The Brewers already showed this front office has no fear of moving a player at the right moment, and Caleb Durbin is the proof. Milwaukee cashed him in when his value was at its highest, then turned that deal into three useful pieces, including David Hamilton and a pair of left-handed pitchers with upside. Even with the extra cost of Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler, the return fit the Brewers’ style: control, flexibility and enough talent to make the gamble worth it.
That trade also came with real risk. The Brewers were betting on their infield depth, and then had to reinforce it by signing Luis Rengifo.
Jett Williams, another player they had just acquired in the Freddy Peralta trade, never reached the majors in 2026. Rengifo didn’t work out in Milwaukee, though he later found success in San Diego.
For a while, third base was a problem spot. It took Cooper Pratt getting called up and Joey Ortiz sliding over to third, with Ortiz and Hamilton sharing time, before the Brewers finally settled things down.
The key detail is that Milwaukee did not go looking to move Durbin. The Brewers wanted pitching depth, but the Red Sox came to them after missing out on re-signing Alex Bregman, and the offer was too strong to turn down. That kind of deal could surface again this winter, though it is more likely to come after the looming lockout than early in the offseason.
Ortiz and Garrett Mitchell are the names to watch. The Brewers are not shopping either one, and they do not need to move them.
But both are arbitration-eligible now, which makes them a little different from Durbin. They are still under team control for multiple seasons - two for Mitchell, three for Ortiz - and they remain affordable compared with players of similar ability and career stage.
Milwaukee also has enough cover to make a move if the right one appears. Luis Lara, Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio can all handle center field if needed.
Brandon Lockridge’s injury interrupted what looked like a breakout season, but he still profiles as a useful fourth or fifth outfielder. Help is coming, too: Williams could fit in center because of his speed, 2024 first-round pick Braylon Payne made noise this season, and Josh Adamczewski looks like a plus hitter with pop who is close to the majors.
Adamczewski would need left field, but Chourio’s versatility makes that workable.
The infield is just as crowded. Hamilton and Cooper are already there, Williams could join the third-base mix with a strong spring, and Andrew Fischer is not far off, even if first base may be his best spot.
Jesús Made is expected in 2027, on roughly the same timeline as Pratt’s June arrival in 2026. So if Ortiz were moved, the Brewers would mostly be patching a short-term hole, and Hamilton is already in place as someone they trust to handle it.
None of that means trading Mitchell or Ortiz is the preferred path. Keeping both is perfectly reasonable.
But if another club shows up with an offer that solves a problem or meaningfully improves Milwaukee’s depth, the Brewers have already shown they will listen. Another Durbin-style move is possible before Opening Day, and if it happens, it could be one more step on the road to another championship run.
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Misiorowski is not the only one positioned to benefit, either. Jackson Chourio, Joey Ortiz, Logan Henderson and Abner Uribe are also part of the group drawing meaningful bonus-pool money, giving the Brewers a rare kind of return on their investment: a young core that can be paid a little better now, while also adding a measure of security and goodwill inside the clubhouse. [Read more 🡒]
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The biggest questions sit on the infield and behind the plate, where the club has to sort out first base alongside Andrew Vaughn and decide how to handle the catcher position with William Contreras in the picture. Milwaukee also has to weigh its prospects against the free-agent market, and those choices could shape whether the Brewers stay on top or simply try to hold the line after a championship run. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Yelichs Latest Offseason Move Could Mean A Lot For Milwaukee
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Yelich plans to relocate his family to Wisconsin, bringing them closer to where he plays during the season. For a player who has spent years as one of the most recognizable faces in the organization, that kind of commitment carries weight beyond real estate, even if the next step in the process is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]