The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t waste much time getting active this offseason. Earlier in December, they pulled the trigger on a trade that brought in left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa from the Kansas City Royals - a move that’s quietly shaping up to be one of the more intriguing bullpen adds of the winter.
To land Zerpa, Milwaukee sent outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears to Kansas City. On paper, it’s a fair exchange: Collins is a promising young bat with years of team control, while Mears had carved out a role in the Brewers’ bullpen last season.
But Zerpa brings something different - upside. And for a team that’s consistently found ways to maximize pitching potential, that’s a bet worth making.
Let’s start with what the Brewers are getting. Zerpa, 24, has flashed potential in limited big-league action.
He’s a lefty with a smooth delivery, a solid fastball-changeup combo, and just enough deception to keep hitters off balance. He’s not a finished product - not yet - but Milwaukee has a track record of turning raw arms into reliable weapons.
If Zerpa takes a step forward under the Brewers’ pitching development system, this could end up looking like a savvy acquisition.
What makes the move even more interesting is what it says about how the Brewers view their bullpen construction. Mears wasn’t just a middle-innings guy - he was trusted in high-leverage spots.
Swapping him out for Zerpa suggests the Brewers see something in the lefty they believe they can unlock. It’s not a knock on Mears, who gave them solid innings, but Zerpa’s ceiling might be just a little higher.
And in a league where bullpens are increasingly built on upside and flexibility, that matters.
On the flip side, the Royals are getting a player they believe can help them right away in Isaac Collins. The 25-year-old outfielder had a breakout rookie campaign, showing off a disciplined approach at the plate that’s hard to teach.
He posted a 12.9% walk rate - well above league average - and chased pitches just 18.4% of the time, which speaks to his advanced pitch recognition. That kind of plate discipline led to a .368 on-base percentage and plenty of run-scoring chances.
For a Royals lineup looking for consistency and on-base skills, Collins fits the bill.
Before finalizing the trade, Royals President of Baseball Operations J.J. Picollo did his homework - and that included consulting someone who knows Collins well.
Connor Dawson, who recently joined the Royals after serving as the Brewers’ hitting coach, gave Picollo a strong endorsement of Collins. According to reports, Dawson described Collins as “as consistent as you could possibly want a hitter to be.”
That’s high praise from someone who’s seen his work up close.
All in all, this deal checks a lot of boxes for both clubs. The Brewers get a controllable lefty with room to grow, and the Royals add a disciplined young bat who could lock down an everyday outfield spot.
It’s the kind of trade that doesn’t make headlines in December but could pay dividends by July. Keep an eye on Zerpa in Milwaukee - if he takes a leap forward, we might look back at this as one of the more under-the-radar wins of the offseason.