Brewers Bullpen Already Strong - But These Three Arms Could Make It Even Better
The relief pitcher market is heating up early this offseason, and teams looking to bolster their bullpens are wasting no time. The Cubs jumped in by signing Phil Maton to a two-year deal, and the Orioles followed suit with a two-year pact for Ryan Helsley. That kind of activity puts pressure on other clubs to act fast or risk missing out on key arms.
Now, let’s be clear - the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t exactly desperate for bullpen help. They’ve built a reputation for developing and maximizing relievers, and their current group is already one of the more reliable units in the league.
But in today’s game, depth is everything. Injuries happen, roles shift, and October demands fresh arms and flexibility.
That’s why it wouldn’t be surprising to see Milwaukee’s front office, led by President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold, working the phones and scanning the market for creative ways to add to the pen - even if it’s not a headline-grabbing move.
The Brewers weren’t expected to be big spenders in the reliever market this winter, and their decision to bring back Brandon Woodruff on a $22.025 million qualifying offer essentially confirmed that. So if Milwaukee is going to add to its bullpen, it’ll likely have to be through lower-cost signings or savvy trades - the kind of moves that have become their bread and butter. Here are three intriguing options who could fit that mold.
1. Michael Kopech (Free Agent)
Michael Kopech has always had the raw stuff. A former first-round pick in 2014, he came into pro ball with high expectations and a fastball that made scouts’ eyes light up. But it wasn’t until a midseason trade to the Dodgers in 2024 - and a full-time move to the bullpen - that Kopech finally looked like the pitcher many thought he could be.
In 24 appearances with Los Angeles, he posted a sparkling 1.13 ERA, flashing the kind of dominance that makes you wonder what his ceiling might still be. Injuries limited him in 2025, but when he was on the mound, the results were still encouraging: a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings of work. Now 29 and hitting free agency for the first time, Kopech is a classic buy-low, high-upside candidate - and that’s exactly the kind of arm Milwaukee has turned into gold in the past.
Kopech’s fastball averaged 97.5 mph in 2024, and it plays even faster thanks to some late life and deception. His secondary pitch - a hybrid between a slider and a cutter - gives hitters a tough look, and his strikeout rate topped 30% during his time with the Dodgers. That’s the kind of profile that could thrive in Milwaukee’s pitching lab, which has become one of the best in the league at fine-tuning mechanics and maximizing efficiency.
If the Brewers can land Kopech on a short-term, incentive-laden deal, it could be a sneaky-good addition to an already power-packed bullpen.
2. Orion Kerkering (Philadelphia Phillies)
Orion Kerkering isn’t a free agent - far from it. He’s under team control with the Phillies for four more seasons, and he’s coming off back-to-back strong years in the majors. Since debuting in 2023, the right-hander has logged 133 appearances with a 2.78 ERA, and he’s done it with a mix of power and polish.
But postseason moments can change narratives quickly. Kerkering made a costly error in Game 4 of the NLDS this year, one that ended the Phillies’ playoff run in heartbreaking fashion.
It was a tough moment for a young reliever, and sometimes those moments lead to change - for both the player and the team. The Brewers have been in this spot before.
Back in 2019, they traded Trent Grisham to the Padres following a similar postseason miscue, giving both sides a fresh start.
If the Phillies are open to moving Kerkering, the Brewers should absolutely be in the mix. He brings a lot to the table: a high-90s fastball, one of the nastiest sweepers in baseball (by Stuff+ metrics), and three minor league options - a big deal for a Milwaukee bullpen that’s currently short on roster flexibility.
Kerkering wouldn’t come cheap, but he checks a lot of boxes: elite stuff, team control, and the ability to be shuttled between levels if needed. That’s the kind of long-term bullpen asset that could pay dividends for years to come.
3. Ryan Zeferjahn (Los Angeles Angels)
Here’s a name that might not be on every fan’s radar, but Ryan Zeferjahn is quietly one of the more intriguing bullpen trade targets out there. The former third-round pick was acquired by the Angels in the 2024 trade that sent Luis García to Boston, and he got his first real shot in the big leagues shortly after.
In 2024, Zeferjahn impressed with a 2.12 ERA across 12 appearances. But in 2025, the surface numbers took a hit - a 4.74 ERA over a much larger sample size.
Still, the underlying metrics tell a more optimistic story. He averaged over 97 mph on his fastball and ranked in the 84th percentile in whiff rate and 86th in strikeout rate.
The issue? Walks.
If he can rein in the command, there’s real late-inning potential here.
At 27, Zeferjahn still has time to figure things out, and with five years of team control and three minor league options, he offers both upside and flexibility - two things the Brewers always value. He’s not a finished product, but Milwaukee has a strong track record of helping pitchers take that next step. If the Angels are open to dealing him - and his 2025 numbers might make that more likely - the Brewers could strike a deal without giving up a top-tier prospect.
Final Thoughts
The Brewers don’t need to overhaul their bullpen. They’ve got a solid foundation, a smart front office, and a player development system that’s proven it can find value in unlikely places.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll sit on their hands. Whether it’s a high-upside free agent like Kopech, a controllable arm with elite stuff like Kerkering, or a breakout candidate like Zeferjahn, Milwaukee has options.
And if history tells us anything, it’s that the Brewers know how to find the right arm at the right time.