Harold Hutchison

Image courtesy of Kirby Lee-Imagn Images It might seem too early to think about the offseason, but in Milwaukee’s case, it may be time to at least make a plan, no matter what happens in October. In this case, it’s time for the Brewers to consider whether it's time to “flip” some of their assets. This might seem cold-blooded, but with a lot of talent forcing their way up, the Brewers may want to figure out how to secure solid returns—and planning for the moves is far preferable to a rushed deal on the fly. So, whom might Milwaukee want to move? Here are some of the most likely candidates. RHP Grant Anderson Anderson’s been a mainstay of the Brewers’ bullpen since coming over in the 2024-2025 offseason. Yet, his time may be running short. He was optioned to Triple-A Nashville when Kyle Harrison returned from the injured list, though he returned after Abner Uribe went on the shelf this weekend. In the long run, Anderson’s best contribution to Milwaukee may be to be dealt for some prospects to recharge a farm system after the most recent flurry of deals. The trade value of middle relievers is always relatively low, but finding an interested suitor this winter shouldn't be a problem. While Anderson is maybe the fifth choice out of the Brewers bullpen (behind Trevor Megill, Uribe, Chad Patrick, and Aaron Ashby), he would probably rank higher in 20 or so other relief units. Meanwhile, the Brewers could be shifting to more multi-inning firemen out of the bullpen, given the wealth of potential starters in the system. If nothing else, they should be able to find the next Anderson relatively reliably; getting even a bit of value from him would help the team keep its perpetual-motion development machine going. LHP Aaron Ashby It’s not that Ashby hasn’t been valuable. He’s a multi-inning fireman who leads the National League in wins. In fact, one could say the Brewers, to date, have gotten a good return on their long-term extension. But the dollars are about to get bigger, and the chances of Ashby being healthy and productive are trending (if anything) the other way. If both of the club options are exercised, Ashby's contract will earn him $29.5 million over the next three seasons. He’s been very good in the bullpen, but should the Brewers be paying a reliever almost $10 million a season? Even the $7.5 million he'll make in 2027 is more than the team is paying all but four players this year. The Brewers dealt Josh Hader, an all-time great closer, when he was picking up $11 million in 2022. Let’s face it: the Brewers aren’t the Dodgers or Yankees, and Ashby has more value to a team whose payroll leaves more room to breathe. Unless the team thinks they can convert him back to a starter, they should snap up a high-end prospect for him this winter. IF Joey Ortiz Ortiz has rebounded, after struggling at the plate for a season and a half as the Brewers’ regular starter at shortstop. Since the All-Star break, he's batting .340/.416/.660, albeit in just 58 plate appearances. This is good for him and the Brewers, since the team has been bitten hard by the infield injury bug lately. It doesn't necessarily mean he's back in the middle of their long-term plans, though. Every winter, several teams hunt for a solid shortstop, third baseman, or utility player, and the Brewers may want to flip Ortiz if they find that the prospective returns reflect that demand—particularly with Andrew Fischer and Luke Adams knocking at the door. This offseason may be their best chance. OF Garrett Mitchell Garrett Mitchell has been a great player when he’s on the field. This year, for the first time in what feels like forever, he's actually been on the field, and the results have held up better than many feared. As is true of Ortiz, though, Mitchell faces competition for long-term playing time from multiple players in whom the organization has invested more. Luis Lara, a natural center fielder, signed a team-friendly contract extension this season and is currently filling in for the injured Sal Frelick in right field. Jackson Chourio inked a historic extension and is holding down left field. So, what happens to Mitchell? The team’s likely to eye one of Josh Adamczewski, Luis Pena, and Braylon Payne as a potential long-term fit in the outfield. Mitchell could well be on the market, as his salary begins to rise steeply via arbitration. 1B Andrew Vaughn Could Vaughn be on the block, despite his resurgence with the Brewers? The team is facing some roster churn, with Jake Bauers set to be a free agent after 2026. They may elect to clear space for Blake Burke, Fischer, and/or Adams by also moving Vaughn. Bauers’s ascension this year has led the Brewers to put Vaughn at third for a few games, which could add trade value if he proves competent there. Still, Vaughn will command a salary pushing toward eight figures via arbitration this winter. The Brewers may elect to let someone else pay that and get deeper in the minors, especially with potent power bats on their way up. World football offers a good parallel for this situation. When non-elite clubs have great seasons in soccer, they still have to head into transfer windows between campaigns ready to sell some of their players. That frees up money to bring in more depth and bet on younger players, which can keep those teams competitive with unexpected consistency. The Brewers will have to do some of that this winter, but they'll still be hoping to keep their winning ways going in 2027 and beyond. Do you think the Brewers should start flipping players in the offseason? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

I can understand the feeling. For me, it comes down to two questions: 1. Is moving someone like Pena for three months of Tarik Skubal worth it? I Can't say the thought is appealing, to put it mildly. Adding two more Top 100 prospects for the three months? Again, not so sure. 2. Should the Brewers maximize talent on their roster? I know that minor-leaguers are a risk. I mean, look at the four we dealt for Yelich - didn't exactly work out for the Marlins. Anything could derail a prospect (see Milwaukee's release of Melvin Hernandez). Other prospects could be taken via Rule 5, etc. But at the same time, I wouldn't part with a prospect of Pena's caliber lightly, either. Pena and a pitching prospect (Cameron Crow) for Paul Skenes would be a much different story than Pena and two other Top 100 prospects for Skubal, but that's just me.

Image courtesy of Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images In the 2025-2026 offseason, the Brewers traded Freddy Peralta, acquiring pitcher Brandon Sproat and utility player Jett Williams in return. In the 2026 season, the deal has remained even – Sproat has struggled some with Milwaukee, while Williams is missing time with injury at Triple-A Nashville, and Peralta struggled in New York before a late-season trade to the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a two-part article: read the counterpoint here. Peralta is slated to be a free agent this offseason, and due to being traded, the Rays can’t make a qualifying offer. Should the Brewers pursue a reunion with Peralta? It might be the under-the-radar move of the offseason. For starters, Peralta is a known quantity for the Brewers in an area that the team has considered important: How he fits in the clubhouse. There haven’t been any known complaints, and the Brewers and Peralta were on friendly terms when he was dealt. In fact, Peralta was warmly welcomed by Brewers fans and players when the Mets came to Milwaukee for a three-game series– at least before he was pushed into starting the first game of a series. Granted, when the game started, they hung seven runs on Freddy, but that was business – it was nothing personal. Peralta would also fill a major need for the Brewers in 2027 – the need for a reliable inning eater behind Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, and Logan Henderson. At his best, Peralta was a co-ace for the Brewers from 2021-2025. If the Brewers pitching lab can bring him back to that level, Milwaukee goes into 2027 with arguably the best rotation in MLB, which is not a bad thing for October baseball. But even at a slightly lower level, a team that will be wanting to pick up innings to manage the workload for Misiorowski, Harrison, and Henderson, as well as Quinn Priester, who’s recovering from thoracic outlet surgery. In addition, Peralta could slide Brandon Sproat and Robert Gasser to the bullpen, giving the Brewers a couple of options that could soak up more innings while perhaps thriving as high-endurance relievers alongside Shane Drohan, DL Hall, and Chad Patrick. If there is a hiccup, it might be price, but the reunion may actually come a fair bit cheaper than one might think. First, Freddy will be coming off a bit of a down year – and an extended “prove it” deal with Milwaukee could be just what he needs to reset his value. The Brewers could offer $15 million in 2027, and potentially add an enticement in the form of a player option for 2028. In one sense, this could help Milwaukee meet a potential salary floor that has been discussed in the labor negotiations. You’re bringing in one of the more known commodities on the free agent market, one where the relationship has been very good. Milwaukee could benefit, too, getting a second bite at the apple to trade Peralta for yet more of a return after the 2027 season. It’s almost too good to be true, only this could actually happen with very little downside for the Brewers. Fastball Freddy as Milwaukee’s fourth starter in 2027. Who wouldn’t like that sort of reunion? View full article

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect It’s not an exaggeration to say that Milwaukee has a lot of talent on the left side of the infield across the organization. In addition to Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton at the major league level, there are multiple Top 100 prospects who could slot in there as well. One of those prospects, Jesus Made, is rightly considered to be untouchable in trade talks. However, with Jett Williams apparently close to MLB-ready, Luis Pena is seen as a potential trade chip and was reportedly the centerpiece in the Brewers’ offer for Tarik Skubal. But the crowded infield doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for Pena with the Brewers – in fact, recent history suggests that the Brewers may be better served by making him as untouchable as Made. The Current Brewers Infield Right now, the Brewers have Brice Turang at second, Cooper Pratt at shortstop, and a platoon of David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz at third. This isn’t a bad setup at all, and if anything, their defense helps as much as their solid offense since June 1. While Turang has increased his power each year in the majors, Pratt, Ortiz, and Hamilton don’t quite scare pitchers (although none are easy outs, either). Well, Pratt could be crossing into the "scary" territory with his numbers since July 1. First base will be interesting, as Jake Bauers is a potential free agent and Andrew Vaughn will be in his last year of arbitration, but that is a subject for another article. Recent History In 2024 and 2025, the Brewers have found themselves set off track by injuries (losing Christian Yelich for most of 2024) and fatigue (players just wearing out by the NLCS). The real question has been maintaining depth with the slots on the bench and the spots at Triple-A Nashville. The good news is that the Brewers have talent; it’s just a question of figuring out how to make it all fit. The thing is, the very players that some considered dealing to rent Skubal for three months could probably make the Brewers far better over the next decade, and Luis Pena is Exhibit A in this. Pena’s Profile and Potential Role Pena is a right-handed hitter who is flashing more power to go with speed and solid bat-to-ball skills. He’s got more swing-and-miss in his profile than Made, but there is clearly some real athleticism. Questions remain about his long-term defensive home, mostly due to his inconsistency on the infield. Could he end up in the outfield? We don’t quite know just yet, although Pena not being “locked in” might make him more valuable to the Brewers. Let’s fast-forward to 2028 spring training. Turang will likely be at second, with Pratt at shortstop and Made at third. Jett Williams would be one option off the bench, covering not just third base, but also second base, shortstop, and the outfield. Assuming the 2028 infield is Made, Pratt, Turang, and Blake Burke manning first base. Let’s further assume the outfield is Josh Adamczewski in left, Luis Lara in center, and Jackson Chourio in right, with Jeferson Quero and Bo Naylor splitting time behind the plate. Yelich is in his last year as DH. Assume the Brewers have four bench spots. One will be taken by whichever of Quero and Naylor is not starting. Assume Jett Williams has another. Figure the Brewers will have an outfielder (Sal Frelick, perhaps?) on the bench as well. In this case, the Brewers may be well-served to put Pena on the bench. Pena can similarly slot in, either right next to Williams, or even as a replacement (recall that the Brewers moved Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins over the offseason and got potentially valuable returns for the former) or as a replacement, say alongside Luke Adams, with Andrew Fischer knocking at the door. Comps From The Past If the idea of Pena moving all over while still providing almost-elite offense seems familiar, it’s happened before. The Chicago Cubs used Javier Baez at multiple positions (second base, third base, shortstop, first base, left field, and right field) in their World Championship season of 2016 and their run to the NLCS in 2017. Around that same timeframe, the Brewers had Hernan Perez, who was less potent offensively, but who played every position but catcher from 2016-2019. Luis Pena could be the best of both players for the Brewers – not just a potent offensive threat, but one who allows the other players on the team to stay fresh. The Brewers farm system is reaching a point where the organization will have to consider how they will lose some of their prospects – but when it comes to a talent like Pena, the team may want to think of keeping him around, even without a single defensive “home.” View full article

Frelick's still very good - and the return for him in a trade could keep the grade high. The big question is getting him enough playing time to get a good return for him in the 2027-2028 offseason. Henderson always had the high ceiling. Black and Rodriguez are both going to be what Brewers fans wonder about for a long time, and the organization's handling of the former is definitely something that should be questioned. Still a very good draft - much better than some other drafts, to be honest.

Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / John Hefti-Imagn Images The 2021 season was one of those magical runs. At the major-league level, the Brewers rode a dominant pitching staff led by Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, alongside co-aces Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta and lights-out closer Josh Hader to an NL Central Crown. But that season’s draft has helped craft the current team’s run of success as well. Yet this is a draft Brewers fans will probably wonder whether it could have been even better, even though it produced a solid outfielder who has a Gold Glove and a potential co-ace for the rotation. Let’s look it over. Best Pick (for now): OF Sal Frelick First-round pick Sal Frelick delivered early dividends, making it to the majors in 2023 and being a fixture for three straight division titles. Frelick has been durable, and while his offense has dipped a little in 2026 (a career-low .250 BABIP) along with an injured list stint, he’s played admirably overall. Frelick’s likely to reach arbitration, and while he’s been at the bottom of the lineup for the Brewers, some teams could use him as a leadoff hitter. Honorable Mention (for now): RHP Logan Henderson When he’s been on the mound, the fourth-round pick has dominated, providing a one-two punch with Jacob Misiorowski that we’re sure MLB teams will hate to face for the next five years or so. Henderson’s injury struggles, though, have kept him off the mound for significant bits of 2025 and 2026. Still, he’s done very well, well enough that he became the rumored sticking point in the Brewers’ negotiations with Detroit over Tarik Skubal. Unconventional Contributor To Multiple Division Titles: OF Jace Avina As a 14th-round pick, Jace Avina isn’t exactly one you’d expect to have helped lay the foundation for Brewers teams that won multiple division titles, but he did exactly that. In the 2023-2024 offseason, he and fellow outfield prospect Brian Sanchez were traded to the Yankees for Jake Bauers, who has become a valuable part-time first baseman/corner outfielder for the Brewers. Not bad, although that deal did have other consequences. Trade The Brewers Want Back: OF Tristan Peters Peters was picked in the seventh round and was traded to the San Francisco Giants for relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, who never appeared in a game for Milwaukee. Since then, after being traded two more times, he’s now proven to be a solid contributor with the White Sox. Granted, the Brewers probably had a lot more talent in the outfield, but in this case, the return for the deal wasn’t exactly the front office’s finest move. Could’ve Been (Position Player): UT Tyler Black Black was a pure hitter, and three years ago, it looked like he could be joining Jackson Chourio as a franchise fixture in Milwaukee at the hot corner following a breakout season. However, trades (including the Bauers deal), a 2025 hamate injury, and, somehow, not quite meshing with Pat Murphy’s style of baseball (through no real fault of either player or manager) have kept Black on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle for the past three years. With Jake Bauers slated for free agency, Black may have a shot in 2027 to help the Brewers and push this draft’s grade higher, but there’s a lot of talent he needs to fight through. Brewers fans will always wonder what could have been if Black had been given a shot similar to Frelick, or if the same patience the organization showed with Chourio’s adjustment to the majors had been granted to Black. Could’ve Been (Pitcher): RHP Carlos Rodriguez The eighth-round pick in the draft actually was seen as a steal at one point – earning Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and 2023. His rapid rise, though, like Black’s, ended up being more on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle afterward, culminating in being outrighted following the Brewers’ flurry of deadline deals in 2026. Rodriguez is in his age-24 season and nowhere near washed-up – and could still be a contributor for the Brewers (or someone else). Still Percolating: UT Ethan Murray and RHP/1B/DH Quinton Low Ethan Murray and Quinton Low are picks still being developed. Murray’s been a solid piece of infield depth for the Brewers organization, while Low’s intriguing two-way potential has been sidetracked by multiple seasons on the injured list. Both could still help the Brewers at some point. The 2021 draft is a very solid one for the Brewers, and has the chance to be better, although there are also what appear to be some missed opportunities. Overall Grade: B+ How would you grade the Brewers’ 2021 MLB draft? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Three years ago, he was. He should have been, TBH. One lousy trade (Dunn), one pretty decent deal (Bauers), and one that's still being determined (Ortiz) ended up blocking him in the 2023-2024 offseason. Could Black still be a key part of the 2027 Brewers? I think so. He's competent at multiple positions (no Gold Glover, but not horrible). He's got a bat that has never really been questioned. But the deals of the 2023-2204 offseason did throw quite the curveball.

Black would be kept around for the same reason the Crew has Luis Rengifo - to hopefully keep the position warm for 2-3 months before calling up Adamczewski (at which point Black moves to the bench or gets traded).

I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers slide Jesus Made to third. They'll want Fischer's bat in the lineup, which makes left field a likely spot for him (Blake Burke will likely grab most of the ABs at first), unless they go with Adamczewski, in which case, the team tries Made at second, and Brice Turang goes on the block.

But the Brewers are also clearing the way for Luis Lara in center, sliding Chourio to right field - and opening left field for Black/Fischer/Adamczewski/etc. in 2027-2030 with that move. There are some guys who are likely to be the core of the team for the next six to ten years (or more) - Chourio, Made, Pratt, Lara, Misiorowski, etc. These are the ones to build around. A Garrett Mitchell isn't quite at core level. In this case, the best move is to move them and churn with the farm system/trades. Someone like Grant Anderson works the 6th/7th inning for the Brewers, but he's a closer or set-up guy for two-thirds of MLB.

Seriously, Mitchell's history over his major-league career does point to trouble staying on the field.