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    Trade and free agent rumors posted here.

    148 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One of the more coveted arms at the trade deadline hasn't pitched in an MLB game since mid-May. That is not stopping contenders from pursuing New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes.

      According to multiple reports, including Ari Alexander of Boston TV station WHDH, the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are among the chief competitors for the right-handed starter. Holmes has been out since taking a line drive off his right leg, resulting in a fractured right fibula May 15.

      But Holmes made what was expected to be a final rehab appearance Sunday at High A, pitching 5⅓ innings (73 pitches) and allowing four runs, three earned. He was a bright spot in a dismal Mets season before going down, posting a 3.21 FIP (2.39 ERA) in nine starts and 52⅔ innings, with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate.

      Holmes is being paid $13 million this year (about $3.8 million remaining) and $12 million next year. That plus the number of suitors means Holmes will come at a decent prospect cost.

       

      Matthew Nethercott

      The Seattle Mariners are listening to offers for most of their starting rotation, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

      Passan reported Saturday afternoon that multiple teams have engaged on right-handed pitcher George Kirby, as well as right-hander Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock.

      Kirby, 28, is earning $6.55 million this season after avoiding arbitration and remains under team control through 2028. This season, he's sporting a 20.9% strikeout rate and a 20.9% whiff rate, both of which sit below average, offset by an elite 5.7% walk rate. His 3.33 FIP edges his 3.76 xERA, but quality of contact has crept up (.303 xwOBA, .384 xSLG, 42.0% hard-hit), leaving him reliant on limiting damage in the zone. The 96.6 mph fastball still plays; the swing-and-miss less so.

      The Brewers have been in the market and connected to multiple starters. If they don’t land the bigger fish, like Tarik Skubal or Casey Mize, any of the Mariners rotation options could be options.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The battle for Tarik Skubal has forced teams to push more chips into the pot. Who is still in the game is another question. Are the Milwaukee Brewers?

      According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the cost to acquire the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner from the Detroit Tigers is "enormous." Heyman uses that word after talking with multiple executives who are interested in acquiring Skubal.

      That is not a surprise. Skubal is the most coveted player on this year's trade market, with the deadline to make a deal Monday at 5 p.m. CT and a true ace available to bolster a team during a push to make the postseason or to win a World Series.

      The three teams most often talked about for Skubal are the Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Other teams such as Atlanta and the Chicago Cubs are thought to be secondary players for Skubal, but could become primary options by increasing their package of players going to the Tigers.

      The Brewers (NL Central), Dodgers (NL West) and Rays (AL East) are all first-place teams in their respective divisions and possess the prospect capital and young major-league talent to get a deal done.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Perhaps as a way to limit the loss of prospects, the Milwaukee Brewers would be willing to pay the remainder of the $32 million salary in order to acquire reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Friday.

      Skubal will be owed about $9.4 million when he is dealt. The Brewers are MLB's smallest market, yet posted the best record last year and are just 1½ games behind the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers (69-40) at 67-41 for this year's best record.

      That $9.4 million matches catcher William Contreras' salary for 2026, which is the third-highest salary for the Brewers behind Christian Yelich's $24,032,625 and Brandon Woodruff's $22,025,000. The Brewers' had the No. 19 payroll on Opening Day at $124.8 million, per Cots.

      By taking on more salary and relieving that burden from the Tigers, the damage in losing prospects is lessened. Basically, the Brewers are paying to keep prospects. If the Tigers would pay the remainder of Skubal's salary, they would be buying better prospects.

      The Brewers have baseball's best farm system and can absorb the loss of key prospects, but the hesitancy from a team such as Milwaukee that values prospects like a golden egg, is the rental of Skubal for the rest of the season might be too much of a price to pay.

      However, if Skubal helps the Brewers get to or win a World Series, that cost could be worth it.

       

      Matthew Lenz

       

      The Milwaukee Brewers, as clear favorites in the NL Central, are looking to fine-tune an already strong roster rather than fill any glaring holes. Their biggest priority is adding another reliable starting pitcher to strengthen the rotation for what they hope will be a deep postseason run. Beyond the rotation, Milwaukee could still look to bolster its lineup with a right-handed bat that provides more power and handles left-handed pitching well, particularly if that player can also offer versatility on the left side of the infield. Additional bullpen depth would further solidify the roster ahead of October.

      The latest reports suggest that they have their eyes on one of the more coveted relief pitchers on the market. Will Sammon of The Athletic is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are interested in New York Mets reliever Luke Weaver.

      Weaver, who is controlled through next season, has shined in his role with the Mets. Through 41 appearances, he has a 1.88 ERA (2.87 FIP) and a 19.9 strikeout-minus-walk (K-BB) rate. He's largely been used a a high-leverage reliever who has accrued 16 saves plus holds this season.

      Do you think the Brewers should acquire the 32-year-old righty? Join the conversation in the comments!

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The price for Tarik Skubal will be high regardless of what team acquires the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner from the Detroit Tigers.

      With the Milwaukee Brewers possessing the top farm system in MLB, they are well-positioned to deal for this year's biggest prize on the trade market. The deadline for making trades is Monday at 5 p.m. CT.

      But what does that package look like? No better expert to put a proposal together than JJ Cooper of Baseball America. Cooper spent the time identifying packages from six teams, led by the Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers.

      Without further adieu, here is what he put together for the Brewers:

      Cooper said that Pena's path to the majors with the Brewers might be a little tougher with how their infield is currently constructed and with No. 1 prospect Jesus Made soon to join that group. Another top prospect, Cooper Pratt, has taken over as the starting shortstop and Brice Turang is a former Gold Glove second baseman. That leaves third base as Made's likely position, perhaps as soon as Opening Day next year.

      Fischer, last year's first-round draft choice, is a corner infielder who leads the minors in home runs with 33 entering play Thursday.

      Ragsdale is having a breakout season that has raised his prospect profile at High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi. Moneys was the Brewers' top international signing in January who is a power-hitting infielder.

      What do you think? Is that too much for the Brewers to give up for a chance at the franchise's first World Series championship?

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It can be a little dangerous at the trade deadline when columnists and beat writers get bored by a lack of activity from MLB teams.

      So take this with that grain of salt:

      The Milwaukee Brewers should trade for San Francisco Giants right-handed starter Logan Webb. At least that is the thought of Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who presented outside-the-box deals for three contenders.

      Webb is a true ace, not just a No. 1 pitcher on a staff. A three-time All-Star, Webb has finished in the top 11 of NL Cy Young Award voting in the last four years, including second in 2023 and fourth in 2025. The Giants need help in resetting their roster and Webb would help that process. Of course, the financially fickle Brewers would have to absorb Webb's contract, which pays him $23 million this year, $23 million in 2027 and $24 million in 2028.

      Having that type of guarantee of Webb being around for two more full seasons would make dealing away the prospects needed to acquire the right-hander a bit more palatable. Webb has a 3.44 FIP (3.93 ERA) with a 6.2% walk rate and 19.1% strikeout rate.

      As Sherman points out, Webb would also fit the Brewers' pitching plan and emphasis on defense. He is a groundball pitcher who will give you innings. He averages just about 6⅓ per outing, which would give the Brewers' bullpen a break.

      Webb slotting in atop the rotation with young right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and former Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison would be a pretty decent trio heading into a postseason series.

      With the Brewers having just spent a few days in San Francisco, perhaps Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold and his Giants counterpart, Buster Posey, had a chance to discuss a few things.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      As the likelihood of the Detroit Tigers trading reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal increased with Wednesday's devastating defeat, the heat is being turned up with the clock ticking toward Monday's trade deadline.

      With one NL executive telling MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, "The offers should start flowing in any minute," another source said there are three teams that are the clear top suitors in terms of prospects for what it would take to pry the left-handed starter away from the Tigers.

      One of those teams is the Milwaukee Brewers.

      "The Brewers, Rays and Dodgers have the most high-end prospects to move,” one source said. “It would be somewhat surprising if he didn’t wind up with one of those three teams."

      For fans of the Crew, that shouldn't be surprising. After all, the Brewers have the consensus top farm system in MLB. Per MLB Pipeline, the Brewers have six players on that Top 100 list. Baseball America has seven Brewers prospects on its Top 100. For the Brewers, that begins with Double-A shortstop Jesus Made, still the No. 1 prospect in baseball (and not surprisingly at Brewer Fanatic) on most every list.

      With that quality as well as young controllable starting pitching already in the majors, the Brewers can definitely put together an attractive package, it is just a matter of will they be willing to meet the Tigers' asking price.

      The Dodgers and Rays have multiple players on those Top 100 lists.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the Detroit Tigers now having lost three in a row and having to leapfrog five teams in the AL wild-card standings, suitors are starting to contact the team about adding two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

      One of five teams mentioned by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal on Tuesday, a day after the Tigers' 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, is the Milwaukee Brewers.

      As expected, it would take a huge haul for the prize of this year's trade deadline. On top of being a two-time Cy Young, the left-hander has regained that form after having some bumpy starts (from a Skubal perspective) following a nano-needle procedure to remove a single bone chip from his left elbow. In his last start, Skubal struck out 12 over 7⅓ innings in a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

      Skubal is scheduled to make his final start before Monday's trade deadline Wednesday.

      Rosenthal notes that front offices kept their distance as the Tigers hovered on the line of contending, but following Monday's loss five teams had plans to touch base again and possibly ramp up negotiations for Skubal. Joining the Brewers in that pursuit are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Atlanta.

      The Brewers have the No. 1 farm system in all of baseball, according to several outlets, so there is no shortage of prospects to pull from. Rosenthal says that Scott Harris, the Tigers' president of baseball operations, would likely ask to have access to every player in any suitor's system. For the Brewers, that would include Double-A shortstop Jesus Made, the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball by most outlets and obviously the No. 1 by Brewer Fanatic, as well as High-A shortstop Luis Pena, Brewer Fanatic's No. 2 prospect.

      The Tigers would no doubt be in search of a young pitcher as well, which could put right-hander Logan Henderson in play.

      A move for Skubal by the Brewers would harken back to the 2008 blockbuster for left-hander CC Sabathia, who put together a storybook run en route to getting the Brewers to the postseason for the first time since 1982 and then cashed in with a huge free-agent contract. Like Sabathia was, Skubal will be a free agent following the season. He is making $32 million this year.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Could the Milwaukee Brewers reunite with former ace Freddy Peralta?

      In the latest edition of his podcast "Sources Tell Jeff Passan," ESPN's MLB insider sorts through a bunch of names as Monday's trade deadline approaches and, when talking about Peralta, Passan brings up a potential return to the Brewers for the right-hander, who Milwaukee shipped to New York in the offseason for two key prospects in infielder-center fielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat.

      The Mets were expected to be a contender in the NL East with the addition of Peralta, but enter play Tuesday at 45-62, the second-worst record in the NL and fourth-worst in MLB. The Brewers, meanwhile, sit atop the NL Central at 66-40 and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in MLB by one game.

      Peralta's 4.47 FIP is the worst of his career and his 4.99 ERA is second-worst behind the 5.29 he put up in 2019, his first full season in the majors. Last year, Peralta had a 3.64 FIP and career-best 2.70 ERA, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting.

      "He's been terrible and it hurts playing in front of a Mets defense that (has been bad)," Passan said.

      While also mentioning and then dismissing the Chicago Cubs as a potential destination in a discussion with co-host Richard Staff, Passan broached the reunion possibility, which would mean David Stearns, the former Brewers president of baseball operations who now runs the Mets' front office, would ship Peralta back to not only the pitcher's former team, but the executive's ex-franchise as well.

      "One thing I did hear this week, Richard, is that the Mets have been talking with the Brewers about Freddy Peralta," Passan said. "I don't know if that's going to happen, but it's the kind of deal where you see what they would get back from Milwaukee, considering what they gave up, is that a trade that David Stearns politically—already just getting fileted every time he's mentioned in New York—is that something he can pull off? Could he actually deal him back to Milwaukee?"

      Staff, a Mets fan, retorted that the conspiracy theories would flood the radio talk shows with the much lesser return for Peralta than what the Mets gave up.

       

      Matthew Lenz

       

      The Milwaukee Brewers, as clear favorites in the NL Central, are looking to add finishing touches rather than address any major roster hole. Their lineup lacks home run pop and struggles against left-handed pitching, so a right-handed bat with some thump would address multiple issues at once, especially if that hitter can also play on the left side of the infield. Beyond the lineup tweak, they could look to add rotation and bullpen depth to round out the roster for a postseason push.

      While it's not their MO, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was quoted as saying, “Everything I have heard backs up the idea of the Brewers being aggressive.” This quote is more direct than him simply suggesting they should be aggressive and implies it's likely they will be. He goes on to mention names like Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller as guys that president of baseball operations Matt Arnold “has been working the phones and has checked in on.

      Skubal and Miller are at the tip top of the market and would undoubtedly fetch an incredible return of prospects, which the Brewers have plenty of. It's a tidal wave type move like adding an elite arm that would put them well within striking distance of the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.

      Do you think the Brewers should make a big splash via trade? Join the conversation in the comments!

       

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After pursuing a trade for Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams in the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers are checking in on him again as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches.

      At least that is according to Spencer Nussbaum and Will Sammon of The Athletic in an article posted Saturday. Abrams is making $4.2 million this season and under club control for an additional two seasons.

      Abrams, whose defense has been questioned but is in the midst of a terrific offensive year, would likely shift over to third base as the Brewers would value the defense provided by rookie Cooper Pratt at shortstop.

      During the offseason, the Brewers were one of several teams to go after Abrams, but the Nationals' asking price was too high, according to The Athletic. At the time, Abrams was coming off a .257/.315/.433 slash line with 19 homers, 60 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 144 games.

      But this year, the left-handed hitter has put up a slash line of .288/.361/.544 with 24 homers, 76 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 100 games entering play Saturday.

      It also must be noted that Abrams caused a stir late in the 2024 season when he was out late at a Chicago-area casino, first being suspended by the Nationals and then demoted to the minors for the rest of the season.

      Currently, the Brewers are riding with Joey Ortiz at third base after Pratt supplanted him as the starting shortstop. David Hamilton, just activated off the 10-day injured list, will also get time at third base. But Abrams would be an offensive upgrade at the hot corner, a position he has never played, even in the minors. Since being traded to the Nats in the Juan Soto deal with the San Diego Padres, the only position Abrams has played is shortstop.

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are aiming high before the trade deadline on August 3. They've reportedly reached out to the Detroit Tigers about ace pitcher and perhaps the best pitcher in the American League, Tarik Skubal. They've also reached out to the San Diego Padres about their closer extraordinaire, Mason Miller.

      Skubal is playing this season on an expiring contract. He won his arbitration hearing in February, receiving a record $32 million salary after the Tigers filed at $19 million, and said the Tigers made no long-term offer this offseason. He's expected to command roughly $400 million as the top 2026-27 free agent. On the mound, he posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over seven starts before a left elbow injury sidelined him in early May; he's since returned, and now sits at 6-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 98 strikeouts across 14 appearances.

      Miller's situation is the opposite of Skubal's: cheap and controlled. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal to avoid arbitration in his first arbitration-eligible year, and remains under team control through 2029. He has expressed interest in a Padres extension, though no talks have occurred. Performance-wise, he's been dominant as San Diego's closer, with a 0.86 ERA, 25 saves, and 78 strikeouts against 15 walks this season. With the Padres coming under new ownership, it's almost impossible to predict the actions of their already-maverick president of baseball operations AJ Preller.

      What do you think of this news? Are the Brewers aiming for a level higher than they have at previous deadlines, or is this just due diligence?

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While a lot of Milwaukee Brewers fans might be clamoring for more punch in the offense, one of baseball's top insiders has identified another need for the Crew.

      Playoff-caliber starting pitching, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. One of the reasons for needing starting pitching is the new shoulder injury to right-hander Brandon Woodruff, while right-hander Logan Henderson just returned Thursday from a stay on the injured list with a back issue.

      As Passan sorts through all of the contenders, he made two choices for each club. One was a best-match trade addition, the other was a dream pickup.

      The best match, Passan says, is the Brewers connecting with their old front-office boss David Stearns with the New York Mets and acquiring right-handed starter Clay Holmes. Having recently returned from a broken right leg 2.39 ERA (3.19 FIP) in 52⅔ innings with an 8.4% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate. But it is Holmes' experience as a postseason reliever in 2021, 2022 and 2024 that could help push the Crew over the top. Holmes also fits financially as he is making $12 million this year and $13 million next year.

      But in a dream scenario, the Brewers would grab Minnesota Twins right-handed starter Joe Ryan. Ryan has ace qualities that would pair very nicely with Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the MLB leader in strikeouts (167) and ERA (1.62). Ryan has a 2.65 ERA (2.83 FIP) in 19 starts, having already logged 104⅓ innings. Ryan has a 5.4% walk rate and 28.8% strikeout rate. Ryan, making $6.1 million this year, would be more of a rental as he has a mutual option for 2027. Mutual options are almost always declined.

      The Brewers certainly have the prospects to get either deal done.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      With the unfortunate injury to right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the Milwaukee Brewers would seem to be in the market for another starting pitcher.

      With the ink barely dry on Woodruff's injured-list placement due to his continued shoulder issues, speculation is already swirling as to who the Crew should go after. One popular name is Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.

      In a post for FanSided, writer John Perroto throws out a potential trade for Detmers, who would fit the type of player the Brewers like to acquire. Detmers, who turns 27 on Wednesday, was a first-round pick of the Angels out of Louisville in 2020. He is making $2.625 million this year and is under team control through 2028.

      Detmers authored a no-hitter in 2022 and has a 3.08 FIP (4.13 ERA) in 18 starts, with a career-low 7.9% walk rate and 27.1% strikeout rate. His strikeout rates the last three seasons (27.9%, 30.1% and 27.1%) are trending up from his career mark of 25.9%.

      What does Perroto think it will take for the Angels to give up a prized asset? He offers up shortstop Luis Pena, catcher Jeferson Quero, right-hander Brett Wichrowski and and right-hander Patricio Aquino. Pena is Brewer Fanatic's No. 2 prospect and Quero, who had a brief MLB call-up in April, is No. 8.

      The Angels are looking to replenish their farm system and are currently in a front-office transition, having fired general manager Perry Miniasian, who has Brewers ties, and put former St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak in charge of creating a new path forward and hiring the next front-office boss (which could be himself).

      This is an interesting proposal, which also posits that Mozeliak would then spin off Angels starting catcher Logan O'Hoppe. Control of Detmers for two more seasons, plus him being a left-hander to go alongside Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, could make the price worth it as Wichrowski, at Triple-A Nashville after a recent promotion, and Aquino, on the 60-day injured list at Double-A Biloxi, are not Top 20 prospects.

      Telemachus Rafaelidys

      Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Jeferson Quero will be called up to the Brewers today. To make room for Jeferson Quero, Andrew Vaughn will be placed on the IL with a hand Injury sustained on Opening Day.

      Quero has been touted as a top 100 prospect in baseball the last three winters, but an unfortunate shoulder injury during the first game of the 2024 season waylaid his ascent to the majors. Quero has not had the same success at or behind the plate since his injury, but the Brewers will bring him to Milwaukee for his first big league opportunity. Quero is already on the 40-man roster and has an option allowing the Brewers to return him to the minor leagues if and when the team wants to make that move. For now, it appears Pat Murphy will have three catchers on the team with Quero joining All-Star starter William Contreras and veteran backup Gary Sanchez.

      The Brewers will be without Vaughn for an indeterminate amount of time. He left the first game of the season in the sixth inning for a pinch-runner, and the Brewers have not announced the nature or seriousness of the injury. With Vaughn out, Jake Bauers looks to be the starter at first base against all right-handed pitching. Bauers started the season with a home run in the opening game, a good first step toward validating last season's improvements and his league-leading seven home runs in spring training. Despite his breakout, Bauers is still unlikely to face left-handed pitchers, and with the Brewers facing a left-handed starter on Sunday, it's possible Quero or Sanchez could get the start at first base.

      Steve Drumwright

      It seems like a Freddy Peralta trade is going to happen; it is getting much closer.

      According to a report by Michael Marino, who calls himself a national MLB reporter but appears unaffiliated with any outlet, the Milwaukee Brewers wanted young New York Mets right-handed starter Jonah Tong in the return package for Peralta, who is entering 2026 in his final year of team control and is making $8 million before hitting free agency.

      But the Mets rejected including Tong, the No. 4 prospect in the Mets' system and No. 46 in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. As a counterproposal, the Brewers asked for infielder-outfielder Jett Williams, the Mets' No. 3 prospect and No. 30 in baseball, and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat, the Mets' No. 5 prospect but not a top-100 player. The report said the Mets are not willing to pay that steep a price for one year of Peralta.

      Tong made five starts for the Mets while making his MLB debut in 2025, posting a 4.31 FIP and 7.71 ERA, with 22 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings. Sproat also made his MLB debut in 2025, putting up a 2.80 FIP and 4.79 ERA in four starts, striking out 17 in 20⅔ innings. Williams, who can play middle infield as well as center field, put up a .261/.363/.465 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025 with 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases in 130 games. Williams also struck out 131 times.

      Steve Drumwright

      After the biggest week of player movement of this hot-stove season, Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta remains a hot topic.

      According to a social-media post by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, five big-market teams are leading the pursuit of the right-hander. Those teams are the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta. But Heyman also notes that those five are "among many, many" teams trying to acquire Peralta. This comes after Brewer Fanatic's own Matt Trueblood reported Monday the Brewers were "moving toward a deal" for Peralta, with the Yankees as the most likely fit.

      Peralta is a hot property as he is making a very affordable $8 million for 2026 before hitting free agency. He is coming off a 2025 in which he posted a career-best 5.5 bWAR with an NL-leading and career-high 17 wins to go along with a 3.64 FIP and 1.075 WHIP for an ERA+ of 154, the highest of his career.

      Of course, the Brewers could always sign Peralta to an extension.

      Matthew Lenz

      Despite having five starters penciled into the rotation for 2026, the Milwaukee Brewers could get creative with a newly acquired reliever. At the very least, it sounds like the fifth rotation spot could be up for grabs throughout spring training.

      Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers could use recently acquired Angel Zerpa as a starter. In his article, Brewers president of baseball operations, Matt Arnold, was quoted as saying, "We have some scouts that think he can do it.  He has done it in the past."

      Zerpa, recently acquired via a trade with the Kansas City Royals, progressed through the minor leagues primarily as a reliever, though in five seasons with the Royals only made eight starts. In 2025, Zerpa pitched 64 2/3 innings, posting a solid 3.86 FIP despite a low 13.1% K-BB rate, due to an elevated walk rate. As a southpaw, he's particularly effective against left-handed hitters who carried a .288 wOBA last season, whereas righties had a .360 wOBA. For more on Zerpa's arsenal and development, check out Jack Stern's dive into his repertoire. Zerpa, 26, just entered his first year of arbitration and is controllable through 2028.

      Do you think the Brewers should test him in the starting rotation or leave him in the bullpen? Let us know in the comments!

      Brock Beauchamp

      According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Brewers are open to trading some of their outfield depth. Isaac Collins and Blake Perkins are mentioned by name, with the expectation that Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and Sal Frelick are not available.

      Perkins, 29, is arbitration-eligible for 2026, his first year of arbitration. In 2025 for Milwaukee, he logged 171 plate appearances and hit .226/.298/.348 with three home runs. He posted a .287 wOBA and 83 wRC+, and finished at 0.4 fWAR overall. Perkins played 52 games in center field, with +1 Outs Above Average.

      Collins, 28, lost his rookie eligibility in 2025 and won't qualify for arbitration until 2027. Collins tallied 441 plate appearances in 2025, batting .263/.368/.411 with nine home runs and 16 steals. He produced a .344 wOBA, 122 wRC+, and 2.6 fWAR, along with a 12.9% BB% and 21.1% K%. He finished the season with +4 Outs Above Average, a .319 xwOBA, and an 88.8 mph average exit velocity.

      Matthew Lenz

      Coming off a campaign that saw them have the best record in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly open to offers on their rotation ace, Freddy Peralta .

      A couple of weeks ago, Andy McCullough of The Athletic reported that the "[Milwaukee] Brewers are expected to at least field offers for starting pitcher Freddy Peralta."

      Across 33 starts in 2025, Peralta pitched 176 2/3 innings, recording 204 strikeouts to surpass the 200-strikeout mark for the third consecutive season, joining an exclusive group in franchise history. Peralta finished the regular season with a strong 2.70 ERA, though his expected outcomes metrics suggest some regression moving forward with a 3.64 FIP per FanGraphs. His production led to his second All-Star selection and generated a 5.5 bWAR. He has an $8 million team option for 2026 and will be a free agent at season's end.

      As a "small market" team, the Brewers have become accustomed to flipping high-end assets on expiring contracts for younger, controllable assets - as they did with Corbin Burnes following the 2023 season. Though Peralta doesn't have the track record that Burnes had, a weak free agent class could drive up his value.

      Do you think the Brewers should trade Peralta? 

      Jake McKibbin

      Ha-Seong Kim would have been an ideal addition for the Brewers earlier in the season, albeit he has spent a lot of the year on the injured list. Capable of pull side power, Kim's fantastic swing decisions and low strikeout rate would mesh well with the Brewers while also showcasing great defensive grades over the last three seasons.

      Kim is being linked with the New York Yankees, who are concerned by the defensive performances of Anthony Volpe in 2025. He's a base-stealing threat and one of the smoothest shortstops in the league, who provides a consistent ~ .700 OPS that marks a substantial upgrade on the output from Joey Ortiz thus far.

      image.png

      He has back tightness at present, and has struggled with injuries this year, which should lower the cost but does present some risk to any acquisition. How much would you give to see the versatile former Padre in the six hole through August and September?

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      Brewers rumors are hard to come by this deadline, as they are more deadlines. The Brewers are one of the most tight-lipped organizations in baseball, but according to Curt Hogg of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, most of the Brewers' trade deadline efforts are focused around a first base solution and an addition to the bullpen.

      The corner-infield market is thin, so most conversations start with Orioles first baseman Ryan O'Hearn . In his walk year, O’Hearn owns a .306/.386/.495 slash, a .333 wOBA, and a 153 wRC+ through 91 games, numbers that earned his first All-Star nod. Baltimore has signaled a willingness to move expiring contracts, making the 32-year-old left-handed hitter, who can also cover both corner-outfield spots, one of the few impact bats realistically available. 

      In regards to the bullpen, given the Brewers' proclivity for developing their own bullpen power arms, it's hard to envision them paying a king's ransom for one of the controllable late-inning relievers on the market, such as Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, or Ryan Helsley.

      But there are several middle-inning arms on the market: you can find a starter pack of arms in DiamondCentric's trade deadline roundup.

      Jake McKibbin

      The Brewers have gone where they'd be least expected with (excuse the pun) a left field approach for Steven Kwan of the Guardians per the Moccbomb twitter account.

      Steven Kwan is a Gold Glover in left field who fits the Sal Frelick mold from the left-hand side. He doesn't swing and miss, doesn't strike out, takes his walks, and has shown more power over the last two seasons than many expected out of him. He's posting a .762 OPS so far in 2025 with a .351 on-base percentage and nine home runs so far.

      Kwan is arbitration eligible in 2026, meaning the Brewers would have control of the Guardians outfield star for three years after the conclusion of this season. Would they truly entertain such a move? Are they more concerned about their outfield depth than we realise?

      Kwan fits the Brewers player profile to a T, but there remains a question of whether the Brewers need more of that archetype in their line-up. He also would be incredibly costly than to the years of control remaining. 

      Could the Brewers seriously make this move? How would Kwan fit into the Brewers setup?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

      Editor's Note: The Twitter account MoccBomb has been correct in the past, though is somewhat unreliable compared to other rumormongers. 

      Brock Beauchamp

      Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported the Brewers are showing interest in first baseman/corner outfielder. The 32-year-old O'Hearn has 12 home runs, a .284/.375/.452 slash line, a .360 wOBA and a 133 wRC+ through 92 games, though he has cooled to .218 with a .684 OPS since May 27. He is earning $3.8 million this season, leaving approximately $2.5 million owed, and can become a free agent in November. 

      O’Hearn would give Milwaukee another option at first base while Rhys Hoskins rehabs a left-thumb sprain that is projected to sideline him until mid-to-late August. Andrew Vaughn has filled in capably, and switch-hitting rookie Isaac Collins has taken most of the reps in left field, but manager Pat Murphy has still searched for extra left-side power. 

      That need is clear in the numbers: entering Monday, Brewers left-handed hitters ranked 21st in slugging percentage (.380) and 23rd in home runs (33). Only designated hitter Christian Yelich (20 homers) and Jackson Chourio (17) have exceeded O’Hearn’s total.

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