Brewers sign Omar Narvaez to $2.725 million contract, avoiding arbitration

The deadline for teams to avoid hearings with their remaining arbitration-eligible players was at noon today, and news about agreements to stay out of the potentially contentious hearings are now starting to trickle out.

One of those signings, according to Jeff Passan -- the Brewers and their new catcher, Omar Narvaez, agreeing to a $2.725 million salary for 2020.

Trading for Narvaez was one of David Stearns’ first significant moves this offseason, tabbing the offensively stellar but defensively lacking Narvaez to replace Yasmani Grandal behind the plate. Narvaez was projected for a salary of $2.9 million in arbitration by MLB Trade Rumors, so in theory, the Brewers are saving about $175,000 by avoiding the hearing.

Narvaez figures to get the bigger half of a virtual platoon with Manny Pina, who had his $1.85 million option for 2020 picked up shortly after the World Series ended.

Barring any more late announcements, Brent Suter and Josh Hader are the only Brewers due arbitration who didn’t sign a deal to avoid a hearing. Corey Knebel, Orlando Arcia and Ben Gamel all signed earlier in the offseason.