2026 Offseason and Beyond Trade/Free Agent Ideas

[jay87shot]

It's clearly to early for anything substantive but I am always up for a discussion on potential roster moves.

Do we trade Contreras, Vaughn, and/or Megill in their last season of control?

What are potentially viable ways to improve a team that has depth, youth, and decent quality at every position?

[Matt]

I think the Naylor deal might have been a hint at where they're going with Contreras. I understand that Naylor has yet to light it up at the MLB level, but he's at least solid behind the plate. Him and Quero could make for the tandem at catcher. 

Megill should have value. I don't think Vaughn will. 

[owbc]

Feels like we're about to go very heavy on the youth movement. There might be less roster turnover than usual going into 2027. 

[jay87shot]

51 minutes ago, Matt said:

I think the Naylor deal might have been a hint at where they're going with Contreras. I understand that Naylor has yet to light it up at the MLB level, but he's at least solid behind the plate. Him and Quero could make for the tandem at catcher. 

Megill should have value. I don't think Vaughn will. 

I would really like to keep William 1 more year but agree the Naylor trade is likely foreshadowing of a trade. I would guess that Contreras should get a similar return to Freddy and Megill around Devin in terms of value. 

I think 1st base is the biggest question mark. Bauers is likely going to get a deal similar to Ryan O'Hearn and be gone. I agree Vaughn wouldnt have a ton of value, maybe a decent middle relief arm. With Adams, Burke, and Fischer we could trade Vaughn or just keep him to maintain some consistency.

I think Ashby could be a candidate to trade as his salary become more for a reliever. If we do trade Megill and Ashby we would really need some quality young bullpen arms.

I don't think we could trade Yeli but it would be likely the best avenue to potentially improve an offense position.

 

[sveumrules]

Believe Naylor is just 3rd catcher depth because Quero hasn't been catching for over a month now and presumably the organization would prefer not to see Darrien Miller behind the dish during an MLB stretch run.

I'd guess the plan for next year is to ride Contreras for his final Arby's year with Quero easing in as the back up (assuming Jeferson is healthy enough to handle it). Then in 2028 Quero takes over as starter with Dinges easing in as the back up (assuming Jeferson and Marco are both healthy enough to handle it).

I'd personally keep Vaughn and Megill around too.

Contreras / Quero
Vaughn / Burke / Fischer / Adams
Turang / Pratt / Made / Ortiz / Jett
Chourio / Mitchell / Lara / Sal / Adamczewski
(yelich)

Misio / Harrison / Henderson / Drohan / Sproat / Gasser / Hardin
Megill / Uribe / Ashby / Patrick / Anderson / Hall / Crow 
(Gordon / Koenig / Rom / Stallings / Priester? / Wagoner?)

Not sure what kind of "big" external moves would really be out there to improve the position players with the youth infusion they have on the way. Best we can probably hope for is Bauers accepting a qualifying offer or  Contreras extending / re-signing in FA?

Can never have enough pitching so I'd imagine they'll be adding more there whether its the typical reclamation project kind of guys or maybe cashing in some of the prospect depth for more of an established and controllable arm. 

[wallus]

I hope we continue to restock our young pitching by trading with the Red Sox

[Brewcrew82]

Do not sell low on Contreras. With Quero's arm cooked, ride him out during his contract year and then extend him the QO on his way out. Same as Adames. 

[Outlander]

Said it before when it happend but the Naylor trade has minimal to no impact on Contreras. They probably go the Adames route and stick with Contreras in 2027. Naylor will be fighting to keep a 40 man spot in 2027.

Megill has a better possibility of being traded getting up there in years at 33 and in his final year. The Brewers though are pretty weak at RH relievers so would have to fill that need if trading Megill. There is some thought Ashby could be traded with his rising salary but hope not. 

Would consider offering Bauers the qualifying offer, one year at $21 million or so isn't too much a risk versus a multi year deal. However, would have Adams as the weak side platoon instead of Vaughn if Bauers is getting that type of salary.

Turang and Mitchell second year of aribtation so getting more expensive but still not too bad, would think Mitchell is the higher chance of being traded since he is a free agent after the 2028 season.

 

[PBTank]

I've been saying for a while now that 2028 could be the sweet spot for the Brewers.  They have so much controllable starting pitching that will all be around their arbitration years.  Miz, Harrison, Henderson, Drohan, Sproat, Gasser, Patrick, Preister, Crow makes nine who already have MLB experience.  It also leaves room for injuries to the group.  Not to mention getting another quality starter from Boston this offseason (wink ;) ).  Even with a modest progression, they could be one of the finest rotations in baseball.

Add to that the offense that is rising through the minors.  Catcher seems to be a question mark going forward. Does Contreras get dealt this offseason?  Or do they hold onto him and recoup a draft pick when he leaves in free agency?  Possibly, everything changes with the new CBA.  Is there a world where revenue sharing is split more evenly between the teams so small market teams can now compete for the better free agents.  Time will only tell.  I like the addition of Naylor.  He's a left-handed bat which will compliment whoever else the Brewers move forward with.  If the Brewers keep him in the minor for the rest of the season, Naylor will not start his arbitration years this offseason.

I envision at trio of Adams, Fischer, and Burke being much like Vaughn, Bauers, and Yelich with two of them getting starts at 1B and DH each game.  Although, Yelich will still be with the team due to the contract in 2028.  The new trio also have the ability for a couple of them to also get starts at 3B.

Middle infielders of Turang, Pratt, and Made will be awesome.  I'm foreseeing Made getting the bulk of his starts at 3B.

The outfield will have Chourio entrenched in it along with Lara at worst the 4th OF.  How long will they hold on to Mitchell and Frelick as Adamczewski, Payne, and Strosnider work their way to the team.

I'm excited for the future of this team while currently watching arguably one of the best Brewer teams of all time.  It's a great time to be a Brewers fan.

[Devinep]

It will be hard to add too much while still giving runway for the top prospects to get chances in the bigs. All while still trying to keep making the playoffs and competing.

[Mr Southpaw]

1 hour ago, Outlander said:

Said it before when it happend but the Naylor trade has minimal to no impact on Contreras. They probably go the Adames route and stick with Contreras in 2027. Naylor will be fighting to keep a 40 man spot in 2027.

Megill has a better possibility of being traded getting up there in years at 33 and in his final year. The Brewers though are pretty weak at RH relievers so would have to fill that need if trading Megill. There is some thought Ashby could be traded with his rising salary but hope not. 

Would consider offering Bauers the qualifying offer, one year at $21 million or so isn't too much a risk versus a multi year deal. However, would have Adams as the weak side platoon instead of Vaughn if Bauers is getting that type of salary.

Turang and Mitchell second year of aribtation so getting more expensive but still not too bad, would think Mitchell is the higher chance of being traded since he is a free agent after the 2028 season.

 

I would offer these in a trade: Vaughn, Megill and Mitchell.

Vaughn because he is too expensive for what he does.  Megill because I don't trust older pitchers arms. And Mitchell because (if he doesn't get hurt the rest of the year) he will be worth the most he will ever be worth. 

I would not mind offering Bauer the QO or just a 2 year $24 million deal.  Maybe a team option in the second year with a payout?

[wallus]

Mitchell is going to have a small Arby's number next year because of the injuries 

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

6 hours ago, Mr Southpaw said:

I would offer these in a trade: Vaughn, Megill and Mitchell.

Vaughn because he is too expensive for what he does.  Megill because I don't trust older pitchers arms. And Mitchell because (if he doesn't get hurt the rest of the year) he will be worth the most he will ever be worth. 

I would not mind offering Bauer the QO or just a 2 year $24 million deal.  Maybe a team option in the second year with a payout?

Is that what Ryan O’Hearn got with the Pirates?  I would do 2/24 for Bauers.

or maybe..:

2027:  $12M
2028: $15M with $6M buyout (team option)

[TURBO]

8 hours ago, Mr Southpaw said:

Vaughn because he is too expensive for what he does. 

Except, we don't know what he'd do in a full time role at 1B and/or DH.

He might be an absolute bargain for 10 million if he plays every day, but in our current managerial decision making, we'll never know.

[TURBO]

49 minutes ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

Is that what Ryan O’Hearn got with the Pirates?  I would do 2/24 for Bauers.

or maybe..:

2027:  $12M
2028: $15M with $6M buyout (team option)

I can't help but think that after the year Bauers has had, he'll get a 3 year deal someplace, maybe 3 at 36?  We should not do that, 2 is max I'd consider.