The Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals just pulled off one of those trades that, at first glance, looks like a classic needs-for-needs exchange. The Royals get outfielder Isaac Collins and right-hander Nick Mears, while the Brewers bring in lefty Ángel Zerpa. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear Milwaukee might be playing a longer, smarter game here - one that could pay off in a big way if things break right.
Let’s start with what the Brewers gave up. Collins wasn’t just a throw-in.
He gave Milwaukee a productive season at the plate, slashing .263/.368/.411 with 9 home runs and 16 stolen bases. That’s a very real offensive contribution, especially for a team that values on-base ability and versatility.
Then there’s Mears. He was a key bullpen piece, appearing in 63 games with a 3.49 ERA and an eye-popping 0.97 WHIP.
That’s the kind of seventh-inning reliability contenders often don’t realize they’re missing until it’s too late. Mears was a fireman - the kind of guy who could come in with runners on and slam the door.
Losing that kind of arm isn’t nothing.
So why would Milwaukee move two proven big leaguers for a lefty who spent most of his time bouncing between roles in Kansas City?
Because the Brewers might see more than just a bullpen arm in Ángel Zerpa. They might see a starter. And that changes the entire equation.
Matt Arnold, Milwaukee’s GM, didn’t exactly try to hide it. The Brewers are at least considering stretching Zerpa out into a starting role.
According to beat reporting, the team plans to have deeper conversations with Zerpa before making a final call, but the “door is cracked open to starting.” That’s not nothing.
Especially when you hear that scouts still believe in his ability to handle a starter’s workload - and that Milwaukee values his postseason experience as well.
If Zerpa stays in the bullpen, the trade’s still solid. You’re swapping two useful players for a lefty with options, good stuff, and room to grow. That’s a fair deal.
But if Milwaukee turns him into a legitimate starter? That’s where this could get lopsided - fast.
Zerpa’s secret weapon is the way he kills contact. Last season, he generated ground balls at a 63.7% clip - and that’s not just a fluke or a one-pitch trick.
His pitch mix, per Baseball Savant, is built around a sinker/slider combo, with the sinker accounting for about 45% of his usage. That sinker is a real weapon, especially if he’s keeping the ball on the ground and avoiding barrels.
Now, there’s still work to be done. If the Brewers want him to face lineups multiple times, they’ll need to help him develop a more effective changeup to handle right-handed hitters.
That’s been a weakness. But if he can find that pitch - and maybe add a better secondary fastball shape - then we’re talking about a legitimate rotation piece.
The Framber Valdez comparison isn’t perfect, but it’s useful. Think of a younger, cheaper lefty who can ride a sinker, keep hitters off balance, and chew through innings with minimal damage. If Milwaukee can get even a mid-rotation version of that out of Zerpa, then this trade stops being a depth shuffle and starts looking like a long-term win.
That’s the play here. The Brewers aren’t just swapping parts. They’re betting on upside - betting that their pitching development system, which has quietly become one of the league’s best, can unlock something in Zerpa that Kansas City couldn’t.
And if they’re right? They didn’t just trade for a reliever with options. They traded for years of value.
This front office doesn’t make moves like that on a whim.