800,000 |
| Player Benefits | $18,000,000 |
| Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool | $1,666,666 |
| Minor-League Contracts | $2,700,000 |
| Initial Payroll Projection | $138,566,666 |
That leaves $17.4 million in potential additional payroll space. That extra space would be needed for the team to make in-season moves. It gives them the ability to take on money in contracts for players acquired by trade. It would also factor in contracts for players who make the team that are on minor league contracts (such as the recently signed Reese McGuire). It also gives them the opportunity to bring in a low-cost contract in spring training if the team has a sudden need.
With the overall quiet offseason for the Brewers, the payroll appears to be heading to a similar point in 2026. Any space remaining will be needed for in-season flexibility. There is potential for a smaller signing, since the team gained $7 million in space after trading Peralta. However, the team may be content to just save that money for now. If that’s the case, what we’re looking at will be close to the current spending plan for next season.
Food For Health is transforming community health in Milwaukee by using the power of food as medicine.
According to President and CEO Katherine Koshgarian, the organization is Wisconsin’s first and only accredited medically tailored meal program provider, offering a comprehensive, medical-grade intervention designed to prevent, manage, and even reverse diet-related disease.
Beyond meals, Food For Health provides education, support and community-centered programming to address the root causes of health disparities.
As a community-based organization, Food For Health serves as a hub where people of all ages feel safe, supported and connected. Its mission extends beyond the building’s walls through the delivery of individually prepared, packaged and nutritious meals straight to participants’ doorsteps, removing barriers such as transportation and lack of access.
Each medically tailored meal is created with fresh, whole ingredients and customized to a person’s specific health condition, functioning much like a prescription—only in the form of food.
Food For Health’s impact is measurable and significant. In one six-month program, 89% of participants lowered dangerously high A1C levels into the normal range; 74% brought their blood pressure into normal range, and participants collectively lost nearly 3,000 pounds.
Watch: Food For Health is fighting disease and disparities through medically tailored meals
Food For Health is fighting disease and disparities through medically tailored meals
The organization has also launched one of the nation’s leading maternal and infant health programs, addressing conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Currently, 94% of participants in that program are experiencing healthy birth outcomes.
Participants say the program has been
life changing. Carmelith Smith shared that Food For Health made her pregnancy healthier than her first and taught her how to cook and eat better.
Valley Hollins says she has lost 45 pounds, no longer needs blood pressure medication, and is no longer borderline diabetic.
For those who cannot afford meals, philanthropic support helps cover the cost, while others can enroll directly—each purchased meal also sponsors one for someone in need. More information is available at the Food for Health website.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
News12 minutes ago
Anti-ICE protests take place across US for ‘National Shutdown’
West18 minutes ago
California Post ushers in new era of journalism with ‘the DNA of the New York Post’
Midwest24 minutes ago
Minn ‘Antifa’ member claims he’s ‘on the run’ after calling for ‘armed’ men to confront immigration officials
Southwest30 minutes ago
Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church remembers staff member killed in Maine plane crash: ‘Beautiful spirit’
Southeast36 minutes ago
ICE lodges detainer for illegal immigrant accused of sexually assaulting teen
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia2 years ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana1 year ago
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
News12 minutes ago
Anti-ICE protests take place across US for ‘National Shutdown’
News10 hours ago
Map: 2.4-Magnitude Earthquake Reported in New Jersey
Politics11 hours ago
Don Lemon could face up to a year in prison if convicted on criminal charges
World12 hours ago
Welcome onboard the ultimate ‘last-mile’ self-driving shuttle bus
News12 hours ago
Alex Pretti shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis prompts DOJ civil rights probe
-
Illinois1 week agoIllinois school closings tomorrow: How to check if your school is closed due to extreme cold
-
Pennsylvania5 days agoRare ‘avalanche’ blocks Pennsylvania road during major snowstorm
-
Science1 week agoContributor: New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters
-
Technology1 week agoRing claims it’s not giving ICE access to its cameras
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Movie Review: In ‘Mercy,’ Chris Pratt is on trial with an artificial intelligence judge
-
News1 week agoVideo: Jack Smith Defends His Trump Indictments During House Hearing
-
Politics1 week agoSupreme Court appears ready to keep Lisa Cook on Federal Reserve board despite Trump efforts to fire her
-
Politics6 days agoTrump’s playbook falters in crisis response to Minneapolis shooting
