Matt Breen

Yankees? Hmmm... let's think about this... How about: Brewers get: Spencer Jones, Carlos Lagrange, and Elmer Rodriguez Yankees get: Freddy and Trevor Megill Two pitchers, one OF bat. All three guys carry six years of control. Each is a fringe Top 100 prospect. None are perfect, but there's some potential upside (and lots of scary stuff too).

Dallas fired Nico yesterday. I still can't believe he dealt Luka. For Davis, Christie and a 1st. It seemed so light at the time - and looks even lighter today. And of all the teams to gift Luka to - the Lakers. Sigh. I understand there were concerns about Luka's conditioning and so forth - but it's 25-year old Luka. Still incredible.

That would have been nice.

Dude has milked his name for six years with the Bucks. At about $2m per season - not a bad gig. At least he seems to play hard when he's out on the court. I like his energy.

thank you, collins. should never have gotten there. but I'll take it.

Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Perhaps it’s bad form to be looking beyond the amazing 2025 season the Brewers are having. But it’s hard not to take a peek at the future and not be a little bit satisfied with the state of the club for 2026. The reason for this is that the Brewers are in a great spot - financially and personnel-wise - for next year. How good are we sitting? Well, the club could do nothing but bring back their players under control and have a good team, and financial flexibility. Let’s look at the team’s status for 2026. Players Under Contract Freddy Peralta ($8 million salary for 2026 - same as 2025) Aaron Ashby (salary goes from $3.45 million to $5.7 million) William Contreras (salary goes from $6 million to $12 million) Jackson Chourio (salary goes from $4.25 million to $7.25 million) Christian Yelich ($26 million salary for 2026 - same as 2025) Pre-Arbitration Players Quinn Priester Chad Patrick Jacob Misiorowski Logan Henderson Tobias Myers DL Hall Jared Koenig Abner Uribe Grant Anderson Joey Ortiz Sal Frelick Caleb Durbin Andruw Monasterio Anthony Seigler Brandon Lockridge Blake Perkins Arbitration Eligible Nick Mears (made $963,000 in 2025 in first year of arbitration) Trevor Megill (madę $1.94 million in 2025 in first year of arbitration) Brice Turang (eligible for first time) Garrett Mitchell (eligible for first time) Jake Bauers (made $1.35 million in 2025 in first year of arbitration) Andrew Vaughn (made $5.85 million in second year of arbitration) Free Agents Danny Jansen ($12 million mutual option with $500,000 buyout) *Jose Quintana ($15 million mutual option with a $2 million buyout) *Brandon Woodruff ($20 million mutual option with a $10 million buyout) Rhys Hoskins ($18 million mutual option with a $4 million buyout) Shelby Miller Rob Zastryzny Minor Leaguers who may help in 2026 Carlos Rodriguez Craig Yoho Jeferson Quero Robert Gasser Tyler Black *Notes Woodruff has a $20 million mutual option with a $10 million buyout for 2026, so he is likely to take the $10 million and pursue free agency - assuming he keeps pitching as well as he has this year. Quintana has a $15 million option with a $2 million buyout for 2026. While Quintana has been a fine player for Milwaukee, it’s unlikely the team picks up his option and instead pays the buyout. Other notes I don’t expect the club to bring back Jake Bauers unless on a minor league deal with a minimum salary. Rob Zastryzny may return, but the cost should not be much more than the league minimum. Financial Analysis The team is scheduled to have $11.25 million more in already agreed-upon contracts (Chourio, Ashby, Contreras). Arbitration raises - including a full season of Andrew Vaughn - will likely cost the team an additional $17-18 million. In total, the team will add about $28-30 million in salary via scheduled raises and arbitration. The club will shed $42 million in salary with Woodruff, Quintana, and Hoskins, assuming no options are picked up. The difference leaves the club $10-12 million under the 2025 payroll. Lineup The club can bring back most of its 2025 lineup intact. Vaughn replaces Hoskins. For reserve catcher, the team may go with Quero or bring in a low-priced veteran. Turang is back at second base. Ortiz (shortstop) receives another year to improve at the plate. The team sticks with Seigler, who they seem to like, and Durbin, at third base. The outfield is strong with Chourio, Frelick, Collins, Perkins, and Mitchell (assuming he is healthy). Yelich is the full-time designated hitter. Starting pitching options include Peralta, Misiorowski, Patrick, Myers, Gasser, Priester, and Henderson. Relief corps includes Megill, Anderson, Uribe, Koenig, Mears, Ashby, Hall, Yoho The club could move one of the relievers - such as Hall or Ashby - to the rotation. I would expect the club to look for some bargains - just like they always do - such as when they acquired Quintana this past spring for just $4 million. The team loves bargains, and they will strike when they see one. The great thing is that the Brewers have to do nothing to bring this team back. Yes, it hurts to lose the pitching depth. But they will likely rely on existing players and an opportunistic signing or two to fill out the ranks. Could the team bring back Woodruff or Quintana? Anything is possible (especially once we get a financial windfall from winning the World Series). But we can’t forget that arbitration raises will continue to eat into the core lineup beyond 2026. That means the team wants to avoid expensive, long-term contracts. It doesn’t mean the club won’t do something, but history tells us the answer is unlikely. View full article

just wow. very fun time.

Oh yeah

Image courtesy of © Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Eugenio Suarez would look awesome in a Brewers uniform for the last two months of the season. A right-handed power-hitting third baseman is just the ticket for this club. The key is, will the Brewers pay the price? Other teams (Cubs, Mariners, Reds, Astros, Phillies) have interest in the slugger. So, who will (over) pay for Suarez? For the Brewers, it likely means young, controllable pitching. That means someone such as Chad Patrick or Logan Henderson. Would the club deal six years of one of those guys for two months of Suarez? Let’s remember, Brandon Woodruff and Jose Quintana could be free agents after the season. That leaves the rotation with Freddy Peralta (set to be a free agent after the 2026 season), Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski, Tobias Myers, Henderson, and Patrick - plus a returning Robert Gasser. We have seen how critical pitching depth is in this league. Based on past actions, it seems highly unlikely that the club would give up a starter such as Patrick or Henderson for two months of Suarez. And let’s not forget that the price could go higher. Ryan McMahon is off the market (likely taking the Yankees out as well), so teams looking to improve at the hot corner are competing for fewer resources. For that reason, the Brewers are likely to focus on flexibility and affordability. That means a player who won’t cost too much, in terms of money and talent, to acquire. Ideally, they’ll focus on a player who can play competently around the infield, hit league average, and can put the ball in play. And won’t count a lot to acquire. That means guys who are impending free agents. Here are the contenders. Willi Castro, Minnesota Can play all over the infield, hits about .250, has a little pop. He’s a free agent after the season and is only owed around $2.2 million for the rest of the 2025 season. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Pittsburgh Excellent defender around the infield. He has mostly been a below-average hitter with little power, but a solid batting average (.260-.270). He’s not exciting, but he’s a solid player who can help down the stretch. He is owed $2.5 million for the last third of the season. Of course, we can yearn for Suarez. Or a non-rental, such as Josh Smith. However, that will again come at a cost to the team. And if those players are made available, they will likely fetch a premium. In the end, it’s unlikely Milwaukee overpays for anyone. Instead, they will focus on depth, protecting themselves against an injury or in case a young player, such as Durbin, slumps. Also, it’s unlikely they look at aging or unreliable players, such as Ke'Bryan Hayes, Yoan Moncada, or Nolan Arenado. They are injury-prone, too expensive, or just not that productive. In the end, I expect the Brewers to explore various ways to improve the team. It could be an infielder or even a first baseman. But it all comes down to the cost. It’s a philosophy that has - mostly - paid off for the club these past few years. And one they will likely stick to. Still, you never know. The team is opportunistic. If something falls into their hands, they will pounce. It’s just a matter of who that is. View full article

I think the Bucks really only have two options right now if they want to add: 1. Sign someone for minimum or near minimum. 2. Send Kuzma with our 2031 1st round pick attached. No one wants the guy with $42m still on his contract. So we have to make it worthwhile for them. Matching contracts would be a challenge. Kuzma is set to make $22m - so (I think) we'd have to be near that. Perhaps we have an end-of-the-bench guy we could throw in to make it $25m - but I'm not totally sure how cap stuff works. It will be interesting to see where things go.

Lillard’s agent Aaron Goodwin put out a statement. “It’s an incredible opportunity for Damian,” Goodwin said. “He receives all of his money guaranteed, and it provides him an opportunity to decide his next destination as an unrestricted free agent. He gets a chance to rehab at home if he chooses to, and be with his family and his kids for the next year. The goal is for him to take his time and make a decision on what his next destination will be.”

ESPN doesn't hate small markets. They like the buzz it creates - and the traffic - from big markets who want Giannis (or any athlete from a small market). It's about money.

Should put to rest any comments that Giannis is unhappy. He should be thrilled with the team we are putting together (considering what the personnel was like a week ago). Not sure how good we will be, but it will be interesting.

The other thing is that it allows Dame to set himself up in 2026 for a situation that is best for him. He'll be able to pick his situation. The man is still getting paid. Perhaps it's a bit embarrassing to get waived - but I'll take $108m for the embarrassment. And the other thing is that it moves us past the Dame era. It just didn't work - sorry to say. And if Dame stayed, we'd all be wondering what would happen in 2026. It would just be a cloud hanging over the franchise. Best move on.

Wow. Just going crazy. Talk about remaking a roster.

Easier said than done. But who knows. Attach a pick to him, get someone back who's helpful - who knows...

Next move - probably more 'all in'. I'm betting the Bucks get rid of Kuzma by including a future #1 pick. I mean - at this point - who cares. Shove those chips onto the table!! Might not happen this summer - but at some point. A lot depends on Kuzma's willingness to adapt to the team. He seems to think he's a great scorer and might become a liability.

C - Turner, Portis PF - Giannis, Smith SF - Kuzma, Prince PG - Porter, Rollins (assuming he resigns) SG - Trent, Green Others: Jackson Jr., Livingston, Pat C, Bogoljub Marković (unless he's stashed overseas another year) I wouldn't be shocked if Thanasis is brought back as well. I'm not sure where we are cap-wise, but I wouldn't be shocked if they unloaded Pat C. (tough one to accomplish) and Livingstone. Then add a couple of fringe players. Crazy.

Holy crap, I never imagined this. Wow. I don't know if this is a good idea - but gotta love Horst for throwing it all in - again. Leaving $23m every year - for five years - as dead cap space - is going to be really tough. Just wow.

Exactly. I'm expecting something like that. Whether it's Carter or not is another question - but I'm guessing they use it to take a guy who a team will be happy to lose (like Carter) who has moved out of the club's rotation - and can help us. There are teams that are really cap-challenged that would love to unload a $7m or so player without taking back anything. So you never know what they could get. All that assumes we don't trade Giannis.

Unless the Bucks are willing to include our 2031 1st rounder (I think that's the first one we can deal), I don't see us doing much of anything. Maybe try and swing another 2nd rounder -- but who knows. Just so few tools in the arsenal at this time.

Thank you for the clarification.

I'll throw out this idea - waive and stretch both Pat C. and Kyle Kuzma. Stretch rules - if I am correct - say you can stretch the contract over twice the years remaining on the deal - plus one year. Pat C is owed $9.3m next year. So stretch over three years at $3.1m a year. Of course, if you think he can help us - by all means - keep him. But that doesn't seem likely. Kuzma is owed - roughly $44m over the next two years. So that can be stretched over five years. That's just under $9 per season. This pushes the pain further down the road, but it would free up about $12m for 2025-26. Perhaps just waiving Kuzma is stupid. But he looked awful. And if you keep him, there's going to be pressure to play him. And if you don't, he's just a distraction. Just get rid of him now and use the savings to add a player who can actually help the club. Also, no one is going to want to trade for either Pat C or Kuzma. Not at those salaries. The one option might be taking on a player of similar salary that we think might help us.