Could Zach McKinstry Be a Perfect Fit for Milwaukee Brewers?

[Frisbee Slider]

Image courtesy of © Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Brewer Fanatic recently examined Milwaukee's positional depth at third base and shortstop. Readers can safely conclude that the current infield reserves are insufficient for a playoff-caliber roster in 2026. One more capable veteran could help prevent the offense from fading in October.

One strong candidate to be that veteran addition is Zach McKinstry, Detroit's super utilityman. McKinstry's career was unremarkable until last season. He had his best year ever in 2025, though, producing a .771 OPS while playing competent defense at every infield and corner outfield position. This performance earned him his first All-Star appearance and a Silver Slugger award. 

Zach McKinstry, Performance Percentiles, 2023-25

Season	Batting Runs	Fielding Runs	Baserunning Runs	Bat Speed	Arm Strength	Sprint Speed	LA Sweet Spot %
2023	4	74	82	7	96	80	80
2024	20	70	92	7	58	79	87
2025	44	46	91	4	90	75	96

McKinstry runs the bases well, has excellent arm strength and frequently hits line drives and flyballs with launch angles that are favorable for hits and home runs. At the same time, he doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard in terms of exit velocity and bat speed. Furthermore, it is worth noting McKinstry's extreme home/road splits in 2025. He had a .991 OPS at Comerica Park and .544 OPS everywhere else. 

McKinstry, a left-handed batter, turns 31 years old in April. He has two years of team control and is projected to earn $3.5 million in arbitration this offseason. This could be a terrific fit for Milwaukee. Their top position-player prospects are unlikely to contribute in 2026, and McKinstry can provide needed depth through 2027.  

Give Infielders a Break
Pat Murphy rarely rested his primary infielders in 2025. It was not until later in the year that Anthony Seigler would earn an occasional start in place of Caleb Durbin. The Brewers' offense ran out of gas in the postseason. An extra day of rest for infielders a couple of times per month could help avert a late-season collapse or a postseason fade.

It was clear that Milwaukee did not believe it had a viable alternative to starting Joey Ortiz at shortstop in 2025. Players like Vinny Capra, Oliver Dunn, Owen Miller and Andruw Monasterio have not been legitimate threats to become everyday players anywhere on the infield. McKinstry is good enough to compete for at-bats with nearly anyone in the lineup.

Insurance Policy for Outfielders
The last thing Milwaukee needs is another left-handed-hitting outfielder. However, McKinstry has reverse splits: he’s hit better against left-handed pitching throughout his career, in limited appearances. He managed an .854 OPS against left-handed pitching (119 plate appearances) and a .746 OPS against right-handed pitching (392 PA) in 2025. Murphy doesn’t seem to mind keeping a few left-handed bats in the lineup, even against difficult left-handed pitching. McKinstry 

Isaac Collins was terrific through August, but he fell out of favor after slumping to a .664 OPS in September and October. Collins also went hitless in nine postseason at-bats. It is unclear which version of Collins the Brewers can expect in 2026.

Garrett Mitchell should be healthy in time for spring training. If Mitchell becomes injured again, McKinstry would fill in nicely in left field with Jackson Chourio heading back to center field.  Blake Perkins consistently provides Gold Glove-caliber defense and a .647 OPS, doing exactly that over the past two seasons. Brandon Lockridge figures to be a useful fifth outfielder, if that is more than faint praise. McKinstry doesn’t profile well in center field, but with Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick each able to play there and Perkins as the defensive ace for the spot, he doesn’t need to. He can shield the team against another injury to Mitchell, and filter into the lineup against both lefties and righties to spell each of the regulars across the grass.

Christian Yelich played in only 19 games as a left fielder in 2025. At this point, it seems unlikely that Yelich will spend meaningful time in the outfield. 

What Would it Take to Acquire McKinstry?
The underlying point of this article is that Milwaukee should consider trading from its pitching depth to provide affordable reinforcement for its position players. McKinstry could be an intriguing target. McKinstry doesn’t immediately strike one as being worth a high-leverage reliever in trade. If the Brewers could receive 500 plate appearances from a .750 OPS utility player who plays five positions, though, that might be more valuable than another 47 innings of relief from Trevor Megill.

Megill will play his age-32 season in 2026. Like McKinstry, he has two years of team control remaining. His performance could reasonably be expected to regress in 2026, and he dealt with arm trouble at the end of 2025. It is equally possible for McKinstry to revert back to a 1-WAR player. Even in his breakout campaign, he only had an 87 DRC+ (where 100 is average, and higher is better), according to Baseball Prospectus. His track record of success in the majors is short, and some of it might be illusory.

Even so, McKinstry has the potential to make the 2026 Brewers a more competitive team by being a credible short-term replacement for anyone on the field. He might cost them a strong prospect or an important relief arm, but he’s a tremendous baserunner; he might have power upside that has been hidden by the spacious Comerica Park; and the Brewers like patient hitters whom they can optimize with even better swing-decision training. The fit could be too good to pass up.

View full article

[Brian]

Zach Mckinstry does fit the Brewers way 100%.  A .245 avg hitter and multiple position player.  But Diamondbacks Ketel Marte would be a much better choice IMHO. 

 

 

[Jopal78]

McKinstry has 1200 big league PAs across 3 organizations in 5 seasons that says he’s Andrew Monasterio.  He had 2 big months in 2025, and another 170 PAs with a OPS below .670 further suggesting a couple of hot streaks not sustainable trends. 

Give up controllable starting pitching for a player similar to what they have? Pass.

[rafa79]

Interesting article that has some merit.  Specifically, the Brewers could use another veteran infielder.  However, the suggested trade of Megill is WAY to high!  

As pointed out in the article, "McKinstry's career was unremarkable until last season." That's my problem, he's coming off a career year for himself.  Prior to that, going backwards from 2024 to 2021, his batting average was: .215, .231, .199, ,215.

I'll trade for him but only sending a prospect between #25-30.  Otherwise, I'll pass and keep waiting for the market to materialize.

[sveumrules]

McKinstry reads to me kinda like an older Isaac Collins with more positional versatility.

After posting a 79 wRC+ | .299 xwOBA over his first 1,207 career PA, McKinstry's 114 wRC+ certainly jumps out. But with a .333 actual wOBA to go along with a not all that improved .303 xwOBA under the hood there was likely a good bit of fortune in there.

Issac had a similar gap last year with with a .344 actual wOBA but only a .319 xwOBA. Steamer pegs Collins to regress down to a 101 wRC+ next year and forecasts a drop down to a 90 wRC+ for McKinstry.

Zach is a useful player on any hopeful contender, but I wouldn't give up a leverage arm like Megill for him.

[Frisbee Slider]

McKinstry had double the bWAR and fWAR compared to Megill in 2025. Plus, McKinstry makes Ortiz, Durbin, Turang, Frelick and Collins better by giving them more opportunities to rest and competes with some of them for playing time. Even if McKinstry regresses, I'd still say he has more WAR and impact on game outcomes than Megill in 2026. We'd all understandably prefer to give up low level prospects. 🙂

[MattK]

2 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

McKinstry had double the bWAR and fWAR compared to Megill in 2025. Plus, McKinstry makes Ortiz, Durbin, Turang, Frelick and Collins better by giving them more opportunities to rest and competes with some of them for playing time. Even if McKinstry regresses, I'd still say he has more WAR and impact on game outcomes than Megill in 2026. We'd all understandably prefer to give up low level prospects. 🙂

Yes, except a bit of Megill's "value" is in perception. 100mph fastball with the closer role has good value with (some? many?) teams. Would think he could be swapped for a bit higher return. 

[JohnBriggs12]

Durbin is arguably the fittest Brewer on the roster.  I don't buy he needs rest.  He had a .777 OPS in the postseason.

[Jim French Stepstool]

7 hours ago, sveumrules said:

McKinstry reads to me kinda like an older Isaac Collins with more positional versatility.

 

I had to chuckle when I read that. I mean, that's SO spot-on.

I think he'd be a nice fit considering the versatility. But I wouldn't give up Megill, and I don't know how inspired Detroit would be to deal him.

[BrewerFan]

6 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

McKinstry had double the bWAR and fWAR compared to Megill in 2025. Plus, McKinstry makes Ortiz, Durbin, Turang, Frelick and Collins better by giving them more opportunities to rest and competes with some of them for playing time. Even if McKinstry regresses, I'd still say he has more WAR and impact on game outcomes than Megill in 2026. We'd all understandably prefer to give up low level prospects. 🙂

He had ONE year. 

His career line before last year at 30 with Detroit is .220/.285/.357 and an OPS of .643.

Comparing an everyday players WAR to a Closers is... kinda silly. 

Josh Hader had ONE year with a WAR over 2.8. Closers have lower WAR's. 

Get into Oct and see who's more important, a high leverage reliever or hoping that at 31 years old a utility man can replicate the one above average season he's had?

3 hours ago, MattK said:

Yes, except a bit of Megill's "value" is in perception. 100mph fastball with the closer role has good value with (some? many?) teams. Would think he could be swapped for a bit higher return. 

Or... just don't trade him! 

We brought him in because he had such a big arm. He hadn't had much success. He's thrown VERY well for the Brewers. Progressively better. Now for... really no discernible reason, in a year in which we're trying to build off a 97 win season and an NLCS appearance, we're going to trade him? I don't understand that.

[BrewerFan]

8 hours ago, sveumrules said:

McKinstry reads to me kinda like an older Isaac Collins with more positional versatility.

After posting a 79 wRC+ | .299 xwOBA over his first 1,207 career PA, McKinstry's 114 wRC+ certainly jumps out. But with a .333 actual wOBA to go along with a not all that improved .303 xwOBA under the hood there was likely a good bit of fortune in there.

Issac had a similar gap last year with with a .344 actual wOBA but only a .319 xwOBA. Steamer pegs Collins to regress down to a 101 wRC+ next year and forecasts a drop down to a 90 wRC+ for McKinstry.

Zach is a useful player on any hopeful contender, but I wouldn't give up a leverage arm like Megill for him.

Yeah, he could be. Collins has much better bat speed and walks at a higher rate. 

I'd like to see what Collins does over a 2nd year. I don't really blame him for his Sept struggles(and it was primarily limited to Sept) as he started to get sporadic playing time. 

We have multiple players who can play SS, guys who can play 2B. 3B is pretty much the only place we don't have a backup, Wilken might get the call if he hits well, otherwise it'd be Monasterio. 

When you look at their careers, the gap between Monasterio and McKinstry is not that large. certainly not worth dealing Megill. I really can't imagine why he's even being discussed. If he were a pending FA and due to make 7-8M a year, sure. But he's making 4-4.5M and not due to be a FA. 

I've not once seen a team that has too many high leverage relievers. Too many guys who throw 100 and can just overpower the other team. I'll roll the dice that Megill stays healthy next year rather than trade for a guy who has had one solid year. 

[Profbratsch]

23 hours ago, Brian said:

Zach Mckinstry does fit the Brewers way 100%.  A .245 avg hitter and multiple position player.  But Diamondbacks Ketel Marte would be a much better choice IMHO. 

 

[Profbratsch]

Not if clubhouse demeanor is factored in...

[Brian]

3 minutes ago, Profbratsch said:

Not if clubhouse demeanor is factored in...

I didn't realize other players thought he was a deva because he was always on the injured list. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/ketel-marte-player-injuries 

[BrewerFan]

On 12/4/2025 at 7:29 AM, Brian said:

I didn't realize other players thought he was a deva because he was always on the injured list. https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/ketel-marte-player-injuries 

That's not a list of DL trips.

The problem with Marte isn't that he's injured, it's that you went from discussing a utility IFer to discussion arguably the best 2B in the game who is signed to a long term deal.

 

It's kinda like 'the Brewers could use a LHed pitcher to eat some innings," and someone says 'Quintana is a good option,' and then someone says, 'I'd prefer Skubal.'

Well...yeah, of course. Probably not feasible though.