Milwaukee Brewers Add Backup Catcher Gabriel Quero; Henderson Joins

The Milwaukee Brewers head into 2026 with one of the thinnest catching situations in baseball. It’s a risky play for a team that’s counting on its pitching staff to carry them.

They leaned hard on William Contreras in 2025 and cycled through short-term veterans. Now, Milwaukee sits at a crossroads: trust top prospect Jeferson Quero or dig for another veteran bargain.

Brewers Rode William Contreras Hard in 2025

The Brewers basically survived 2025 with three catchers, but William Contreras did most of the heavy lifting. He started 128 games behind the plate—second-most in all of MLB—which really shows how much Milwaukee relied on him for defense and lineup stability.

Eric Haase opened the season as the backup. But his stint didn’t last long.

Once Milwaukee brought in Danny Jansen at the trade deadline, Haase got pushed off the roster and chose minor league free agency. That move made it clear the Brewers wanted a steadier glove for the playoff push.

Danny Jansen’s Brief But Important Stint

Jansen came in with a solid rep for framing and game-calling. He gave the Brewers exactly what they needed: a veteran who could give Contreras a breather and help guide the younger arms.

Still, everyone knew it probably wouldn’t last. Milwaukee declined Jansen’s $12 million mutual option after the season, preferring to keep their spending flexible.

Jansen quickly signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers. With him gone, Milwaukee suddenly had a pretty big hole behind Contreras.

Jeferson Quero: Talented but Unproven Safety Net

Now, the Brewers’ 40-man roster lists just two catchers: Contreras and 23-year-old prospect Jeferson Quero. On the surface, maybe it looks like an easy passing of the torch. But it’s not so simple.

Quero’s development keeps getting interrupted by injuries. A labrum tear in 2024 wiped out his whole season, and then a hamstring strain delayed his 2025 debut until June.

Offense Rebounds, Defense Raises Questions

When he finally got back to Triple-A in 2025, Quero hit .255/.336/.412 over 250 plate appearances. That’s basically league-average for the level and enough to make him the default favorite for the backup job in spring.

But Brewers officials have been careful in their public comments. They’ll say Quero is “pretty close” to MLB-ready, but there are still some real concerns.

The numbers back up those worries. Quero’s caught-stealing rate dropped to 18.9% in 2025, way down from the 34.6% he posted at Double-A before hurting his shoulder. For a guy who’s supposed to be defense-first, that’s a pretty big red flag.

Will Milwaukee Add a Veteran Backup Catcher?

Trusting a recovering 23-year-old as the only backup is a gamble, honestly. The Brewers could just send Quero back to Triple-A to start the year and pick up a low-cost veteran on a minor league deal.

Some names fit Milwaukee’s usual style:

Any of these guys could give the Brewers a safety net and let Quero keep developing without the pressure. It’s not the flashiest move, but sometimes those quiet roster choices are what keep a pitching staff steady for a full season.

Logan Henderson and the Rotation Picture

Milwaukee’s catcher depth is a concern, but the pitching situation grabs plenty of attention too. Right-hander Logan Henderson comes back from an elbow injury—luckily, he avoided surgery—and he’ll get a shot at a back-end rotation spot.

He’s set to follow the top trio of Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, and Quinn Priester. There are a handful of other arms in the mix, which gives the team some depth and flexibility.

This club leans hard on pitching and defense. Keeping both the rotation and the catching group steady feels absolutely essential for any real shot at success.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Brewers Notes: Backup Catcher, Quero, Henderson