The Milwaukee Brewers are coming off a 2025 season that was, by any measure, one for the books. A franchise-record 97 wins.
A long-awaited return to the NLCS. And, perhaps most importantly, they finally snapped that postseason losing streak that had become something of a dark cloud over the franchise.
Sure, the playoff run ended earlier than they’d hoped, but the arrow was pointing up. With their core intact heading into 2026, the Brewers looked like a team ready to run it back.
But then came the offseason-and the Brewers didn’t exactly follow the script of a team gearing up for another deep October push. Instead of doubling down, they made a series of moves that looked more like the blueprint of a club entering a retooling phase. And yet, as is often the case with this front office, there’s more beneath the surface.
Clearing the Outfield Logjam
The first domino fell in mid-December, when Milwaukee sent Isaac Collins and Nick Mears to Kansas City in exchange for left-hander Ángel Zerpa. On the surface, it was a head-scratcher.
Collins had impressed as a rookie, and Mears was a reliable bullpen arm in 2025. Why move two contributors from a 97-win team?
Dig a little deeper, and the rationale becomes clearer. The Brewers had five outfielders-Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, Garrett Mitchell, and Collins-all vying for three starting spots.
Even with a rotation system, there simply wasn’t enough playing time to go around. Collins also cooled off late in the season, raising questions about his ability to sustain his early success.
Mears, meanwhile, was out of minor league options and starting to get pricier. Zerpa gives Milwaukee another bullpen option with flexibility-he still has a minor league option left-and helps balance the roster.
A Tough Goodbye in the Rotation
Then came the big one. On January 21, the Brewers dealt Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the Mets in exchange for prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
Losing Peralta stings. He was the ace of the staff, the kind of guy you want taking the ball in Game 1 of a playoff series.
But with free agency looming after this season, it was a move that felt inevitable-especially considering the team’s recent pattern with pitchers like Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams.
Myers was the surprise inclusion. After a breakout 2024, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency last year, spending most of the season in the minors.
But he showed flashes of his old self down the stretch, which made it seem like he might still have a role to play. Still, with a crowded rotation picture, his path back to the big-league roster wasn’t guaranteed.
In return, the Brewers got two players who could help sooner than later. Williams is a versatile defender who can play both infield and outfield, and Sproat is a hard-throwing righty who may not break camp with the team but should see innings this season. It’s a deal that sacrifices short-term stability for long-term upside-something Milwaukee has done before, often with success.
The Shockwave: Caleb Durbin Traded
Just when the dust seemed to be settling, the Brewers dropped a bombshell. Two days before pitchers and catchers were set to report, they traded Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox in a package that included Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and their Competitive Balance B pick (No. 67 overall). In return, they got lefty Kyle Harrison, fellow pitcher Shane Drohan, and infielder David Hamilton.
This one raised eyebrows for good reason. Durbin was coming off a stellar rookie campaign, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
He had six years of team control left and looked like a foundational piece. Trading him now-when he’s just scratching the surface-wasn’t something fans or analysts saw coming.
And yet, the return wasn’t without merit. Harrison immediately slots into the Brewers’ pitching depth chart, and Hamilton could be in the mix at third base.
But this was a move more typical of a team in transition, not one that just led the league in wins. It also leaves some questions at third base, where manager Pat Murphy has said several players will compete for the starting job.
Looking Ahead: Youth Movement on Deck
Part of the rationale behind the Durbin deal might lie in the Brewers’ growing stockpile of infield talent in the minors. Jesús Made, the organization’s top prospect and a consensus top-10 name across baseball, is getting a taste of big-league camp this spring.
He won’t break camp with the team, and probably won’t debut in 2026, but he’s not far off. Behind him, the next three top-ranked prospects-Luis Peña, Jett Williams, and Cooper Pratt-are all infielders.
And further down the depth chart, Andrew Fischer and Luke Adams are also in the mix at third base.
That kind of depth can create a logjam, and moving Durbin now may have been about clearing a path. The only problem?
Most of those prospects aren’t quite ready. So, while the Brewers are planning for the future, they may have created a short-term hole on the left side of the infield.
Quiet in Free Agency
If you were hoping for a big splash in free agency to offset the trades, it didn’t happen. And frankly, that’s not a surprise. Milwaukee has long operated with financial discipline, and with changes to their TV deal and a continued focus on cost control, the front office wasn’t expected to chase big names.
Their only two outside signings were modest ones: outfielder Akil Baddoo and veteran catcher Gary Sánchez. Both came on low-risk deals and add depth without significantly impacting the payroll. Brandon Woodruff technically counts as a free-agent signing, but that’s more of a reunion than a new acquisition.
So... What Now?
When camp opens, the Brewers will look different. They’ve moved on from some of their most recognizable names. But they’ve also added depth, positional flexibility, and near-ready prospects who could become key contributors sooner than later.
This is a front office that doesn’t panic. They play the long game. And while the path they’ve chosen this offseason might not be the one fans expected, it’s one that still gives them a shot to compete in 2026-while setting the table for sustained success beyond that.
Milwaukee has made a habit of defying expectations. They’ll need to do it again this year. But with a system full of rising talent and a track record of maximizing their roster, don’t count them out just yet.