The Brewers are headed toward an offseason decision that could get complicated fast: whether to extend Jake Bauers the qualifying offer.
Milwaukee wants to keep building toward a World Series push in 2026, but after the season ends, the front office will have to sort through a roster that may not stay intact. Bauers is one of the bigger names in that mix, and FanSided’s Robert Murray believes the first baseman/outfielder is in line to pass on Milwaukee’s offer and test free agency for a bigger payday.
“Would Bauers take it? There’s certainly an argument, especially with such a weak free agent class upcoming, that he could turn it down and explore a deal elsewhere,” Murray wrote.
“He’s going to be in position to absolutely take advantage of his breakout season, with no shortage of teams likely to check in on the soon-to-be-free-agent first baseman and outfielder.”
Bauers has put together a career year in his third season with the Brewers, batting .268/.389/.487 with 23 home runs and a .875 OPS. He has also been especially dangerous against left-handed pitching, posting a .903 OPS and a .390 OBP in 117 at-bats.
That kind of production could help him line up a full-time role with another team, and it gives him a real case for shopping himself in free agency. Milwaukee will probably want him back, but if he declines the qualifying offer, bringing him home gets a lot tougher.
And he won’t be short on attention. Several teams figure to have interest in a left-handed bat with 20- to 30-homer pop.
In Other News...
Brewers Bullpen Turnover Takes Another Interesting Late-Season Turn
The Brewers bullpen shuffle picked up another wrinkle this week when right-hander Joel Kuhnel was claimed off waivers by the Giants. Kuhnel had worked for both the Athletics and Milwaukee this season, logging 35 appearances overall and giving the Brewers a veteran arm who could be deployed in a variety of relief spots as the season wore on.
San Francisco is bringing him in with a clear immediate role in low-leverage situations, but the move also gives Kuhnel a chance to stick beyond the final stretch if he handles it well. For Milwaukee, it is another reminder of how quickly late-season relief depth can turn over, especially when clubs are constantly trying to find usable innings without losing flexibility elsewhere on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Fans Have Real Reason To Worry About Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Misiorowskis last few outings have given Brewers fans something to monitor closely, and not just because hitters have started to make more contact. The hard-throwing right-hander has seen his fastball velocity dip while leaning more on his secondary pitches, a notable shift for a pitcher whose power arm has long been the calling card. Even after the rough outing at Wrigley Field, where he was hit hard, Misiorowski pointed to the weather and the difficulty of getting a good grip and footing on the mound as part of the problem.
The broader concern is that this might be less about one bad day and more about the grind of his first full major league season beginning to show. Pitchers often need time to adjust to the workload, and for a young arm like Misiorowskis, that adjustment can come with some visible wear. Milwaukee does not need to panic, but it does need to keep an eye on whether the velocity trend and heavier reliance on off-speed stuff are signs of fatigue or just a temporary dip in form. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Took A Quiet Bullpen Hit After The Cubs Series
The Brewers bullpen depth took a small hit after their series with the Cubs, with right-hander Joel Kuhnel being claimed off waivers by the Giants. Kuhnel had been working his way back through a minor league rehab assignment before Milwaukee designated him for assignment, and the move opens another spot in a relief group that has already had to stay flexible as the season wears on.
San Francisco is bringing Kuhnel in for the rest of the year as an extra arm, and the Brewers now have to sort through the ripple effect of losing a pitcher who was at least in the mix. He had a 4.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts this season, but for Milwaukee the bigger issue is less the numbers than the fact that another depth option is gone at a time when every bullpen inning matters. [Read more 🡒]