The Brewers don’t have a long offseason checklist, but the bullpen still stands out as the spot that could use a little more muscle. If Milwaukee decides to dip into the free-agent market, JoJo Romero looks like one of the cleanest fits on the board.
Romero was one of two relievers the Brewers brought in at the trade deadline and then watched walk into free agency after the World Series run, along with Antonio Senzatela. If early offseason trade chatter around Trevor Megill turns into something real, Milwaukee could be looking at three bullpen openings for 2027. The Brewers have internal options, but adding a reliever would be the most straightforward move if they choose to spend.
Romero makes sense because he’s been steady for a while now. The 30-year-old lefty has quietly been one of baseball’s more dependable southpaw relievers over the last three seasons, averaging nearly 62 appearances per year while posting a 2.91 ERA in that span. His low arm slot paired well with Aaron Ashby’s high-slot look from the left side, giving opposing hitters a different kind of problem when Milwaukee turned to its bullpen.
The Brewers should have more financial flexibility this winter thanks to the added revenue from their World Series run, so a reunion is very much on the table. But they won’t be alone.
The St. Louis Cardinals are also in the mix, and that complicates things for Milwaukee.
Romero spent four seasons with St. Louis, which gives the Cardinals a built-in familiarity with him.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "the Cardinals are at least interested in discussing a reunion" and "would like to discuss Romero’s return."
The price tag may help keep the market manageable. MLB Trade Rumors projects Romero for a two-year, $13 million deal, and outlets like The Athletic and ESPN don’t even list him among the top free agents available this winter. That kind of number should draw interest from multiple teams, especially for a reliever with Romero’s track record.
He was originally drafted by the Phillies, then traded to the Cardinals for Edmundo Sosa at the 2022 trade deadline before landing with the Brewers this year. That path gives him plenty of familiarity with both sides of this NL Central tug-of-war.
Milwaukee usually builds its bullpen from within rather than shopping for relievers on the open market. Still, at the right price, bringing Romero back would fit. The catch is simple: the Brewers may have to outbid a division rival to make it happen.
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