Joseph Zarr

I don't know much of anything about college football (tho, I can get excited watching highlight reels post Packers draft! 😆) BUT, this seems like a good get for the Badgers?

INF Christian Arroyo signs a new Minor League deal with the Mets: Meanwhile, after last season's cup of coffee with the Nationals C Jorge Alfaro seeks a new opportunity within the Royals organization. The Sounds do not play Omaha in 2026 so we likely will not see him vs the Sounds unless he heads elsewhere within the International League.

Rickey Moneys tentatively slated to receive $1 Milly feels poetic.

It is fitting we begin 2026's Brewers Alumni news with another OF Joey Wiemer transaction. His MLB organizational merry-go-round continues (his 5th org since July 29th, 2024):

Slightly more information via MSN via the Daily Voice of Camden, NJ: I don't want to fuss with the text. Bullet points: (1) Reported to have been airlifted in Critical condition (2) Not at fault (3) Apparently a driver ran a stop sign (4) Currently no apparent drugs or alcohol involved in crash May we all maintain positive healing thoughts and prayer for Frank's family and close ones. May he make it through this trial getting the best and most impactful care ensuring his recovery. This is every parent's absolute worst nightmare. I can't even fathom facing this situation with my children.

Last we saw they had made very solid progress - but, no, it doesn't look like they are done. Spencer did in fact touch on this at the beginning of our Mudcats pod, fwiw, if you want a photo or two to see for yourself.

We did briefly touch on Holobetz and Yophery in the Mudcats episode, yes - tho not the trade specifically. The loss of Holobetz from the early Mudcats rotation very obviously had impacts (the Red Sox quickly moved him to their High-A Greenville affiliate) and I cross-referenced Payne and Yophery (I believe?) when I discussed Payne's CF defense. Back to Holobetz, I think what is most remarkable about his post-trade season is his late season promotion to Double-A. I do wonder if he can elevate his ability to strike out opposing batters, tho (only 27 K in 37 2/3 Double-A IP). It's something I'll be paying attention to peripherally in 2026. He very clearly is capable of pitching in the zone (only 15 BB in 15 GS in 2026 is extremely impressive).

RHP Mitch White - Mr. August 2024 for the Sounds (what an unbelievable late run that was - his springboard to a meaningful KBO contract that off-season) - has re-signed with the KBO's SSG Landers. White definitely had a very good first season:

Manuel is most definitely currently not throwing anything higher than 91 mph (at least I can't remember seeing a single pitch that we have seen in any competitions any higher and 91 may even be generous). However, and I have alluded to this a couple times this off season, he is purportedly expressly working on velo elevating work for the first time this off season. We can certainly dream. IF he was already throwing mid-90's he would almost certainly be a much more highly touted young arm.

I see two glaring absences: (1) Babe Bauers Silver Slugger amidst his MLB HR record season (2) Cy Bauers earns his rightful Cy Young award winning recognition Well, I guess a third: (3) Jake Bauers, the Man, is finally recognized as the best modern two-way (Respectfully, take a back seat Mr. Ohtani!) player and potentially the best two-way/two-sport player any professional sport has ever seen (Respectfully, Bo and Deion...please recognize!)

Jack is grinding. I tip the cap. Love me some untapped upside Easton McGee.

What's even more mildly hilarious is I went back through this thread looking for the comment! 😳

There was talk about JD Thompson via Instructs or the Complex competitive (non-recorded) games after the ACL season a bit ago - ie late summer/early Fall. I can't quite remember who was discussing Him - someone from BA (?) or MLB (?) - either way what stood out is they didn't tout his 93-95 low slot good riding heater or the change-up but they touted his breaker/curve ball. I found this fascinating - unfortunately, I can't find the commentary as of now (maybe @Spencer Michaelis can dig that up for us?) but I was always enamored with his change-up (57% whiff rate in college, after all) and thought that was the pitch thay would play right away off his heater as the others were worked in via a professional development program. You can see here the curveball definitely has life:

C/UTL Brett Sullivan has signed a new Minor League deal with the Colorado Rockies. He also receives a non-roster invite to Big League ST. The man who helped bring us Brewers fans C Victor Caratini several years ago gets another chance.

2024 Sound and Brewer, RHP Kevin Herget (really had a quality season overall that year, imho), re-ups on a Minor League deal with an invite to Big League ST with the New York Mets.

Apparently (embedded as a reply in the McCalvy Garabito news), the Brew Crew are taking a flyer (in the form of a fresh Minor League contract with Big League ST invite) on another talented pitcher who has struggled with injuries of late in one LHP Drew Rom The Rom name might be familiar to many here - a former Orioles 4th Rd pick who was dealt to the Cards in 2023 in the Jack Flaherty deadline deal. He has suffered through many shoulder-related injuries since that late 2023 trial by fire. Missed all of 2024. Came back briefly for the Memphis Redbirds, as McCalvy touches on, for a brief four game stint. Then was shelved the remainder of the season. I can't help but think the Brewers may feel they have a leg up on the shoulder recoveries with their recent Ashby and Woodruff successes? At this stage of his comeback road, and given his low velo lefty arsenal, I'd think the Brewers are looking at him as AAAA bullpen depth. Maybe they hammer home that splitter of his and work at more deception - previously he adjusted four-seam and sinker arm slots between heater profiles and then another to cater to his off-speed. None the less, it will be interesting to see what they try to tease out here.

As Spencer alluded to above. Glad he could answer your question @MattK. Keep in mind, as well, Meccage was a 2nd Rd premium pick. The Brewers absolutely see tools worth developing in Bentley - ie the way over-slot Bonus but for a 19th Rd pick. Clearly they saw something they didn't want to lose out on (also likely dictated by other draft pick slot refusals in their class). I would also casually remind you: by and large, the recent highly thought of Int'l and HS drafted lower velo guys - think RHP Manuel Rodriguez, RHP Melvin Hernandez, RHP Daniel Corniel, RHP Jayden Dubanewicz, RHP Ethan Dorchies, and the mentioned RHP Tyler Renz (among others) - have almost all to a man fared quite well because they control their arsenals a bit better than the higher velo young guys. A calling card of Bentley is a high level of controlling his stuff - it's also why his already plus change up plays so well and it certainly played a key part in dominating high school hitters. He will almost certainly start in the ACL (tho he isn't presently officially rostered there) and, should he fare well there, likely have the chance to make his way to the Carolina League by Wilson's season end. I think Meccage certainly wowed at times in his debut season - it's always fun to see a just out of young high school arm know how to elevate 97-98 mph four-seam heaters up and above the zone for swings and misses while dropping in a fairly pronounced hook over the plate as well - but he also showed rough edges controlling his arsenal for prolonged stretches (and, obviously injury reared its head). What will be quite interesting for all of us to monitor out of the gates in 2026 is RHP Manuel Rodriguez's early velo readings. Purportedly, on record at the end of the 2025 season, this is the first off-season the Brewers pitching development plan for his off-season will include velo enhancing work. He'll be 20 going on 21 (early August). Is this a blueprint? This would mean RHP Melvin Hernandez would also start working velo next off-season. In terms of raw stuff 'Wow' outings, I would struggle to pinpoint another Brewers Minor League starter who impressed me more than Rodriguez did in his second half outing on the road August 20th at Beloit. That outing was absolutely dreamy.

Brewers get some Love for 19th Rd RHP Chase Bentley:

When you are trying your best to work your way back to fringe MLB 40-Man staying power, it is often a an arduous road filled with speed bumps - DFA's; new orgs; trades; new Minor League contracts etc. Once coveted Brewers OF Joey Wiemer is now entrenched in this reality:

Careful. His family may enter this forum and lambast you real quick. They have spiders all over the virtual world.

It was their 'One Breakout Hitting Prospects for Every Team Hiding Behind Ordinary Stat Lines'. Probably important to clarify that given Handelfry's brief exposure and struggles at Carolina. Spencer touched on this in our first episode but always nice to find meaningful support:

My guy C Brian Navarreto resigns with the Marlins on a Minor League deal.

More former Brewers Rays news. OF Tristan Peters has been DFA'd after the Rays signed LHP Steven Matz to a two year deal. Fans may remember, Peters was originally traded to the San Francisco Giants for the failed RHP Trevor Rosenthal shot in the dark back in August of 2022. He was later traded to the Rays in November of that same year for INF Brett Wisely. Interestingly, perhaps, Wisely himself was DFA'd by the Giants back in mid-September of this year. He has since been scooped up by the Braves where he is rostered on their Tripe-A Gwinnett roster.

This. Zerpa has real goods. Was touching 98 last year after a velo tick in 2024 as well. He is a guy that has underperformed his goods. I personally really like this trade. Plus we add team control and the ability to Option. This is a sneaky good trade. Also, I should add, as the OG Collins Hype Man on this board (dating back to his days as a Shucker) I don't think it is in any way reasonable to expect the player we saw in the first half of last year. Could it happen? Of course. He is a major regression candidate and we started seeing that quite clearly by season's end.