CHICAGO - September brought more than a bigger active roster for the Brewers. It also brought a pair of moves that fit the moment in very different ways.
Milwaukee activated left-hander JoJo Romero from the 15-day injured list and selected catcher Bo Naylor from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, with roster expansion pushing clubs from 26 players to 28. Romero’s return was the easy call.
The Brewers landed him at the Trade Deadline from the Cardinals, along with starter Dustin May, with this exact stretch in mind. After spending the past two months working back from an emergency appendectomy, Romero is back to give Milwaukee another late-game lefty alongside Aaron Ashby.
The Naylor move was the one that required more thought.
The Brewers could have gone with outfielder Brandon Lockridge, whose speed and right-handed bat might have fit a September push. Instead, they brought up Naylor, another Trade Deadline pickup, this one from the Guardians.
The logic is bigger than just the next few days. Getting Naylor around the club now gives him a chance to learn Milwaukee’s staff before the postseason begins, if that becomes relevant.
It also gives the Brewers a better read on the 26-year-old before a crucial offseason decision involving All-Star catcher William Contreras.
That part of the equation matters because Contreras’ future is tied to a club option worth $14.5 million for 2027. The Brewers avoided arbitration with him last winter on a one-year deal that included that option. If Milwaukee declines it, Contreras would be arbitration-eligible one more time before reaching free agency after the 2027 season, unless the system changes in collective bargaining talks.
And if the Brewers have to move on, they’ll need a new catcher ready to step in. Jeferson Quero was supposed to be that player, but injuries have slowed his rise in the Minors, beginning with major shoulder surgery last year. Naylor now enters the picture as another possible answer after Milwaukee acquired him from Cleveland for outfielder Blake Perkins and reliever Craig Yoho.
For Naylor, the assignment is as much about adjustment as opportunity.
“There’s a lot,” Naylor said. “You have to learn a new group of guys.
New philosophies and ways of thinking. Create new [relationships].
Yeah, just take everything that comes with it. You can also view that as a blessing.
I think that’s the type of approach I try to take with it. It’s a new group of guys, and guys that want to compete.
You’ve seen that day in and day out with how this team has competed.”
In Other News...
Brewers Quietly Added Infield Depth At The Right Time
The Brewers kept their infield options moving this week by bringing back veteran Jonathan Ornelas on a minor league deal and sending him to Triple-A Nashville. It comes soon after he was designated for assignment and then elected free agency, a familiar sort of transaction at this stage of the season for a team trying to stay flexible while keeping experienced depth within reach.
Ornelas gives Milwaukee a useful safety valve because he has big-league experience with multiple clubs and can cover several spots around the diamond, including both infield and outfield duties. For a Brewers team that values versatility as much as almost any club in the game, it is the kind of low-key move that can matter if the roster starts to thin out in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Playoff Pitching Outlook Just Got More Concerning With Kyle Harrison
Kyle Harrisons return from a month-long injury had looked encouraging at first, with the left-hander still getting results even while working his way back from forearm tightness. But the underlying signs have turned less comforting, especially for a Brewers club trying to line up every possible edge heading into October. His fastball has slipped from a career-best 95 mph to an average of 93.7, and the diminished life has started to show up in the damage hes allowed.
The latest warning came against the Cubs, who jumped on Harrison for nine earned runs in 3 innings. Chicago took advantage of both the reduced velocity and pitch tipping, a combination that has raised more questions than answers about how sharp Harrison really is after the injury. For Milwaukee, any pitchers dip matters this time of year, and this one now looks like a problem worth monitoring closely. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Could Face A William Contreras Decision Fans Wont Ignore
Austin Wells has given the Yankees a little more behind the plate, but the catching market could still be one of the more interesting parts of their offseason, and William Contreras would sit near the top of it. For Milwaukee, the question is less about whether Contreras has value and more about how much value the Brewers are willing to entertain. He remains one of the clubs most important bats, and his defense has taken a step forward, which only sharpens the stakes if front offices start calling.
Contreras is also entering the final year of his contract in 2027, a detail that naturally puts him on the radar for teams looking to upgrade at catcher. The Yankees would make sense as one of the clubs to watch, but the bigger issue for the Brewers is whether they want to keep pushing forward with an All-Star centerpiece or listen to the kind of trade offer that could force a difficult choice. For a team that tends to balance contention with payroll reality, this is the sort of decision that can linger all winter. [Read more 🡒]