MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers declined catcher Gary Sánchez's mutual option on Saturday, adding the veteran slugger to the pool of free agents.

Sánchez provided some power when he was healthy, with 11 home runs in 245 at-bats as a backup to starting catcher William Contreras, including seven homers in 104 at-bats against left-handed pitching. Sánchez missed a month from late June until late July with a left calf strain.

He gets a $4 million buyout with the option declined, according to a source.

Contreras will continue to handle primary catching duties in 2025 and is eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter after winning club MVP honors for the second straight season. The Brewers hold a $3.5 million club option on backup Eric Haase, with no buyout. If the club declines the option, Haase would remain with the Brewers as an arbitration-eligible player.

The other catcher on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster is Jeferson Quero, MLB Pipeline’s top Brewers prospect and No. 43 on the overall Top 100. He injured his right shoulder diving back to first base on Opening Day at Triple-A Nashville and missed the entire season following surgery, but is expected to be ready for the start of 2025.

Report: Brewers place RHP Rea on waivers
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday that the Brewers had waived right-hander Colin Rea, a hint that they plan to decline his $5.5 million club option. Rea, 34, was 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 167 2/3 innings in a career year in 2024, but he had a 6.75 ERA over his last 10 outings and was left off the roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Mets.

If the Brewers decline Rea’s option, they would owe him a $1 million buyout.

The club will, however, exercise its club option to keep Opening Day starter Freddy Peralta, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. That decision will be an easy call for the Brewers, since Peralta’s option calls for a relatively affordable $8 million salary in 2025 after he logged a 3.68 ERA in a team-high 173 2/3 innings. There’s another $8 million club option in Peralta’s contract for ‘26.

The Brewers had not announced any transactions involving Peralta or Rea as of Saturday. They have until Monday to make those decisions formally.

Miller traded to Rockies
In a Minor League trade, the Brewers sent utility man Owen Miller to the Rockies for cash on Saturday. Miller, a Milwaukee-area native, played the past two seasons for his hometown organization but was limited to 27 Major League plate appearances in 2024.

He instead spent most of last season at Triple-A Nashville and posted a .276/.354/.392 slash line in 91 games there.