The Brewers are once again staring at a familiar winter decision: keep a proven late-inning arm or cash him in before he walks.
This time, the name at the center of the chatter is Trevor Megill. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale listed the All-Star closer among 10 trade candidates to watch on Monday and went as far as saying Milwaukee “will definitely be shopped, and likely moved before opening day.”
That lines up with the way the Brewers have handled this kind of situation before. Nightengale noted that Milwaukee has already dealt closers a year from free agency, sending Josh Hader to San Diego in 2022 and Devin Williams to the Yankees in 2024.
Megill has given the Brewers plenty to work with if they decide to move him. He posted a 2.63 ERA in 63 outings in 2026, finishing with 30 saves.
The year before, he turned in a 2.49 ERA across 50 appearances and also saved 30 games. In 2024, he logged a 2.72 ERA in 48 outings with 21 saves.
The Brewers’ willingness to at least listen has already been reported elsewhere. ESPN’s Jeff Passan said Milwaukee will “at least listen,” which adds to the sense that Megill is firmly in the trade conversation.
There’s also a reason this situation feels a little different from some of Milwaukee’s previous closer moves. Megill is 32 years old now, older than Freddy Peralta was when he was traded last winter at 29, and older than Corbin Burnes was when he was dealt after the 2023 season. Williams was also 32 when he was traded after the 2024 season, though he was closer to 30 at the time.
Nightengale also pointed to Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby as arms with the talent to handle the ninth inning, which gives Milwaukee some internal cover if it decides to move Megill.
Still, a deal is not automatic. The chatter is real, and Megill looks like a name that will be out there. But unless another club overwhelms the Brewers, there’s a case for keeping him and preserving one of the game’s best bullpens as Milwaukee tries to repeat as champions.
In Other News...
Brewers Face A First Base Decision That Could Shape 2027
The Brewers are already looking ahead at first base, where Jake Bauers may not be part of the picture much longer and the front office has to weigh both the immediate fit and the longer-term plan. Milwaukee has a few internal possibilities, including prospect Andrew Fischer, but the short-term preference appears to lean toward a more established bat who can help stabilize the position while the club keeps its bigger roster picture in mind.
One name in the mix is Nathaniel Lowe, a veteran with a track record on multiple teams and enough offensive credibility to make sense in a shared role with Andrew Vaughn. Lowe also brings slightly better defensive numbers, which matters for a Brewers team trying to squeeze value out of every spot on the diamond, and the decision could end up shaping how Milwaukee handles first base well beyond this winter. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Have Pushed The Cubs Into A Brutal Offseason Reality
Milwaukees latest October push has only sharpened the contrast with Chicago, where the Cubs are heading into an offseason that looks a lot less tidy than the one on the other side of the rivalry. The Brewers have now stacked up four straight division titles and just handled the Cubs in the 2025 NLDS, a reminder that the gap between these clubs is still real even after a season in which Chicago tried to position itself as a contender.
For the Cubs, the winter is shaping up around necessity as much as ambition. Their pitching depth is already under strain, and the roster has additional holes to fill in the corner outfield, which makes the market harder to attack aggressively. Sahadev Sharma reported that Chicago is unlikely to jump into the chase for Tarik Skubal, a sign that the front office may have to spend the early part of the offseason patching multiple areas before it can even think about a headline move. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Face New Pressure In Bullpen Reunion Pursuit
The Brewers are heading into the winter with the unusual comfort of bringing back most of the roster from their 2026 World Series run, but the bullpen could still look different by Opening Day. Free agency and possible trades may leave a few late-inning spots open, which puts extra weight on every move Milwaukee makes as it tries to preserve the depth that helped carry it to a title.
JoJo Romero sits near the center of that conversation. The left-hander was part of the championship roster and is now available on the market, making him a natural fit for a reunion if Milwaukee wants to keep familiar pieces in place. The challenge is that the Brewers are not operating alone, and the search for bullpen help could turn into a bidding contest before the offseason settles into its rhythm. [Read more 🡒]