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  • Milwaukee Brewers Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Milwaukee Brewers free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Matthew Lenz
    The Milwaukee Brewers have an arsenal of starting pitchers and are in a position to move one of those pieces to improve their roster elsewhere. 
    While the rumor mill has been relatively mum on the Brewers' plans at the deadline, they are in a position to sell a big league piece or two while also buying.
    Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are listening to offers on starting pitcher Nestor Cortes.
    Cortes has been on the injured list since with a flexor strain after making just two starts for the Brewers Crew back in April. He was roughed up in the first start of the season, allowing five runs over two innings, but rebounded nicely in his second start against the Cincinnati Reds. He went six innings, striking out six, and not allowing a run. In four minor league rehab starts, he has posted a 21.8% strikeout-minus-walk rate over 18 innings.
    Do you think the Brewers should deal Cortes? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Matthew Lenz
    Relative to other buyers, trade deadline rumors regarding the Milwaukee Brewers have been a bit quiet.
    On an episode of Foul Territory on Wednesday, Jim Bowden stoked that fire a bit by reporting that the club is looking to improve the left side of the infield over the next week.
    Joey Ortiz has been the primary shortstop for the Brewers this season. In 98 games, he holds an OPS of .589 with 7 home runs, 42 runs scored, and 31 runs batted in. Ortiz has also added 9 stolen bases this season. Defensively, he has continued to be a valuable asset, recording 8 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). He has also seen time at third and second base. While Ortiz has been great defensively, his offense has been putrid. It's possible the Brewers would be looking for a more balanced player at the position.
    Initially a game of musical chairs, Caleb Durbin has locked down the hot corner. Since May 21st, Durbin ranks first in OBP (.391), eighth in slugging (.456), and fifth in wRC+ (142) amongst third baseman. He's hit five home runs and stolen nine bases on the season. Moreover, he currently has 14 DRS. 
    What shortstops should the Brewers target? Should they look to upgrade from Durbin? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Jake McKibbin
    Oneil Cruz is one of the most talented players in Major League Baseball, but it's talent the Pittsburgh Pirates have failed to fully unlock. Boasting the hardest tracked batted ball, coincidentally against the Brewers, Cruz's power is undeniable, but could the Brewers provide a tempting package?
    Under control through 2028, Cruz fits the bill for the Brewers in providing both power and shortstop cover. At times maligned for his effort, perhaps a change of scenery, and especially a taste of the Brewers ethos, could help him take the next step.
    The package required would be a big one, but it could center around Garrett Mitchell as an outfield replacement, and Cooper Pratt as a shortstop and build from there.
    Would you like to see Oneil Cruz in Brewers uniform? What would you be willing to part with for perhaps the most singularly destructive bat in baseball? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
    Jake McKibbin
    Ryan Helsley plays for the St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals seemed determined to sell this season, despite looking like a solid contender for the playoffs for most of the season. It's a "Major League" type of problem for a club looking to reset, but it could play to the Brewers' advantage.
    Rumors are swirling that Ryan Helsley will be available at the deadline, and he could be the perfect complement to a Brewers bullpen that could perhaps strengthen its leverage spots. While Jared Koenig has performed admirably, he doesn't have the shutdown presence of Helsley, and a combination of the Cardinals bulldog with Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe could be truly devastating at the back end.

    While Helsley has been one of the best closers in baseball over the last few seasons, his walk rates have shot up and he has been prone to some hard contact. He profiles quite like the 2025 Megill in that his fastball whiffs have dried up but he's using his slider more often to devastating effect.
    His market will no doubt be strong, but his walk rates have surged and, by being a rental, the price may not be shockingly high for the Cardinals to part with their closer.
    Would you want to see Ryan Helsley pitching for your Milwaukee Brewers? What would you be willing trade for the rental closer? 
    Brock Beauchamp
    Curt Hogg of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel caught some quotes from Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold on trading Freddy Peralta.
    Long story short, it's unlikely (as should be the case). Peralta's guaranteed contract ends after the season, but it includes a ridiculously cheap team option for 2026, which the Brewers will surely pick up following the season.
    While Arnold said it's unlikely Peralta will be traded, he couched his statement in GM-speak:
    “Obviously, it’s important for us to never close the door, but Freddy means the world to our franchise and all of us,” Arnold said. “I would expect him to be a big part of this going down the stretch. It’s something that we can never exclusively say no on anything. But he just means so much to so many people here. I’m thrilled to have him as a part of this team.”
    After the Josh Hader debacle of 2022, it's hard to envision the Brewers front office trading one of the leaders of their pitching staff amid a race for the division title. If Peralta is to be traded before he enters free agency, this offseason is the most likely time for such trade rumors to emerge.
    Spencer Michaelis
    Sean Episcope is from the Chicago area originally, but has spent his college career at Princeton. At 6'0, he throws from a higher slot than you would expect. After undergoing Tommy John Surgery his senior year of high school, he is dealing with another elbow injury currently that will likely keep him out for a while.
    MLB Pipeline has Episcope ranked 215th overall, and their write-up discusses how he, "made 10 uneven starts as a freshman with the Tigers in 2024, but came out of the gate this year like gangbusters, with 26 strikeouts and just four walks in 20 innings, including a nine-strikeout, five-inning start at Wake Forest that opened a lot of eyes. But he came out of his fourth start with his biceps tingling, and it was eventually determined that he required another procedure, getting internal brace surgery in May."
    They then dive into his interesting pitch mix, saying, "Episcope does have the pitch mix to potentially start when healthy. He was topping out at 97 mph with his fastball and averaging a touch over 94, while maintaining that velocity throughout his starts before he got shut down. He has two legitimate breaking balls, with a mid-80s gyro-like slider and more of a 12-to-6 power curve up to 82 mph that registered elite-level spin rates north of 3,000 rpm. Combined, the two breakers elicited a 60-percent miss rate over his four starts, according to Synergy. Episcope did an excellent job filling up the strike zone this spring, but given the lack of history on the mound and the multiple elbow procedures, it's a little more difficult to pinpoint where he belongs in a Draft class. Some thought he could go as high as the second round as a future starter had his success continued, while others see his size and injuries and see a reliever profile."
    The Brewers' next selection will come in the sixth round, 185th overall.
    Spencer Michaelis
    Joshua Flores hails from the same high school as 2023 pick Josh Adamczewski and 2024 pick Griffin Tobias, making it three years in a row the Brewers went to the well at Lake Central High School in Indiana.
    MLB Pipeline has Flores ranked 243rd overall, and wrote, "Indiana's high school pitching crop runs deeper than usual this year, and Flores has the loudest stuff of the group. He features one of the best curveballs in the national prep class, though he also averaged a walk per inning as a senior. He comes with a high ceiling but also a good deal of reliever risk. Flores' hammer curveball ranges from 82-85 mph with downer break, grading as a well above-average pitch at times but also moving so much he has difficulty landing it in the zone. He has better command of a tighter slider with similar velocity. Hitters can't really guard against his breaking balls because his fastball sits at 92-95 mph and touches 97 with some armside run and carry. Flores barely utilizes his mid-80s changeup, which flashes some interesting tumble. The Kentucky recruit has a long arm action and effort in his delivery, which hampers his ability to throw strikes, let alone locate his offerings with much precision. He'll be an intriguing project for a team that believes in its ability to develop pitchers."
    The Brewers' next selection will be 155th overall, in the fifth round.
    Matthew Lenz
    As the "first half" of the season was coming to an end Sunday, independent reporter Francys Romero dropped an exciting rumor surrounding the Milwaukee Brewers and their phenom starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski.
    The two sides have already had extension talks as the team is looking to buy out his arbitration and pre-arbitration years.
    Misiorowski, 23, has been dominant in his first five big-league starts, which resulted in him being named to the National League All-Star team. In 25 2/3 innings of work, he's recorded a 2.81 ERA, though a 3.82 FIP, suggesting some underlying weakness. Misiorowski has demonstrated impressive control with a strikeout minus walk rate (K-BB%) of 22.1%.
    The Brewers made a similar move with Jackson Chourio, who signed an eight-year contract for a guaranteed for $82 million. This deal, which was finalized in December 2023 before his major league debut, included a $2 million signing bonus and an average annual salary of $10.25 million. They could look at a deal that is similar to what the Cleveland Guardians and starting pitcher Tanner Bibee agreed to earlier this year - a five year, $48 million pact.
    If you're the Brewers, what is your final and best offer for the young ace? If you're Misiorowski, are you signing an extension now? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Jake McKibbin
    Adolis Garcia has a .657 OPS in 2025. Let's face it, he wasn't that great in 2024 either. That being said, he's showing some real signs of progress under the hood that suggest a big breakout with the type of power the Brewers are desperate for.
    If I showed you the two baseball savant pages below and asked which one you would prefer, I think the one on the left would likely win out. That would be Garcia, while the one on the right is Eugenio Suarez, one of the most in-demand trade targets expected to be available at the deadline in 2025. Suarez has the advantage of playing in a hitters' paradise within Chase Field, and his actual numbers more closely resemble his expected production than Garcia's, but both are streaky and have the potential to carry an offense

    As a bonus, Garcia is also under team control through 2026.
    There's solid range in the outfield, a cannon of a throwing arm, and a monstrous bat. He's coming into form, reducing his whiff rate to just 19% in July (down from 30%+ in recent months) while having an expected batting average of .377 and expected slugging mark of .684. He provides just the type of danger the Brewers' lineup is currently lacking.
    We're also beginning to see some rumours pointing towards a connection between Garcia and the Brewers. With his history of postseason performance, the passion with which he plays, would you like to see Adolis Garcia in a Brewers uniform come August? What would you be willing to give up for him?
    Matthew Lenz
    It remains unclear how aggressive the Milwaukee Brewers will be at the trade deadline, but Jim Bowden of The Athletic speculates they could be as a landing spot if the Boston Red Sox cannot extend him ahead of the trade deadline.
    Bowden goes on to suggest the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers as additional suitors for the superstar third basemen, if he is dealt.
    Through 51 games, he boasts an impressive .938 OPS, fueled by a .385 on-base percentage and a .553 slugging percentage. He has hit 11 home runs and driven in 35 runs, while also scoring 32 runs. He signed a 3-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox in February 2025 with opt outs at the end of each season.
    Do you think the Brewers should pay up to add Bregman or address other needs? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Brock Beauchamp
    32‑year‑old first baseman Rhys Hoskins has batted .242/.340/.428 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs through 82 games this season. On July 5, he exited a 4–2 loss to the Marlins after jamming his left thumb tagging out a runner. X-rays were negative, but the MRI revealed a grade 2 sprain, and he’ll require a stint on the 10-day injured list. Hoskins has a hard‑hit rate of 45.8% and a wOBA of .334.
    Grade‑2 thumb sprains typically sideline MLB players for 2–4 weeks. Aroldis Chapman missed about three weeks with a similar right thumb sprain in 2023, while infielder Xander Bogaerts was also out roughly three weeks after a grade‑2 left thumb sprain in 2021.
    Called up to Milwaukee to replace Hoskins is Andrew Vaughn, who has an OPS of .838 in 65 plate appearances in Triple-A Nashville. He was recently acquired in trade from the Chicago White Sox.
    Thanks to @markedman5 for creating the original thread on the Brewer Fanatic forums.
    Matthew Lenz
    Freddy Peralta, who's on pace for the best season of his career, is reportedly interested in signing an extension with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post.
    Peralta has a team option for 2026 that would pay him $8 million - basically a no brainer for the Brewers.
    Peralta has been phenomenal for the Brewers in his 14 starters this season. The 29 year old has a 2.69 ERA (3.89 FIP) and 14.8% strikeout minus walk rate. The one gripe you could make is his elevated walk rate, otherwise the right hander has been lights out with elite fastball and offspeed offerings.
    If you were in charge, how many years and how much money would you give Peralta, if any?
    Matthew Lenz
    The Milwaukee Brewers have been keeping the hot stove warm in the last two days. They traded Aaron Civale, who requested a trade after being forced to the bullpen, to the Chicago White Sox for 1B/OF Andrew Vaughn. Vaughn was previously with the White Sox Triple-A affiliate.
    That move has prompted the team to put 1B/OF Jake Bauers on the trade blocking, according to Francys Romero.
    Vaughn and Bauers are redundant on the Brewers' 40-man roster as they profile similarly, and Rhys Hoskins is the team's primary first baseman. The team must view Vaughn better than they do Bauers, given how the last few hours have unfolded. Bauers has had a good start to the season with a .762 OPS and five home runs, but is significantly cheaper than Vaughn. It's a pretty surprising move as Vaughn has been underwhelming in his big-league career.
    What do you think of the moves today?
    Matthew Trueblood
    Freddy Peralta, Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick will all retain their spots in the Brewers starting rotation, with the arrival of Jacob Misiorowski rounding out the group. The odd man out will be Aaron Civale, last year's early-July starting reinforcement. Civale, who turns 30 on Thursday, has a 4.91 ERA in five starts this year, and is a free agent at season's end. Everyone else in the mix either has significantly outperformed him; is more important to the long-term future of the Brewers; or meets both of those criteria.
     
    Presumably, Misiorowski will take the place on the roster of Easton McGee, whom the team recalled to replace the optioned Grant Anderson. With Civale, DL Hall and Aaron Ashby all in the pen, the Brewers now have one of the deepest groups of multi-inning relief options in the league. That figures to come in handy, since Patrick, Misiorowski and even (lately) Peralta are prone to short starts. One way or another, though, the pitching staff certainly got more talented—and Pat Murphy's job to manage it just got a hair more complicated.
    Matthew Lenz
    Baseball America has updated their Top 100 prospect list at the start of June and it's unsurprising that the Milwaukee Brewers systems leads the charge with four prospects in the top 33. While they don't have the most prospects in the top 100, they aren't far off from Los Angeles Dodgers who have five. 
    Jesús Made(#4), Jacob Misiorowski (#21), Luis Peña (#31), and Cooper Pratt (#33) are the four names to crack the list.
    Made has arguably been the hottest name in the prospect word as he's torn apart Single-A Carolina with an .837 OPS, four home runs, and 21 stolen bases. Misiorowski has a sparkling 2.31 ERA and a so-so 19.2% K-BB rate for Triple-A Nashville. Peña, at the same level as Made, is another prospect who's been a popular topic of conversation this season. He has a .964 OPS with five home runs and 23 stolen bases. Finally, Pratt hasn't had quite the same level of success for Double-A Biloxi with just a .650 OPS. He does have four home runs and 10 stolen bases on the season.
    When will the Brewers call up Misiorowski? Was anyone snubbed from the top 100 list? Join the conversation in the comments!
    Brock Beauchamp
    In a recent roundup on MLB.com, early results on MLB television ratings were revealed. They include:
    MLB on Fox is up 10% MLB on ESPN is up 22% MLB Tuesday on TBS is up 16% Perhaps most importantly, it appears substantial gains are being made in the 18-34 age demographic, a decades-long weakness of Major League Baseball.
    This is in sharp contrast to the World Series, which has been in decline for years and is often used as a benchmark for the overall popularity of the sport. I was able to find World Series ratings dating back to 1968, and until 2007 the World Series never carried a rating under 10. That slowly spiraled until it hit its low-water mark of 4.7 in 2023 as the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks squared off.
    MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred have aggressively pushed rules changes, largely in an attempt to capture younger demographics that have abandoned baseball in favor of football and basketball.
    Is baseball on the rebound with fans or is this just a blip on the radar?
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