The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly have declined the 2025 option on closer Devin Williams

The Milwaukee Brewers have declined the $10.5 million, 2025 contract option for closer Devin Williams and will instead pay him a $250,000 buyout.

The team also announced Sunday it has exercised right-hander Freddy Peralta’s $8 team option for 2025 and declined catcher Eric Haase’s team option.

The transactions don’t mean the Brewers will part ways with either Williams or Haase, however.

Williams is eligible for arbitration for the third and final time, with the right-hander projected to wind up with a deal for $7.7 million. Haase, meanwhile, is projected to earn somewhere around $1.8 million should he and Milwaukee come to terms.

The Brewers have until 7 p.m. Nov. 22 to tender Williams, Haase and their other unsigned players contracts for 2025.

There’s also the possibility the Brewers will seek to trade 30-year-old Williams, who is a year away from reaching free agency, at some point this offseason.

“Look, we never want to close the door on anything,” general manager Matt Arnold said when asked about that scenario a week after the Brewers were eliminated from the postseason by the New York Mets.

It was a three-run home run hit by Pete Alonso off Williams in the ninth inning that flipped Game 3 of the National League wild-card series in favor of the Mets at American Family Field.

Devin Williams went 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA while converting 14 of 15 save opportunities, but his 2024 may be rememberd for the homer he gave up in Game 3 of the NL wild-card series.

“We have to stay open-minded,” Arnold said. “We’re the smallest market in the league, so that’s something that’s required in the place that we are. But as far as Devin Williams goes, one moment shouldn’t define who he is, who we are. This guy was absolutely crushed, just like the rest of us after the season.

“This guy was unbelievable this year, and he’s a two-time relief pitcher of the year. I still believe he’s the best closer in baseball, and I’m happy to have him.”

The Brewers do have options to close games beyond Williams – namely right-hander Trevor Megill, who actually led Milwaukee with 21 saves in 2024. He assumed the closer’s role early in the season while Williams was sidelined by stress fractures in his back.

Megill, who turns 31 on Dec. 5, is eligible for arbitration for the first time and projected to land a salary of $2 million.

In 22 appearances (21 ⅔ innings) this past season, Williams went 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA and WHIP of 0.97 while converting 14 of 15 save opportunities. He also struck out 38.

Haase, who turns 32 on Dec. 18, hit .273 with five home runs and 14 runs batted in over 30 games as Milwaukee’s No. 3 catcher.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

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