Brewers catcher William Contreras writes Players Tribune piece before World Series
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Brewers catcher William Contreras published a Players Tribune article as Milwaukee reached its first World Series since 1982.
He is also the subject of trade speculation and his brother's MVP complaint.
Background
William Contreras is the Milwaukee Brewers' catcher, a three-time All-Star described in the material as arguably the best offensive catcher in baseball. The Brewers had been a strong regular-season team throughout his four years there — 92, 93 and 97 wins, then a franchise-record 103 in 2026 — but had not gotten past the postseason until they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS (National League Championship Series) on Oct. 16. Contreras' Players Tribune article, published Oct. 22, reflects on those earlier playoff losses as the team prepares for the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
How it unfolded
- 2023Brewers won 92 games in Contreras' first season in Milwaukee; the Arizona Diamondbacks swept them in the Wild Card round.
- 2024Brewers won 93 games; Pete Alonso hit a ninth-inning home run off Devin Williams to win Game 3 of the Wild Card.
- 2025Brewers won 97 games; the Los Angeles Dodgers swept them 4-0 in the NLCS en route to a second straight World Series title.
- Oct 12, 2026Contreras hit a solo home run in the fifth inning of NLCS Game 2 against the Dodgers in Milwaukee.
- Oct 15, 2026Contreras walked in the fifth inning of NLCS Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.
- Oct 16, 2026The Brewers swept the Dodgers, reaching the World Series for the first time since 1982.
- Oct 17, 2026Willson Contreras' now-deleted Instagram stories arguing his brother William should have been NLCS MVP drew attention; Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP.
- Oct 22, 2026Contreras' Players Tribune article was published; Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicted the Brewers would trade Contreras to the Yankees this offseason.
- Oct 23, 2026A Journal Sentinel story quoted Contreras calling the Dodgers 'lucky' for the 2025 sweep, ahead of a World Series beginning Friday night.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Contreras wrote that the 4-0 2025 NLCS loss wasn't the real gap, that the Dodgers made the plays and got the breaks, and that anyone who thinks otherwise 'doesn't know baseball.'
- Analysts
- Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley wrote that trading Contreras wouldn't help the Brewers now but might be best for the franchise's future if they won't pay to keep him.
- Family
- Willson Contreras argued in now-deleted Instagram stories that his brother should have been NLCS MVP and alleged partiality based on location against the league.
Still unverified
Contreras' article was reported as admitting the Brewers' sweep of the Dodgers was 'probably lucky'; Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley predicted a Contreras trade to the Yankees; Willson Contreras' Instagram stories were deleted, with Talkin' Baseball posting a screenshot of them.