Steve Drumwright

After a few days in limbo, Bryse Wilson is back with the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-hander, who was designated for assignment Saturday, went unclaimed and then became a free agent Monday, re-signed with the Brewers on Tuesday. To fit Wilson on the 26- and 40-man rosters, right-hander Lyon Richardson was DFA'd after making his long appearance for the Brewers on Monday. Also, left-handed reliever Drew Rom was claimed off waivers by the A's. Wilson was able to return quickly to the Brewers after he was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville, but choosing free agency Monday. That circumvents a pitcher having to spend the required time in the minors before being called up in a non-injury situation. For pitchers, that is 15 days. While it is a little surprising that Wilson, who was DFA'd twice before being done so by the Crew, went unclaimed, it isn't a shocker that he returned to the Brewers. After having a combined three appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, Wilson has pitched in six games for the Crew, going 13⅔ innings with a 2.63 ERA, no walks and 10 strikeouts. The Brewers' bullpen was in need of another arm after Wilson went three shutout innings Friday in an 8-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins, which prompted his latest DFA. Richardson, who came up from Triple-A Nashville to replace Wilson, went 1⅔ scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout in Monday's 3-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. That came after Richardson appeared in two games for the Cincinnati Reds this season, allowing five runs in 1⅔ innings with two walks and three strikeouts. If he goes unclaimed, he could go back to Nashville or elect free agency. Rom was DFA'd Sunday when the Brewers needed to add Jihwan Bae to the roster. View full rumor

Image courtesy of Rhona Wise-Imagn Images There will be a handful of hugs and some catching up to do when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Petco Park on Monday to face the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series. There will also probably be some good-natured ribbing about why Luis Rengifo couldn't do what he is doing with the Padres while a member of the Brewers. In case you didn't know, Rengifo is now with the Padres. That came as a result of his poor performance with the Brewers, who signed Rengifo to a one-year, $3.5 million contract to play third base this season. But Rengifo never hit his stride and was released following a .205/.280/.254 slash line with no homers, 19 RBIs, and three stolen bases in 57 games for the Brewers, who promoted rookie Cooper Pratt to play shortstop, squeezing Rengifo off the roster. Coincidentally, Rengifo had two of his better games at the plate against the Padres when San Diego visited American Family Field in mid-May. About a week later at the beginning of July, Rengifo latched on with the Padres on a minor-league contract. Rengifo homered in his first game at Triple-A El Paso and then again two days later after not going deep once for the Brewers. In that first week at El Paso, Rengifo went 8-for-25 with eight RBIs and two steals in six games. His stay in the minors wouldn't last long. Due to an injury to Samad Taylor, a spark plug of a player who took over as the starter in left field in June after coming up from Triple-A, Rengifo wouldn't have a second week in El Paso. He was called up to replace Taylor. Primarily a second baseman and third baseman, Rengifo spent some time in the outfield while with the Los Angeles Angels. That versatility would serve him well with the Padres, who have started Rengifo 11 times in left field, five times at designated hitter and once at third base. While a solid defender, Rengifo has made his mark with the Padres on offense. In 21 games entering play Sunday, Rengifo has put together a .314/.415/.429 slash line, homering twice (both in big spots) with eight RBIs and three steals. His two bunt hits are tied for the team lead with Taylor. With the Brewers, he had eight multihit games, while having six in his brief time with the Padres. Rengifo has been with the Padres since they pulled themselves up after hitting their low point of the season and climbed back into postseason contention, just on the outside of the NL wild-card race at the moment. It is the type of production that the Brewers envisioned when they signed him at the start of spring training to fill the shoes of third baseman Caleb Durbin, who had just been shipped to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player deal. For one reason or another, it never materialized. Some players are fits with some teams, while others aren't. That is always a key ingredient when MLB front offices construct rosters for a season and always something that is the most unpredictable characteristic. The numbers behind the numbers show that one key to Rengifo's resurgence has to do with how fast the bat gets through the zone. While his average bat speed with the Padres is up from when he was with the Brewers (72.2 mph from 71 mph), his fast swing percentage—a fast swing is defined as one at 75 mph—is markedly up. He was at 16.4% with the Brewers and is at 23.9% with the Padres. Rengifo is also pulling the ball more (46.6-37.6%) and creating more hard contact (32.8-24.2%). With the Padres, he has been used in a variety of spots in the lineup, even hitting cleanup in Friday's series opener against the Houston Astros. Maybe where Rengifo hit in the lineup had something to do with his performance in Milwaukee. With the Padres, Rengifo has started seven games in the second slot and one as the leadoff hitter. Those were the same spots he occupied with the Angels during his breakout season of 2024, when he slashed .300/.347/.417 with six homers, 30 RBIs and a career-high 24 steals in 78 games, a season that was cut short by a wrist injury that required season-ending surgery in August. He didn't bounce back well in 2025 with a .238/.287/.335 slash line, hitting nine homers and driving in 43 and stealing nine bases in 147 games. But the Brewers were hoping to rekindle some of Rengifo's magic from 2024, while also knowing they had prospects such as Pratt and Jett Williams possibly ready to make their MLB debuts if Rengifo faltered. While everyone was disappointed with how things went for Rengifo with the Brewers, he has certainly rebuilt some of his profile when he again hits the free-agent market this offseason. View full article

The first health obstacle has jumped into Cooper Pratt's MLB career. The rookie shortstop was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring Sunday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who signed infielder-outfielder Ji Hwan Bae to a minor-league contract and called him up to the majors. Left-handed reliever Drew Rom was designated for assignment. It was not immediately clear when Pratt was injured as he played all nine innings of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins, although manager Pat Murphy said Pratt did have an MRI on the hammy. Pratt is slashing .272/.352/.368 with two homers, 17 RBIs and 10 steals in his first 44 MLB games since making his debut in June. Hamstring injuries can often be slow to heal, depending on their severity. Bae was recently released from Triple-A by the New York Mets, having put up a .257/.360/.368 slash line with five homers, 32 RBIs and 36 steals in 91 games. He last appeared in the majors in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has a career slash line of .223/.294/.293 in 163 games over four MLB seasons, all with the Pirates. He has split his time this year between second base and the outfield and has just three games of MLB experience at shortstop. That means that David Hamilton, who started at shortstop Sunday, and Joey Ortiz, who was the Opening Day shortstop and the starter until Pratt was called up, will replace Pratt. However, Ortiz is battling neck tightness that forced him out of Saturday's game and kept him out of Sunday's lineup. Top infielder prospect Jett Williams, who is at Triple-A Nashville, is battling wrist soreness and was just sent to Arizona. View full rumor

The cruel reality of life at the end of a bullpen has bitten Bryse Wilson. The right-hander was designated for assignment Saturday by the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected the contract of right-hander Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Nashville. Also, right fielder Sal Frelick was sent on a rehab assignment to Nashville as he comes back from a strained right shoulder. Wilson was a bullpen-saver in Friday's 8-6 loss to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. He went three shutout innings, allowing a hit and no walks, striking out two. It was his sixth appearance for the Crew, who signed Wilson after he had been DFA'd by the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. In those six games, Wilson went 13⅔ innings with a 2.63 ERA, no walks and 10 strikeouts. The Brewers' bullpen has been used heavily in recent days and the need was for a fresh arm. That brings in Richardson, who was signed to a minor-league deal in June after being DFA'd and released by the Cincinnati Reds. Richardson has appeared in 41 games for the Reds in the last four seasons, including two this year, with a 6.29 FIP (6.67 ERA) with a 14.6% walk rate and 17.2% strikeout rate. Richardson is likely just a safety net as he can go multiple innings. The Brewers are awaiting the returns of right-hander Joel Kuhnel (right rotator cuff tendinopathy), left-hander JoJo Romero (appendectomy) and left-hander Rob Zastryzny (left upper trap strain) from the injured list. Kuhnel is on a rehab assignment, while Romero was acquired Monday from the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, right-hander Grant Anderson was sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday and can't return to the Brewers until 10 days pass unless he is an injury replacement. View full rumor

The newfound depth on the Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff has cost Grant Anderson his spot ... for now. The right-handed reliever was optioned to Triple-A Nashville as left-hander Kyle Harrison, as expected, was activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Harrison has been sidelined for the last three weeks with left forearm tightness. Anderson has been a key reliever to the Brewers' B bullpen, the unit that usually comes in when the team trails or is up by a wide enough margin not to need the high-leverage arms. Anderson has made 44 appearances over 48⅔ innings and posted a 4.45 FIP (3.70 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 21.5% strikeout rate. Anderson's spot became vulnerable after the Brewers acquired starter Dustin May and right-handed reliever Antonio Senzatela at Monday's trade deadline. Another reliever, left-hander JoJo Romero, who was also picked up was placed on the 15-day IL due to an appendectomy. View full rumor

The Milwaukee Brewers are giving right-handed starter Brandon Sproat a chance to reset, but it will be in the minors. Following another rocky start Monday, Sproat was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday by the Brewers. Right-handed reliever Garrett Stallings also went to Nashville as the Brewers added right-handers Dustin May and Antonio Senzatela, two of the three players acquired in trades the day before, to the 26-man roster. They were already on the 40-man roster, which had room following the trade of right-handed reliever Codi Heuer to the Baltimore Orioles and right-handed starter Carlos Rodriguez was designated for assignment on Monday. Left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, the other player acquired Monday, was placed on the 15-day injured list, which is where he was with the St. Louis Cardinals, after having an appendectomy in mid-July. Sproat gave up five hits and walked two while allowing four runs and striking out four in three-plus innings of a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has given up 12 runs over 16⅔ in his last four starts with 11 walks. He also has 16 walks over his previous six outings. Sproat's pitches have tremendous movement and he has lost the ability to manage that part of his game. Now he will go to Nashville and be in a less-pressurized environment with an eye on returning for the stretch drive and the postseason. View full rumor

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect While it isn't a huge name, the Milwaukee Brewers have added a veteran to their starting rotation while also bringing in a key bullpen arm. The Brewers have acquired pitchers Dustin May, a right-handed starter, and JoJo Romero, a left-handed reliever, from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Milwaukee is sending two rising prospects to their NL Central rival, with outfielders Josiah Ragsdale and Alexander Frias going to the Cardinals, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Ragsdale, who was at High-A Wisconsin, is Brewer Fanatic's No. 16 prospect, while Frias, who was at Double-A, was not in our Top 20. After losing out on a quest to land back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, May becomes a fallback option, still with a chance to add another key starter before the 5 p.m. CT deadline hits. Romero is currently in the 15-day injured list following an appendectomy and should be ready to come back soon. The Brewers will have to create space on their 26-man and 40-man rosters for both players. May is making $12.5 million this year with a mutual option for 2027 (mutual options are most always declined), while Romero is earning $4.26 million and is a free agent after the year. Between the two, the Brewers will owe just under $5 million to the pair. May and Romero were two of the top three highest-paid players on the Cardinals' roster. May is having a bounce-back season in his first year with the Cardinals, which was the 28-year-old's goal when he signed this deal. He has a 3.14 FIP (4.38 ERA) in 21 starts and 109 innings with a 7.6% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate this season. He began last season with the Dodgers and was shipped to the Boston Red Sox at the 2025 deadline to create room for other players coming to L.A. Between the two, May had a 4.88 FIP (4.96 ERA) in 25 games, all but two starts, over 132⅓ innings with a 9.6% walk rate and 21.1% strikeout rate. The 29-year-old Romero figures to alleviate some of the workload on the Brewers' top left-handed reliever, Aaron Ashby. The Brewers lost Angel Zerpa to Tommy John surgery, which could sideline him most of 2027. Romero has made 44 appearances this year, pitching 43 innings, with an 8.6% walk rate and 23.1% strikeout rate this year. Romero had a tremendous 2025 with a 3.28 FIP (2.07 ERA), although that included an 11.6% walk rate and 21.6% strikeout rate. The Brewers are currently stacked with young outfielders at the major-league level (Jackson Chourio, Luis Lara, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Brandon Lockridge), with others prospects including Josh Adamczewski and Braylon Payne ahead of Ragsdale and Frias. Thanks to @ImissDougMelvin for posting this in the forums first. View full article

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. View full rumor

One of the Milwaukee Brewers' spark plugs from the beginning of the season is back. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was activated Saturday from the 60-day injured list by the Brewers, who also called up right-handed reliever Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. Lockridge has been out since a slide into the corner of a cement wall on May 8 created a deep gash on his right knee. The moves also fill out the Brewers' 26-man roster following the trade with the Cleveland Guardians that sent right-handed reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins to the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed reliever Codi Heuer and catcher Bo Naylor. Those two players have yet to report to the Brewers, which is likely to happen Sunday. They were already added to the 40-man roster, which had an opening to accommodate the activation of Lockridge. Lockridge, acquired at last year's trade deadline from the San Diego Padres for left-hander Nestor Cortes and prospect shortstop Jorge Quintana, was slashing .294/.368/.341 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 28 games before he was injured. Stallings is with the Crew for the third time this season and has yet to allow a run in five innings, giving up one hit with two walks and five strikeouts. View full rumor

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. View full rumor

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. View full rumor

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: Shortstop Luis Pena Third baseman Andrew Fischer Outfielder Josiah Ragsdale Shortstop Ricki Moneys 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? View full rumor