Cory Sparks

Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Freddy Peralta is in the final year of his contract, and it may be tempting for many to want him to don the blue and yellow yet again. This would not work, and it could prove catastrophic for the future of Milwaukee’s rotation if they tried a move like this. Let’s break down Peralta’s 2026 season, and the three different reasons bringing him back would be a poor decision. This is a two-part article: read the counterpoint here. Building A Strong Reputation Before diving into the reasons Peralta shouldn’t be back with the Crew, it’s important to highlight the portfolio he’s built for himself. For years, he has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. This is someone who has a career record of 75-51, a 3.79 earned run average, and over 1,200 strikeouts in just north of 1,000 innings. Peralta is a two-time All-Star, and the 30-year-old even surpassed 200 strikeouts in three straight seasons from 2023-2025. A Season To Forget Milwaukee traded Peralta to the New York Mets ahead of this season, losing their ace along with a depth arm in Tobias Myers. In exchange, the Crew got utility Jett Williams and right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat. Since that deal, Peralta has had one of the worst seasons of his big league career. This year, the now Tampa Bay Rays starter is 5-9 with a 5.37 earned run average, striking out 116 hitters over 117 1/3 innings in 23 starts. Peralta’s 1.52 WHIP is 44 points higher than the value he produced last year in his final campaign with the Brewers. The fastball-heavy hurler has been getting hit hard, allowing 19 homers while allowing a batting average of .260 or better on four of his six pitches. No Guarantee He's "Back" Peralta’s walks are up at 9.2 percent (38th percentile), and his below-average strikeout rate of 21.8 percent (43rd percentile) hasn’t been encouraging either. This is somebody who has lost a tick on his fastball velocity, as his primary offering is gliding in at just an average of 94.2 miles per hour, his lowest mark since 2022. There’s no guarantee he returns to his form with the Brewers; The Cubs tried this with Jake Arrieta, who won a Cy Young with the team in 2016 before having some subpar seasons with the Phillies. When he re-joined the northsiders five years later, his earned run average ballooned up to 7.39, almost three full runs higher than a 4.64 mark a pair of years prior. While it’s fun to imagine Peralta magically returning to form as soon as he dawns his old threads, this is someone on the other side of 30 years old who relies on power and is struggling mightily. Innings Inefficiency Even when Peralta was at his best, the former Brewers’ ace has always had a tough time finishing off hitters. The 30-year-old throws a lower-than-average percentage of pitches inside the zone, leading to a pitches per plate appearance rate north of 4.1. This results in those taxing, 100-pitch starts that sometimes just get Peralta through five innings. That’s how bullpens get taxed, even on some of his better days. Holding Down Controllable Talent As it stands, Milwaukee has one of the better rotations in baseball while still developing more up-and-coming arms. Jacob Misiorowski is competing for an NL Cy Young award, Kyle Harrison has been a remarkable secondary option, and other names like Coleman Crow, Logan Henderson, and more could be controllable, affordable arms that should fill out the rotation. Peralta, even after a down year, will demand more revenue per year than most, if not all, of those players right now. With the salary cap looming, combining production with affordability is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, Peralta doesn’t provide that combination. View full article

While it may be tempting to bring back two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta, the Milwaukee Brewers should not make the decision. Peralta is in the midst of the worst year of his big-league career, and in this video, we'll go over the three reasons that making him a member of the Crew again would be a poor decision. View full video

This is true. The depth is insane. What's the NLCS official prediction?

Agreed!

Glasnow is just working back too. I don't hate the matchup in general! Love the "young and dumb" take too- get guys who just ambush the moment and see what happens

The Milwaukee Brewers squared off with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS last year, but the Dodgers got the best of the Crew in the form of a sweep. This year, Jacob Misiorowski's status as a starter is no longer in question, as he's the NL Cy Young frontrunner. Kyle Harrison has emerged as a front-of-the-rotation threat. How does the Brewers' pitching staff compare to Tarik Skubal and the Dodgers' starters? We dove in headfirst to find out. View full video

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers may yet again be on the David vs. Goliath course that we saw the conclusion of in the NLCS last year. Milwaukee has consistently been in the bottom half of the league’s payroll rankings, while the Dodgers live amongst the cream of the crop when it comes to top-end spending. Despite the financial disparity, there may not be a starting pitcher more electric than Jacob Misiorowski and Tarik Skubal. Kyle Harrison and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are both secondary options, so we’ll compare those two as well. Jacob Misiorowski Breakdown Misiorowski has quickly stolen headlines for having the most electric fastball in the sport. The Brewers’ flamethrower has fired a ball as fast as 105.5 miles per hour, and he’s improved leaps and bounds with his command since debuting in the major leagues last year. The 24-year-old former second-round pick is 11-5 this year with a 1.63 earned run average and has 195 strikeouts in 127 innings of work. He’s striking out 40.6 percent of hitters (100th percentile) and is walking hitters just 6.0 percent of the time (87th percentile). The Brewers’ ace has a five-pitch mix, but he heavily relies on the fastball that holds a rising effect out of his 30-degree arm angle upon release. His 0.73 WHIP tops all starters by 0.15, and he’s holding opposing hitters below the Mendoza line against every one of his pitches. Tarik Skubal Breakdown Skubal was the big-ticket acquisition at this year’s MLB trade deadline, and for good reason. The two-time Cy Young winner has the accolades on his side, and he currently profiles as one of the hardest-throwing lefties in baseball. The newest member of the Dodgers’ rotation holds a 7-6 record this year with a 2.81 earned run average. He has 122 strikeouts in 102.2 innings pitched, operating with a 0.92 WHIP on the season. Skubal is a master of deception, and he’s one of the more cerebral pitchers in baseball, using his sinker 32% more often against fellow southpaws than he does against right-handed hitters. The 29-year-old lands in the top 10 percent for chase rate (36.1), whiff rate (32.5), strikeout rate (30.7) and walk rate (4.0), and he has postseason experience under his belt from his time in Detroit. Kyle Harrison’s Tale of the Tape Harrison was the Brewers’ big offseason acquisition, as Milwaukee got him from the Boston Red Sox in a package deal. Harrison has one of the best slurves in baseball, garnering just a .150 opposing batting average against his low-80s, gloveside biting pitch. The first-year member of the Crew is 9-2 this season with a 2.84 earned run average, and he’s struck out 111 hitters in 88.2 innings. He’s been an absolute master at creating swing-and-miss and limiting quality contact. The 24-year-old southpaw has an elite 33.4 percent chase rate (79th percentile) accompanied by a 29.4 percent whiff rate (80th percentile). He’s also allowing a ball to get barrelled up just 6.3 percent of the time. His 6.6-foot extension (67th percentile) allows what’s already a mid-90s fastball to appear even quicker. The most important aspect for Harrison is staying healthy, as his most recent injury scare was related to cramping in both calves. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Makeup Yoshinobu Yamamoto rounds out matchups, and if he’s the Game 2 opponent in this hypothetical series between LA and Milwaukee, runs may be at a premium. The 27-year-old righty has an 11-7 record this year, earning a 2.76 earned run average and a miniscule 0.88 WHIP on the season. Yamamoto has an elite ground ball rate, forcing a hitter to roll over 47.5 percent of the time (75th percentile). The Japanese-born pitcher put up a Madison Bumgarner-like performance in the World Series last year, tossing 17.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out 15 across three different appearances. The Dodgers’ pitchers have the postseason experience, but overall, give me Miz as a guaranteed two wins if his stuff is on in a playoff atmosphere. Yamamoto gets the slight edge over Harrison since he’s been performing at a higher level for a little longer, but overall, Milwaukee’s starters have impressed me more in the 2026 regular season and have the edge. View full article

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Cooper Pratt has had quite the year. The Milwaukee Brewers’ fourth-ranked prospect (per Brewer Fanatic) has inked a long-term extension, made his MLB debut, and now he’s quickly turning into the most dangerous type of hitter there is: someone who excels at everything. Let’s break down how Pratt is already adjusting to the big leagues in a way that could make him a key piece when postseason baseball rolls around. Cooper Pratt’s Background Pratt is a 21-year-old infielder for the Brewers, and he’s done nothing but impress since the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Pratt holds a hefty frame, standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 210 pounds despite profiling as a shortstop, a position that demands the fleet of foot. The former sixth-round pick has overcome that, swiping 58 bases between the 2024 and 2025 minor league seasons. His glove (60) and fielding (60) have profiled as the infielder’s best tools, as he’s managed to work his way all the way up to a major league debut this season. This isn’t an easy feat considering the fierce competition from Jesus Made and Luis Pena, fellow infield prospects who are climbing the ladder with Pratt. Pratt Locked Down Matt Arnold has proven himself as someone who knows talent analysis, and he’s nailed the hires to build the best farm system in baseball. With that being said, when the Crew signs someone to an eight-year, $50.75 million contract, it’s for good reason. The budding shortstop is locked down until at least 2033 before a club option can kick in over the next couple of years. This is similar to what the Brewers have done with Luis Lara, an outfielder who also debuted this year and inked a seven-year, $31 million deal taking him through 2032 ahead of a club option. The Surface Level Numbers Are Promising So far, Pratt has passed the eye test, and he’s come a long way from someone who slashed just .238/.343/.348 with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers a season ago. One of Milwaukee’s greenest infielders is currently slashing .289/.371/.391 with a .762 OPS over 42 games with the group. Pratt has slugged two home runs, driven in 17 baserunners, and has 18 walks to 29 strikeouts with 10 stolen bases already. Taking A Deeper Dive Take a more granular look at Pratt’s early performance, and you’ll be even more impressed. The Magnolia Heights H.S. alum has a 137 wRC+ since the start of July, implying that he’s been a far better all-around hitter than the average major leaguer (with 100 being the mean value). Like most players on the Brewers, he takes his walks, earning a free pass 12.2 percent of the time. That mark, along with his 19.6 percent strikeout rate, is both well above league average. Pratt has had success against fastballs, even getting a bit unlucky with a .258 batting average that’s eight points below his expected value. The real difference has been his success against breaking balls, a pitch type that he’s gone 17-for-38 (.447 AVG) against with five extra-base hits, including a home run. Pratt, even at his young age, is already identifying which breaking balls aren’t worth offering at and which to attack. What’s His Long-Term Role? What will Pratt do long term, and can he keep this productivity up? Unlike batting average on balls in play, metrics like low chase rates, high walk rates, and a prominent indication that he can identify pitches well are all sustainable traits. This isn’t someone who is hitting into luck. In fact, he’s done all of this despite having a below-average bat speed of 70.3 miles per hour. Pratt is still very young, and he could easily fill out more of his frame as the years go by. He may need to be flexible, though, as baseball’s top prospect in Made could be up in the big leagues as soon as this year. We’ve seen Pratt play around the infield, so it shouldn’t be much of an issue. Wherever he plays on defense, this is someone who has the right habits at the plate and could be a difference-maker for years to come. View full article

Cooper Pratt is quickly making Matt Arnold look like a genius, as the now-extended infielder is hitting just south of .300 and looks like one of the most complete hitters in the organization. The 21-year-old is flexing a 137 wRC+, and in this video, we'll dive into everything from his high walk rate, ability to pound breaking balls, and even contextualize his future amongst a remarkable group of Milwaukee farmhands. View full video

Great point, Matt! These are team-friendly deals, and even if the guys don't don't perform on them, those club options are a couple years closer and give extra appeal to possible buyers.

Yoyo! Do you think they make the top prospect in baseball shift over? It feels like he'd have the pick, but I'm not sure.

A future infield including Pratt, Made, Pena and Fischer may leave Adams as the odd man out

Crow would have to switch from his usual profile, a starter. This is similar to someone having to change positions in the field, but originally, he as a starter is blocked. I like his stuff. Vaughn may still be around, so I'm curious to see what happens with Adams!

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Milwaukee Brewers’ big move at this year’s MLB Trade Deadline was landing Dustin May and JoJo Romero, a pair of big league arms from their division rivals in St. Louis. While the team didn’t make the splash for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who went to the Dodgers, there’s still an argument that these three prospects could’ve been spent on another arm or a power bat. Luis Peña Peña would’ve been in the mock Skubal trade, as he's someone who holds a lot of value and therefore deserves a hefty return. He’s the number two prospect in the Brewers’ pipeline. The problem is, I don’t know where this guy plays. Jesús Made is likely the team’s future shortstop or second baseman, as the team held onto the top prospect in baseball. Cooper Pratt was just extended, and he will likely play third, shortstop, or second base by the time the rest of this prospect class is up. Peña has been remarkable, slashing .305/.396/.429 (.825 OPS) while playing all but three games with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He has 105 career stolen bags in 184 games and holds the most value of anyone who the Brewers simply do not have room for. Maybe he becomes more valuable when he’s in Double-A Biloxi or Triple-A Nashville by this time next year, but the clock is ticking on the time this team has to sell someone else on his potential. Luke Adams Luke Adams is another name who could be stuck. Adams, a 22-year-old power hitter, has the potential to be a diamond in the rough for this team considering he was a 12th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Adams has two very appealing attributes: power and plate discipline. The power is on its best run in 2026, as the corner infielder has 15 round-trippers in just 60 games, with 12 of those coming in Triple-A Nashville. As for his approach, Adams has managed to draw 245 career walks while punching out 298 times. Who is in front of him? Time will tell what the Brewers decide to do with Andrew Vaughn and now Jake Bauers, who’s having a career year for the Crew. The aforementioned Pratt is in the fold and extended, but I’d be pretty worried about Andrew Fischer. The Brewers’ sixth-ranked prospect is up to 34 home runs and 53 extra-base hits across 91 games. That is someone who could fly by and pass Luke Adams, considering you could argue that he is the best power hitter in Minor League Baseball right now. Coleman Crow Coleman Crow is the final player on this list, and while he has made his MLB debut already, he’s arguably the most blocked of anyone here. The Brewers’ number 22 prospect is a starting pitcher, and there are quite a few names in front of him. Crow went 5-1 with a 4.12 earned run average in 59.0 innings of work for Triple-A Nashville before getting the call to the big leagues. Crow’s curveball, which possesses a 60-grade, is the biggest appeal for the former 28th-round pick. While he’s shown he can earn his way up to the top step, names like Logan Henderson, Tyson Hardin, Bishop Letson and more are either ranked higher than him or have pushed past him on the big league ball club’s depth chart. The Crew has a surplus of infield prospects, and they have plenty of up-and-coming pitchers behind one of the most dominant rotations in baseball. There’s always next year, but the Crew could’ve capitalized on this surplus more ahead of this year’s deadline. View full article

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Milwaukee Brewers traded for a pair of St. Louis Cardinals arms, and in exchange, they gave up one of their brightest rising prospects. The team got Dustin May and reliever JoJo Romero in exchange for outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale. Ragsdale has had one of the best months of anybody in minor league baseball. Let's dive into his journey and what the Crew is losing by dealing away Ragsdale. Josiah Ragsdale’s Background Ragsdale is a 22-year-old outfield prospect, and the Brewers selected him in the seventh round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The left-handed hitting speedster played a pair of collegiate seasons at Iona before transferring to Boston College and posting a .318/.418/.498 slash line. He also swiped 30 bases across 56 contests before having his name called on the draft stage. After spending 21 games in Low-A Carolina (now Wilson) last year, Ragsdale has shot out of a cannon this year. The Brewers’ 16th-ranked prospect (per Brewer Fanatic) has been surging all season, slashing .316/.441/.581 (1.022 OPS) over 86 games between time with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. Since the promotion to Double-A, the outfielder has taken his power to a whole new level. Ragsdale now has 12 home runs and 21 runs batted in over 26 contests, a pace good enough for a 1.127 OPS in his first month with the Shuckers. Ragsdale's Wicked Instincts Ragsdale has a 70-grade run tool, per MLB Pipeline. The former Boston College prospect has put it on full display, snatching 31 bases in 86 games this year and logging 40 stolen bases over 107 career professional games. His speed is in the 56th percentile, per Prospect Savant, but the ability to get a great jump on opposing pitchers’ cadence is one of many reasons Ragsdale has been flying up MiLB rankings. Promising Signs, But Room For Improvement With Ragsdale being in his first full year of professional baseball while already playing in Double-A, there’s an expectation that his three years of college experience could help him rise up the ladder quicker than some others. One of his best attributes has been the ability to work counts. Ragsdale is currently sporting a 19.3 percent walk rate, good enough for the 97th percentile among all prospects. He isn’t venturing out of the zone or whiffing, as his numbers are both well above average in those categories. All of this comes with the fact that he has 42 extra-base hits in just 86 games. His swing motion, per MLB Pipeline, is relatively simple. He has a slight front heel lift, allowing him to be on time for pitches, but this year, he’s been able to load up and generate plenty of slug. His slender frame at 6 feet tall, 185 pounds allows Ragsdale to be shifty in the field, so it’ll be interesting to see if he prioritizes building more muscle onto a frame that’s already generated 19 round-trippers. He does classify on the passive side at times, so despite not chasing after many bad pitches, Ragsdale has a 29.4 percent strikeout rate (25th percentile). Was There Room For Ragsdale? Milwaukee is loaded, and the fact that someone as gifted and polished as Ragsdale wasn't even on the team’s top 10 prospects list leads to that. Other outfielders above him included Luis Lara (already debuted) and Josh Adamczewski (Double-A). Ragsdale’s ETA is listed as 2028, and that seems pretty reasonable. One of the last steps will be getting him to choose when to attack early in a count instead of working into two-strike counts, but overall, there simply wasn't room for him. View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers made a couple of moves at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, but they didn't do anything seismic with their surplus of talent. In this video, we'll explain why the Brewers should have considered dealing Luis Pena, Luke Adams, and Coleman Crow, considering the combination of their talent and other prospects in front of them that are blocking their potential path to the bigs. View full video