Harold Hutchison

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images It might seem odd to view 2026 as a make-or-break year for Aaron Ashby. In 2024 and 2025, he’s combined for a 2.37 ERA in 95 innings pitched across 57 games, with 109 strikeouts. This was after he missed most of 2023 and a fair bit of 2024, due to shoulder surgery. He'd delivered some tantalizing peripherals in 2021 and 2022, but 2025 was very much his coming-out party. It’s a great comeback story. Why would Ashby be a Brewer on the bubble? A big part of it is the contract he signed. During the 2022 season, Ashby was seen as a key cog in the Brewers' rotation plans, and he signed a team-friendly pre-arbitration extension. At spring training, he went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, which ultimately needed surgery. Therefore, he missed all of that year. The next year, he was rehabbing in Triple-A Nashville on an option. Upon his return, Ashby was close to the form that made the Crew offer him the extension, albeit in shorter stints out of the bullpen. This presents Milwaukee with a tough question. He gets $5.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027, before option years in 2028 and 2029. In those final years, he would make $9 million and $13 million, respectively, with small buyouts if the Crew decline either option. While those would be fine prices for a quality starting pitcher, it’s a lot for a reliever, given the Brewers’ small-market status and their need to stretch their payroll and make the most of every dollar. So, 2026 is where the rubber will really meet the road for Ashby. The Brewers will need to figure out how to stretch him out as a starter, even though they have a lot of depth in the rotation already between Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Chad Patrick, Quinn Priester, Tobias Myers, Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, and Carlos Rodriguez. If Ashby becomes a dominant starter to the tune of the 176 ERA+ he has posted (per Baseball Reference), then he becomes an obvious keeper. Even if he is relatively solid, it's a good buy through at least 2027, when the Brewers could look to deal him. On the flip side, if Ashby can be a dominant reliever, the Brewers may want to use him as a closer and look at dealing him for a return similar to what Devin Williams fetched (maybe more, since Ashby remains under team control through 2028), since teams have been known to overpay for closers. That would be an excellent outcome, even if it means adjusting the roles of Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and rookie Craig Yoho. If neither happens, Milwaukee has the choice of not picking up his 2028 option. That course of action would put Ashby into the arbitration process, which could get very rough and wreck the team’s relationship with him (see Josh Hader and Burnes for examples). On the other hand, he's both smart and amiable, and would probably not be unduly insulted by having the option turned down. Ashby is not a player in a typical “make-or-break” situation. He’s pitched quite well in the role he’s fit into, but he could be capable of so much more. The real question is whether he can reach the heights that appeared possible in 2022, when he signed that extension, or if the Brewers will have to move him due to a high price tag for his performance. Maybe the real question is: Since trading Ashby would take a much smaller chunk out of the team's pitching plan and only a slightly smaller chunk off their projected payroll, might he be a trade candidate this month, rather than Peralta? View full article

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Brewers have made some major deals in recent offseasons. In the 2023-2024 offseason, they dealt Corbin Burnes to acquire DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and the draft pick that became Blake Burke. In the 2024-2025 offseason, Devin Williams was dealt to the Yankees for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin. But Milwaukee has also made deals with lesser-known players that hit big. In the same offseason Corbin Burnes was dealt, the Brewers made the under-the-radar swap with the Athletics that brought Chad Patrick to Milwaukee in exchange for Abraham Toro. In the 2022-2023 offseason, the Crew moved Esteury Ruiz to the Athletics as part of a three-team trade that landed Joel Payamps, minor-leaguer Justin Yeager, and some guy named William Contreras. Who might the Crew move in a deal nobody pays attention to? Here are five possibilities. LHP Aaron Ashby Ashby has become a key member of the Brewers' bullpen, so he’s worked out reasonably well. But why might the Crew want to consider moving him? Part of it is the deal he signed after the 2022 season, where he was solid as a member of the starting rotation; in 2026, he gets $5.5 million, with $7.7 million due in 2027, along with $9 million and $13 million salaries in 2028 and 2029 if the options are picked up. If Ashby became a mainstay in the rotation, it’d be money well spent. But Ashby has become a bullpen ace after missing 2023 and a large part of 2024 with shoulder problems. It may be time for Milwaukee to see what Ashby could fetch in return. It’s not that he’s a bad pitcher, but the chance to free up $13.2 million over 2026 and 2027 may make a deal worth it. RHP Carlos Rodriguez Rodriguez has been caught up in the numbers game among Milwaukee’s young pitchers in 2025. He emerged as an outlier with an extensive arsenal. He’s had two cups of coffee with the Brewers, and while he’s struggled, there’s a lot of potential. The problem, of course, is that there are a lot of other pitchers with potential forcing their way up. The combination of team control and his youth could make Rodriguez a trade asset – either on his own, or as part of a larger package. A pitcher like Rodriguez could net a solid return, but not if the team holds on to him for too long. SS Joey Ortiz The Brewers have an interesting situation at shortstop. The top three prospects on the Brewer Fanatic Top 20 are all at shortstop. One, Cooper Pratt, is likely to start 2026 at Triple-A Nashville. Jesus Made will likely start at Double-A Biloxi, and then, there is Luis Pena. Joey Ortiz would likely be a prime trade chip if he’d matched his 2024 offensive numbers, but he instead fell off a cliff at the plate. That said, Ortiz may still be someone who could draw interest. A big part is that he is cheap and comes with years of control. The Brewers moved a slumping JJ Hardy in the 2010-2011 offseason and acquired Carlos Gomez. Milwaukee could look to see if it can pull off something similar or use Ortiz to sweeten some other deal to get a difference-maker, particularly if Cooper Pratt is on a hot streak. 1B Andrew Vaughn Vaughn helped save the Brewers’ season after Rhys Hoskins went on the injured list. So why put him on the block? One reason is the $7.8 million he is potentially due. The Crew could try to sell relatively high when it comes to Vaughn, especially with the presence of other first-base options (Jake Bauers and Tyler Black come to mind). In this case, it is a bit of a salary dump. But at the same time, Vaughn’s run with the Brewers is much higher than his career OPS+ of 101. A regression to his 2021-2024 mean would not be the worst the Brewers have had at first base in their history, but it would not exactly be what the Brewers are hoping for from a $7.8 million first baseman, either. OF Garrett Mitchell When Garrett Mitchell’s been on the field, he’s been an incredible talent. The problem is that in his three full major league seasons, he’s averaged just under 38 games a season. That’s less than a quarter of a full major-league season. Yet he is now in his first year of arbitration – while he will only cost the crew about $1 million, the fact is that Blake Perkins, Isaac Collins, and Tyler Black could be more likely to play and contribute than Mitchell has so far. Mitchell, like Ortiz, could be used to pull off a deal similar to the Hardy-for-Gomez trade the Brewers did in the 2010-2011 offseason. The other option is to see if Mitchell can land some prospects or a competitive balance pick. Which players do you think the Brewers should be putting on the market? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

I'd like to see the Crew move both Mears and Zastryzny. Perhaps a pitching package to Cleveland (Mears and Carlos Rodriguez) for a CB pick and two Single-A prospects?

Image courtesy of © Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports In the 2022-2023 offseason, the Brewers acquired William Contreras as the centerpiece of their haul for getting involved in a deal with the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics. But who’s behind Contreras? Brewers fans have rarely had to worry, but it may be time for a look because there is talent down the depth chart. On The 40-Man Roster William Contreras: .260/.355/.399 with 28 doubles, 17 home runs, and 76 RBI in Milwaukee Contreras has been incredibly durable – appearing in 446 games over three seasons. That’s out of a possible 486. That’s not very many days off. When he isn’t catching, he’s often serving as the designated hitter for the Crew. Contreras is the undisputed starter at catcher, at least through 2026. The real question is whether Milwaukee runs with him through 2027, or if they deal him for a haul of young players in the 2026-2027 offseason. Until then, he is likely to get the bulk of the starts. Jeferson Quero: .261/.371/.468 with 17 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 57 RBI between Triple-A Nashville and Rookie League ACL Brewers Quero’s progression has been delayed by injuries. In 2024, an effort to avoid being picked off first base cost him the entire season, save for that initial plate appearance, due to a shoulder injury. In 2025, he dealt with other injuries, playing only 58 games at Nashville. While initially a top prospect due to defensive prowess, the injury has affected his ability to keep baserunners honest. He still excels at handling pitchers and has worked with Milwaukee’s young talent in the minors. His bat is also very solid for the position, and could allow the Crew to rest Contreras. Anthony Seigler: .267/.391/.424 with 17 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 44 RBI between Triple-A Nashville and Milwaukee Seigler may seem like an odd inclusion since he is officially listed as an infielder. But he started 22 games behind the plate for the Sounds, and also caught for the Brewers for one frame. Baseball-Reference projects him to provide a .696 OPS in the majors in 2026, which wouldn’t be bad for a catcher. Seigler was a switch-hitter before he started hitting exclusively from the left side in 2025. With some serious talent in the minor-league infield, Seigler’s best shot at sticking with the Brewers may be to once again don the tools of ignorance. Minor-League Players Who Could Impact 2026 Darrien Miller: .192/.381/.329 with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 37 RBI at Double-A Biloxi Miller, a minor-league free agent, has re-signed with Milwaukee, marking his seventh season with the organization, and he will only be 25. Miller’s forte has been OBP. In 2025, he posted a .381 OBP in the pitching-friendly Southern League despite his batting average being eight points below the Uecker line, thanks to drawing 57 walks and getting plunked 17 times. Miller has also provided solid defense – not as spectacular as Quero at his best, but not horrible, either. His power surged a bit in 2025 as well, nearly quadrupling his home run total from 2024. Miller will likely be in Triple-A Nashville in 2026, and his familiarity with the Brewers' young pitchers could be an asset. Matt Wood: .256/.372/.380 with 16 doubles, seven home runs, and 43 RBI between Advanced-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi Wood will also be 25 in the 2026 season, the same age as Miller, but was drafted by the Brewers in the 2022 amateur draft. Wood’s offensive profile is very solid, posting a .787 OPS in 59 games at Double-A, 77 points higher than Miller’s. His left-handed bat should perform well at American Family Field. Wood’s defense has also been solid. It’s an open question if he will be at Double-A Biloxi or if he will make the jump to Triple-A Nashville alongside Miller. Marco Dinges: .300/.416/.514 with 12 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, and 62 RBI between Single-A Carolina and Advanced-A Wisconsin Dinges has always had a potent bat. The Brewers, though, have been developing him behind the plate – and he rocketed all the way to Wisconsin in his first full professional season, then added a couple of games in the Arizona Fall League. Dinges is likely to be in Double-A Biloxi in 2026, but if he hits like he did in 2025, he could end up in Nashville and possibly Milwaukee. Which catchers do you think will make the biggest impact for the Crew in 2026? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

While many baseball fans in the hot stove league are asking “will they or won’t they” on a Brandon Woodruff return to the Brewers, the free agent market might have some real bargains for the Crew to bolster their major-league pitching staff. The team’s been very successful at finding bargains in the past, like Colin Rea or Julio Teheran. So, who could be the next free-agent bargain for the Crew? Here are some options. LHP Foster Griffin, Yomiuri Giants (NPB) Griffin had cups of coffee in MLB in 2020 and 2022, where he mostly handled mop-up duty. He then went to Japan, where he found himself a spot in the starting rotation of the Yomiuri Giants of the Central League. Over those three years, he started 53 of the 54 games he appeared in, pitching 315 2/3 innings with a 2.57 ERA while striking out 9.1 hitters per nine innings while averaging only two walks per nine. Notably, Griffin had a grand total of three wild pitches and 15 hit batsmen during that time. Griffin has slightly over one year of MLB service time, so the Brewers could have team control for five years. While he made strides in NPB, the Brewers’ pitching lab could refine him into a back-end of the rotation option for the team who can reliably eat innings. LHP Brent Suter, Cincinnati Reds A reunion with “The Raptor” could be a boon for the Brewers bullpen. On November 5, the Cincinnati Reds declined a $3 million team option on Suter, making him a free agent. Over the three seasons since Milwaukee put him on waivers, he’s appeared in 152 games and posted a 3.69 ERA over 202 2/3 innings pitched. He has done this while pitching half the time in two rather notoriously hitter-friendly stadiums. Suter comes with few question marks, the biggest being his age (36). That said, he’s fit in with the Brewers’ clubhouse before, he has been able to eat 65-70 innings out of the bullpen for each of the last five years, and he could benefit from the Brewers’ pitching lab. He’d slot in as a replacement should Aaron Ashby and/or DL Hall earn spots in the starting rotation. RHP Michael Soroka, Washington Nationals/Chicago Cubs Soroka’s had to come back from multiple Achilles injuries, and may be a candidate for the pitching lab, given his 3-18 record, 4.62 ERA, and 4.57 FIP over the last two seasons. There is some good news: In six games with the Cubs, mostly working out of the pen, he had a dominant stretch that flashed the talent that made him the youngest Opening Day starter in Atlanta Braves history. Last year, Soroka got a $9 million deal. Between his age and the deal he received, he may end up being one of the more expensive options on this list. That said, this could be a pickup that could pay off big for Milwaukee compared to the expense. RHP Adrian Houser, Chicago White Sox/Tampa Rays Houser is another former Brewer on this list, but like Brent Suter, he may be worth the reunion. After he was released by the Texas Rangers, Houser signed on with the White Sox, where he became their staff ace with a 2.10 ERA in 68 2/3 innings pitched across 11 starts, then added another 56 1/3 innings in 10 starts with the Rays. Like Suter, there would be little question about his fit in the clubhouse. He’s 33, but his arsenal, with the heavy use of a sinker, according to FanGraphs, would be an excellent match with the Brewers’ infield defense. That’s before he gets in some work with the pitching lab. RHP Dustin May, Los Angeles Dodgers/Boston Red Sox May has had some difficulty with injuries, but when he’s been on the mound he has generally pitched well. Like Houser, he primarily throws a sinker, but his can touch 98 miles per hour. May was reasonably healthy, but was pushed out of the Dodgers’ rotation, and eventually traded to Boston, where he went 1-4 over six games (five starts) with a 5.40 ERA across 28 1/3 innings pitched. May would make an excellent fit for the Brewers’ excellent defense, being the type of pitcher that could do really well with work in the pitching lab. Like Soroka, he might be a more expensive pickup, but at the same time, he could pay off big time for the Brewers. Honorable Mentions The Brewers may also want to look at bringing back Jordan Montgomery on a deal similar to Brandon Woodruff’s. Montgomery was a very solid pitcher from 2021-2023 and could be similar to a mid-season acquisition after missing all of 2025 with an elbow injury. Nestor Cortes underwent surgery for a flexor injury on October 16, and will be out for nine to ten months, but is another candidate for the Crew if they want to buy low and rehab him. Do you think any of these free agents make sense for the Brewers? Who do you think they should try to sign in the off-season? View full article

Plus, if he takes the QO, maybe he could extend with the Crew on more team-friendly terms - making this, for all intents and purposes, a front-loaded multi-year deal. $32 million in 2026 $20 million in 2027, 2028, 2029 ($30 million deferred) $25 million mutual option in 2030 ($10 million buyout)

The crazy thing is... Hernandez doesn't even appear in the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20. Yet he was arguably the best pitcher in the system in 2025. He was an outlier - and the thing is, he probably hasn't fully developed physically yet, At this point, Hernandez is one of several prospects I'd consider untouchable in trade talks (only possible deal I'd take is the Dodgers sending Otani and Sasaki, and picking up all of Otani's deferred salary).

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers have become very proficient at developing starting pitchers. Just look at their starting rotation during the last five years. Many of the mainstays of that rotation were either purely homegrown (draft picks), or they were acquired while still in the minors, meaning the Brewers still had to develop them and maximize their talent. They've done that as well and as consistently as any team in the majors. The list of names is impressive: Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, Robert Gasser, Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, and Jacob Misiorowski readily come to mind. Will that list grow? Let’s look at the standout starting pitchers in the Brewers’ system for 2025. The High Minors Misiorowski and Henderson are two of the top stars. Misiorowski pitched enough that he’s no longer a rookie, but Henderson only amassed 25 1/3 innings, keeping his rookie status intact. Carlos Rodriguez posted a solid 3.82 ERA in Triple-A Nashville, averaging more than a strikeout an inning. At Double-A Biloxi, Coleman Crow flashed signs of why (other than to save money) the Brewers traded two solid major leaguers (Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor) for him, posting a 2.50 ERA in 10 starts before getting a promotion to Nashville. Tate Kuehner also provided dominance with a 2.51 ERA in 21 starts, posting 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Tyson Hardin, a 12th-round pick in 2024, posted a solid 3.29 ERA in 10 starts at Biloxi after dominating at Advanced-A Wisconsin (2.34 ERA in 11 starts). Brett Wichrowski was also solid for the Shuckers. Full-Season Class A Leagues Hardin was not the only starter who performed well in Appleton. Bishop Letson missed about three months with shoulder trouble, but posted a 1.69 ERA when he was on the mound. Ryan Birchard posted a solid 3.91 ERA while striking out 10.5 batters every nine innings. Manuel Rodriguez racked up a 3.01 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and was arguably the Timber Rattlers’ staff ace, despite missing about eight weeks—and he did it in his age-19 season. In Carolina, Melvin Hernandez emerged as the Mudcats’ ace, posting a 10-5 record and a 2.00 ERA. He amassed 121 2/3 innings, allowing only three home runs and posting a WHIP of 0.99. The Mudcats also got a great deal of help from three 2024 late-round picks. Ethan Dorchies (10th round) posted a 3.27 ERA after dominating with the ACL Brewers. Travis Smith (15th round) posted a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts and allowed just one home run in 76 innings pitched before being promoted to the Timber Rattlers. Jayden Dubanewicz (16th round) delivered a 2.30 ERA over 58.2 innings and walked only 11 batters while in Zebulon. Rookie Leagues Tyler Renz, an 18th-round pick in 2024, put up solid numbers in Maryvale (3.50 ERA over 54 innings pitched) before earning a late-season promotion to Carolina, where he pitched even better. In the DSL, Steven Duran posted a 2.77 ERA and didn’t allow a home run for the Brewers Blue squad—and did so despite being 16 years old when the season started, 2.5 years younger than the average DSL player. Diustin Mayorquin was one of four players tied for second in starts for the Brewers Blue team, and posted a 2.45 ERA over 47.2 innings, and also didn’t allow a long ball. Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Year The Brewers have a lot of pitchers who can make their case to be the pitcher of the year. Kuehner dominated at Biloxi, serving as the ace of the Shuckers’ staff. Rodriguez did the same for the Timber Rattlers in Appleton. Henderson was superb before the flexor strain ended his 2025 season. Hardin also has a strong case. But there is one pitcher whose performance stands above the others. Melvin Hernandez didn’t just become Carolina’s ace, he did so despite being over three and a half years younger than the average player in the league. He doesn’t even turn 20 until July 2026, yet he hasn’t merely survived; he’s thrived on the mound. Congratulations to Melvin Hernandez, Brewer Fanatic’s 2025 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year! View full article

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images When a team becomes very good at developing talent in the minor leagues, some painful offseason moments become unavoidable. Those pain points cluster around two deadlines: the late-November deadline to add eligible prospects to the reserve list ahead of the Rule 5 Draft; and the imminent arrival of minor-league free agency. The Brewers face that moment with a wealth of talent in the minors; that could lead to some tough calls. Whom should they add? The Brewers currently have 43 players on their 40-man roster, four of whom (Jordan Montgomery, Logan Henderson, Shelby Miller, and Garrett Mitchell) are on the 60-day injured list and therefore don’t count against the limit. Montgomery and Miller are slated to be free agents. That takes the number down to 41. Other pending free agents or players with options include Rhys Hoskins, Danny Jansen, Jose Quintana, and Brandon Woodruff. Hoskins, Jansen, and Quintana’s options will not be picked up by the Brewers; Woodruff's will be declined by the player. With the likely departures of Hoskins, Jansen, Quintana and Woodruff, the Crew is now down to 37, which gives them three spots to spare at the front end of the offseason. The next question is, who else will they drop from the roster? The Crew seems to be overloaded in the outfield, with eight outfielders on the 40-man roster, plus a trio of infielders (Tyler Black, Andruw Monasterio, and Jake Bauers) who saw time in the grass in 2025. One clear candidate for culling is Steward Berroa, whom the Crew picked up after a rash of summer injuries in the outfield that included Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick. Berroa is arguably the last outfielder on the depth chart, and while he isn’t horrible, the 40-man spot could go to someone else. On the pitching side, relievers Easton McGee and Rob Zastryzny are candidates to be waived or released. McGee was a solid multi-inning option for the Nashville Sounds but wasn’t quite suited for high-leverage work. Zastryzny was solid in 26 appearances, posting 0.5 WAR per Baseball Reference, but he will be 33 years old, and the last November in which he was not available to all 30 teams (one way or another) was 2018. This probably won't be the end of that streak. Dropping two of those three would leave the Brewers with 35 players on the 40-man roster. So, whom might they add? One possibility is Coleman Crow, acquired from the Mets for Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor. Crow returned to the mound in 2025 after missing most of the previous two seasons and posted a 3.24 ERA across 12 starts and 50 innings between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville. However, he missed the entire second half with a flexor strain, so the team would have to feel exceptionally good about their background information on his health to spend a 40-man spot on him for the winter. Reliever Justin Yeager (who between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville posted a 2.04 ERA and 10 saves) is, perhaps, a more compelling option. Part of the William Contreras trade, he's settled in as a solid fastball-slider righty. He’s also five years younger than Zastryzny, putting him in his peak, as opposed to being on the tail end of it. Finally, there's catcher Darrien Miller, who posted a .710 OPS at Double-A Biloxi (despite a batting average below the Uecker line) due to superb OBP skills. Miller, 24, also regained a bit of a power stroke, blasting seven homers, 10 doubles, and a triple in 240 at-bats. While not the top catching prospect in the system, for the chemistry-minded Brewers, Miller will have the advantage of having worked with young pitchers currently on the roster or on their way to the roster, and he offers a left-handed bat. He's probably a player they can keep on a minor-league successor contract, though, if those intangibles are important to them. Given his offensive track record, it's unlikely he has a future in the majors, so he probably won't merit a 40-man spot. The final potential minor-league free agent the Crew could elect to keep is first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr., who delivered a .745 OPS across 263 at-bats in Triple-A Nashville, where he lost playing time due to the acquisition of Andrew Vaughn. While Blake Burke, the Crew’s 2024 Competitive Balance Round A pick, is now overshadowing him, Martinez has shown that when he is hot, he can be an offensive force. He also provides excellent defense at first base and has been athletic enough to man center field in a pinch. He'd come cheaper than Bauers for 2026, but after a down year on the heels of signing a minor-league deal with the org last fall, he's even less likely to nab a place on the 40-man than he was one year ago. In all likelihood, it's only Yeager whom the team will seriously consider promoting to the 40-man list. The rest of this group could return as minor-league free agents or be allowed to pursue their next opportunity. Each is worth keeping tabs on, though, given the way their arcs in the organization have unfolded and the roles they could play under the right circumstances. The Brewers will want to keep roster space open for the promotion of otherwise Rule 5-eligible players next month; for free agents they might wish to sign; and for any Rule 5 guys they want to target in their own right. They can open more such slots at the non-tender deadline or via trade, though, so if they do decide to roster Yeager (or even one of the longer shots), don't be shocked. View full article

I'd go four years, $70 million, with $20 million deferred (to be paid out over 20 years), and a mutual option for $10 million in the fifth year for $20 million, with another $5 million deferred. I'd also leave open the possibility of a coaching position after his playing career is over.

Schoop came through with that grand slam against the Giants.

Reports that the Brewers will listen to offers for Freddy Peralta are already circulating, as he is in the final year of his contract. These reports also hint that Brandon Woodruff may be on the way out due to a mutual option. That said, a big question mark hangs over MLB, and that is a potential lockout after the 2026 season. For that reason, it may make sense for the Brewers to load up and go for broke – make an all-in play for the World Series and a jackpot of post-season cash in 2026. For starters, let’s look at perhaps the best way to bolster the rotation: Picking up Woodruff’s mutual option. The $20 million salary is a bit misleading. It would seem logical for the Brewers to pass on their end. But this wasn’t an ordinary mutual option. Brandon Woodruff was given a $10 million buyout for 2026 —an abnormally high ratio to his salary that year —according to Baseball Reference. By contrast, Rhys Hoskins will get a $4 million buyout for a projected $18 million salary, Danny Jansen will get $500,000 for a projected $12 million salary, and Jose Quintana is due $2 million against a projected $15 million. Because of that, the Crew already has a substantial commitment to Woodruff, representing $10 million of the $55 million in guaranteed money already committed for that season, per Baseball Reference. But it also means that Brewers owner Mark Attanasio doesn’t need to commit $20 million to Woodruff—he only needs to commit another $10 million. Woodruff came back with a solid performance in 2025 but missed time in September and October with a strained lat, and he could use the 2026 season with Milwaukee to demonstrate what he can do for a full season. Picking up the mutual option is a win-win for both Milwaukee and Woodruff. Picking up Peralta’s $8 million for 2026 is just as easy a call for the team to make, given his performance in 2025. Peralta and Woodruff should help lock down two spots in the rotation. That leaves three more for a five-man rotation, or four more if the Crew decides to go with six. While a five-man rotation is the typical approach in Major League Baseball, the Brewers have the depth and talent to do things differently. This may be the prudent approach, given how the team seemed to run out of gas late in the season, and it allows them to be cautious with some of their young arms – specifically, Logan Henderson, Jacob Misiorowski, and Robert Gasser. Henderson, Misiorowski, and Gasser are all coming off injuries. While Misiorowski performed well in the playoffs, he did spend time on the injured list, while Henderson (flexor strain) and Gasser (Tommy John surgery recovery) dealt with arm issues in 2025. Milwaukee may want to use an option year on Gasser and let him build up in Triple-A (they have the pitching depth for it), but he is still a solid choice for the rotation. But Misiorowski and Henderson will probably claim spots in the rotation. For the fifth and sixth spots in that rotation, the Crew has a wealth of options: Quinn Priester had a dominant run. Tobias Myers showed in 2024 that he could put up top-of-the-rotation numbers. Chad Patrick was no slouch early in 2025, making the Brewers the clear winner of the Abraham Toro trade with Oakland. Carlos Rodriguez put up excellent numbers for Triple-A Nashville in 2025. DL Hall and Aaron Ashby have performed well as multi-inning relievers in Milwaukee and could be worth a look. The 2025 season showed the Brewers have the talent to win. In 2026, a “super six” rotation could give the Crew a massive edge in the playoffs with fresher arms. View full article

Turang is probably the infielder to lock in - I'd structure the deal a little differently. 2026: $7.5 million, plus a $4 million signing bonus. 2027: $8 million 2028: $8 million 2029: $12.5 million 2030: $15 million 2031: $17.5 million 2032: $17.5 million 2033: $20 million 2034: $20 million vesting or club option or $10 million buyout. 2035: $25 million mutual option or $10 million buyout Total deal: $120 million over eight years, perhaps as high as $155 million over ten years.

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Setting a franchise record for wins in a season isn’t easy. For the 2025 Brewers, it was quite the challenge. Yet in doing so, they scored 806 runs (compared to 777 in 2024), despite losing Willy Adames, having William Contreras compromised with a broken hand, Joey Ortiz slumping for most of the season, Rhys Hoskins missing almost half the season, and Jackson Chourio missing time. How did that happen? It’s easy to say it was a team effort, but who stood out the most? Red-Hot Rookies Two of the biggest reasons for Milwaukee’s success were rookies Isaac Collins and Caleb Durbin. Collins has become quite the steal, being selected by the Brewers from the Rockies in the minor-league portion of the 2022 Rule 5 draft. Collins posted two excellent seasons in the minors, splitting time between the outfield and second base (with occasional action at the hot corner), and got a cup of coffee in the majors. But in 2025, he got a lot of playing time after injuries put both Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell on the injured list. All Collins did was leverage his OBP skills (57 walks and six HBPs) to post a .263/.368/.411 line, good enough for a 118 OPS+ while providing outstanding defense in left field, helping hold the line until Perkins returned. Durbin held down the hot corner after Oliver Dunn couldn’t get going on offense. His speed-and-contact (supplemented by getting plunked 24 times) offensive profile propelled him to a .256/.334/.387 line and a 101 OPS+, while he added 18 stolen bases. The Breakouts Sal Frelick had already been valuable in 2024, as a Gold Glove can attest. However, he added some serious offensive firepower to his OBP-speed-defense package in 2025, hitting 12 homers after combining for five in the 2023 and 2024 regular seasons. His 2025 OPS of .756 was 101 points higher than his 2024 figure of .655. His more potent bat led to not just an increase in power, but also in his batting average, taking it to .288 and tying Brice Turang for the team lead. Turang, who already had one breakout of sorts in 2024, had an even bigger one in 2025, from a .665 OPS to a .794, just one point off the team lead. His 18 home runs exceeded his previous career totals, while he posted career highs in hits, runs, doubles, OPS, and walks. The Franchise Faces Christian Yelich’s gradual move to designated hitter worked out well for the Brewers in 2025. He appeared in 150 games, the most since 2022, while his 29 homers were the most since 2019, and his 103 RBIs were the most since 2018. It was good for 3.1 Wins Above Replacement, and his back didn’t give out in the regular season, although he slumped in the NLCS. Jackson Chourio posted his second straight 20-20 season, and did so while competently manning center field. While his OPS and OPS+ dipped slightly from his rookie year, part of that was due to missing most of August with a hamstring injury. He delivered an excellent performance in the NLDS and wasn’t as overmatched as his teammates were by the Dodgers' starting pitching juggernaut in the NLCS. William Contreras powered through a hand injury, rebounding in the second half and arguably being the MVP of the NLDS (alongside pitcher Jacob Misiorowski). He still posted an OPS+ of 111 in the regular season, appearing in 150 games. Co-Hitters of the Year It’s hard for a team like the 2025 Brewers to really list just one offensive player of the year. The entire offensive philosophy was centered around a team approach. That said, two players really stand out. Yelich was the team’s top slugger, leading the team in home runs and RBIs and stabilizing the heart of the lineup by having a full season of solid health. Turang was the most dynamic threat in the Crew’s lineup, fusing an offensive profile not far removed from Paul Molitor’s prime years in a Brewers uniform (1987-1992) with Gold Glove-level defense. Congratulations to Christian Yelich and Brice Turang, the Brewer Fanatic Hitters of the Year for 2025! View full article

The fact is, Woodruff's salary may be $20 million on the books, but it will only cost $10 million to keep him at Uecker Stadium at American Family Field.

Peralta seems to have similar feelings. Would the player's union really try to get in the way of a team-friendly extension for him?

The other thing to keep in mind: With a $10 million buyout owed to Woodruff in 2026, the Brewers have nothing to lose by taking the mutual option. Exercise the Woodruff mutual option, and Peralta's option - and for the price of a half-season of Rhys Hoskins in 2025 ($18 million), you get two top-tier starting pitchers.