Angel Zerpa Traded to Brewers-And Why the Royals Finally Got the Timing Right on a Reliever
In baseball, few things are as unpredictable-or as fleeting-as a good relief pitcher. One day they’re locking down the eighth inning, and the next, they’re struggling to find the strike zone in Triple-A.
It’s part of the reason why front offices treat relievers like short-term assets: valuable when they’re sharp, risky when they’re not. And it’s also why the Royals’ decision to deal Angel Zerpa to the Brewers might be their savviest bullpen move in years.
Let’s break this down.
Zerpa, 26, is coming off a serviceable season in Kansas City. He wasn’t dominant, but he showed enough flashes to catch the eye of a team like Milwaukee, which has a long track record of getting the most out of arms like his.
He’s under team control for three more years, which adds to his appeal. But for the Royals, this move wasn’t just about what Zerpa is-it’s about what he could become, and the risk that comes with that.
Because here’s the thing about relievers: they don’t age gracefully. Even the best ones tend to burn bright and fade fast.
Just ask Royals fans about the “HDH” trio-Greg Holland, Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera. That bullpen powered Kansas City to a World Series title, but none of those guys had a slow, gentle decline.
Holland was elite through his age-28 season before injuries derailed him. Davis had a three-year stretch of absolute dominance, then saw his ERA spike and never really recovered.
Herrera? One of the most consistent setup men in the game for years-out of baseball by 30.
That’s not the exception. That’s the rule.
And that’s why it’s been frustrating to watch the Royals hold onto bullpen arms in the middle of losing seasons. Joakim Soria, Scott Barlow, Josh Staumont-guys who had value at one point, but were never moved when their stock was high.
The Royals gambled on consistency in a role where consistency is a myth. They tried to outlast the avocado, and the avocado turned brown anyway.
This time, though, they didn’t wait too long.
By trading Zerpa now, the Royals cashed in on a reliever who still has perceived upside, even if the numbers don’t scream future All-Star. In return, they get outfielder Isaac Collins and pitcher Nick Mears.
Is this a blockbuster? Not even close.
But it’s a smart piece of roster management.
Collins had a solid 2025 season and brings versatility to the outfield, though he turns 29 next July and doesn’t have the prototypical corner-outfield tools. Mears, also 29, is a journeyman reliever who’s now on his fourth big league team in seven seasons.
Neither is a franchise-changer, but both are useful depth pieces. And considering Zerpa’s performance to date, that’s a fair return.
More importantly, this deal signals a shift in approach. It’s the kind of move that good organizations make-trading from a surplus to address other needs, without falling in love with a player just because he’s been serviceable.
There’s a chance Zerpa develops into a reliable arm in Milwaukee. The Brewers are betting on that, and they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to developing pitching.
But there’s also a real chance that Zerpa has already shown us his best. His salary is only going up as he enters arbitration, and with every inning he throws, the risk of regression grows.
That’s the nature of the role. You can’t trade every reliever the moment they figure it out-sometimes you need them to close out games.
But you can avoid overvaluing them, and that’s what the Royals did here. Zerpa wasn’t their best bullpen arm, maybe not even top three.
But they found a team that saw value, and they made a deal to help the roster elsewhere.
It’s a small win, but a smart one. And for a team trying to build something sustainable, those add up.
As for Zerpa, here’s hoping he finds success in Milwaukee. But if he doesn’t? Well, it wouldn’t be the first time a promising reliever faded fast-and it won’t be the last.