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Milwaukee’s Hoskins, Quintana to become free agents

MILWAUKEE (AP) — First baseman Rhys Hoskins and left-hander José Quintana are heading to free agency after the Milwaukee Brewers declined their 2026 mutual options on Tuesday.

Milwaukee declined an $18 million option on Hoskins, who receives a $4 million buyout that completes a $34 million, two-year contract. Quintana had a $15 million mutual option and receives a $2 million buyout.

Milwaukee also declined a $12 million club option on two-time All-Star catcher William Contreras, who gets a $100,000 buyout. Contreras would be eligible for arbitration if he is tendered a 2026 contract by the Nov. 21 deadline. He is on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2027 season.

Hoskins, 32, batted .237 with a .332 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 90 games this season after exercising his $18 million player option for 2025.. He missed two months with a sprained left thumb, got moved to a bench role upon his return and was left off the Brewers’ postseason roster.

Quintana, 36, went 11-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 24 starts this season. He gave up three runs over five innings in two postseason appearances.

Contreras, 27, hit .260 with a .355 on-base percentage, 17 homers and 76 RBIs in 150 games while dealing with a fractured left middle finger for much of the season.

Meanwhile, Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff declined a $20 million mutual option for 2026 in favor of a $10 million buyout and the two-time All-Star right-hander will also become a free agent.

Milwaukee said Monday it exercised an $8 million team option on two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta, the final year in a contract that will be worth $30 million over seven seasons.

The Brewers declined a $12 million mutual option on catcher Danny Jansen, who will get a $500,000 buyout as part of a deal he signed with Tampa Bay that guaranteed $8.5 million.

After missing the 2024 season while recovering from shoulder surgery, Woodruff returned in July and went 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts. He missed the postseason with a right lat strain that was unrelated to the prior injury.

During the postseason, the Brewers had held out hope Woodruff might be able to return if they had made the World Series, an indication he should be ready for the start of the 2026 season. Woodruff will turn 33 on Feb. 10.

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