Brewers' Pat Murphy Inspires With Spring Speech: 'Don't Be Shocked.'

[Steve Drumwright]

With the full squad having reported to Phoenix for spring training, it was time for manager Pat Murphy to set the tone for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2026. He did so in a speech to his players, some of which was provided via the team's social media channels.

It was Murph at his finest. Leaning into what made the Crew so good in a 2025 that saw the team post the best record in MLB at 97-65, win their third straight NL Central title and advance to the NL Championship Series, where they were swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Among Murphy's nuggets:

"We found out what matters is who's in this room."

"We're about people, we're about team."

"We don't worry about what anybody thinks. (If) we stick to our standard, then you'll have another incredible season. ... And don't be shocked."

But enough writing, listen to how Murphy delivered his words:

 

 

 

 

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[Ron750]

“The people in this room matter” rings a little hollow when they just tossed Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins aside. 
I’m used to them trading away veterans up for FA, but trading ROTY candidates is new. 

[Trail]

5 minutes ago, Ron750 said:

“The people in this room matter” rings a little hollow when they just tossed Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins aside. 
I’m used to them trading away veterans up for FA, but trading ROTY candidates is new. 

I think there is more coming.  They're stock up on starters, and someone is going to have a crisis and need a starter before opening day.  The Brewers will be the first call.  Matt A will be able to name his price for a Gasser, Henderson, Crow, etc.  

[Frisbee Slider]

Collins drew walks and had a decent swing plane. I think we can expect his ‘power numbers’ to regress in 2026 based off his nine HR last year.

A lot of wall scraping HR in hitter friendly parks off bad pitchers on off speed pitches. The walk off against Diaz was clutch but even Collins admitted he was fooled and was sitting fastball. I suppose similar things could be said of most hitters 

 

[Snoebird]

41 minutes ago, Ron750 said:

“The people in this room matter” rings a little hollow when they just tossed Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins aside. 
I’m used to them trading away veterans up for FA, but trading ROTY candidates is new. 

Job 1 for Matt Arnold is to surround Jackson Chourio with the best young talent he can acquire. The bulk of that talent will be in the high minors this year, meaning the turnover next year could be unprecedented for this club. Arnold addressed the pitching side this year, and in the process found more permanent homes for Collins and Durbin, neither of whom would have survived next year's turnover. 

[wallus]

It's amazing to me that people are much more up in arms over trading Durbin vs Freddy.

[Outlander]

I have not said much about Durbin but don't know why there would be surprise there is more shock with Durbin. The Brewers are known to get rid of players before they are free agents, don't usually trade productive players that are cheap.

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, Trail said:

I think there is more coming.  They're stock up on starters, and someone is going to have a crisis and need a starter before opening day.  The Brewers will be the first call.  Matt A will be able to name his price for a Gasser, Henderson, Crow, etc.  

Name his price?

Sounds great, but highly inaccurate.

[TURBO]

50 minutes ago, wallus said:

It's amazing to me that people are much more up in arms over trading Durbin vs Freddy.

I think you know the reason why...

Freddy was gone after this season no matter what, so we got what we could for him.

Durbin became somewhat of a fan favorite, and had several more years of control.  It was a pretty big surprise when Durbin was traded, but everyone knew Freddy's time here was limited.  Most were already prepared to see Freddy go, not so much with Durbin.

[wallus]

8 minutes ago, Outlander said:

I have not said much about Durbin but don't know why there would be surprise there is more shock with Durbin. The Brewers are known to get rid of players before they are free agents, don't usually trade productive players that are cheap.

Freddy is an all-star, Durbin is much closer to just a guy

[snoogans8056]

They can’t frame the Durbin trade around the team being cheap.

Its harder to rationalize them just being smarter than us.

[BarremlensTSSC]

On 2/19/2026 at 9:18 AM, wallus said:

Freddy is an all-star, Durbin is much closer to just a guy

True, but one move fits what the Brewers have been doing for 20 years.  The other doesn't.  I personally gave up on being bothered by Brewers personnel decisions right around when Fielder left but I'm not remotely surprised that the reaction to Durbin going out was more intense than Freddy going out.  We're used to losing guys like Freddy.  We're not used to losing undervalued hustle guys with years of control and a cheap contract.

That said, I get the Durbin move.  Decent chance his value was as high as it was ever going to be on the trade market.

[owbc]

1 hour ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

True, but one move fits what the Brewers have been doing for 20 years.  The other doesn't.  I personally gave up on being bothered by Brewers personnel decisions right around when Fielder left but I'm not remotely surprised that the reaction to Durbin going out was more intense than Freddy going out.  We're used to losing guys like Freddy.  We're not used to losing undervalued hustle guys with years of control and a cheap contract.

That said, I get the Durbin move.  Decent chance his value was as high as it was ever going to be on the trade market.

I'm fine seeing Durbin go, I love "sell high" trades. 

But from a fan perspective, it will make it hard to get attached to role players since any overperformer who isn't a core star and doesn't have peripherals backing it up is headed straight for the trading block. 

[Trail]

On 2/19/2026 at 9:18 AM, TURBO said:

I think you know the reason why...

Freddy was gone after this season no matter what, so we got what we could for him.

Durbin became somewhat of a fan favorite, and had several more years of control.  It was a pretty big surprise when Durbin was traded, but everyone knew Freddy's time here was limited.  Most were already prepared to see Freddy go, not so much with Durbin.

We knew Freddy was inevitable.  No one liked it but that's the rules we have to play by.  Durbin was this young, likeable, "hustle" kid who surprised everyone with his performance in '25.  The reasons for the trade were sound...he could easily regress a bit in '26 (hurting his value) and there wasn't really going to be much room for him starting in '27.  Still...he was an easy player to like and root for.