The Brewers may have built the best roster in baseball in 2026, but the group that gets to 2027 won’t be a perfect rerun. Milwaukee has already watched several pieces drift into free agency, and there’s no guarantee any of them circle back.
Jake Bauers and Brandon Woodruff are the biggest names on that list. Woodruff coming back would be far from a surprise.
Bauers is a different story, especially after the Brewers handed him the qualifying offer and left the door open for a multi-year deal elsewhere. But there’s another free agent who deserves more attention in Milwaukee’s plans: left-handed reliever JoJo Romero.
Romero arrived from the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2026 trade deadline and quickly became a real factor for the Brewers in the stretch run and the postseason.
He’s one of the more overlooked free agents on the market, and he doesn’t appear headed for a massive payday. Spotrac pegs his value at a little over $24 million over four years, a number that should have Milwaukee thinking seriously about a reunion.
That said, four years is a long commitment for a 30-year-old reliever. The volatility that comes with that role is always part of the equation.
Still, Romero looks worth chasing on a multi-year deal, even if the Brewers would probably prefer something shorter than four seasons. An annual number a little above $6 million feels reasonable.
If Milwaukee could get him closer to $18 million over three years, that would be even better. Either way, he fits.
The results back it up. Romero posted a 3.38 ERA in 11 regular-season appearances for Milwaukee, then followed that with a 1.13 ERA in seven playoff outings.
The Brewers’ only two left-handed bullpen locks right now are Aaron Ashby and DL Hall, and Ashby has already said he hopes to start at some point. If Milwaukee ever gives him that chance, the bullpen takes a hit.
Even if Ashby stays put, adding another dependable lefty would still make sense, and Romero has already shown he can handle that job.
The Brewers didn’t target him before the deadline by accident. Over seven big league seasons, Romero owns a 3.52 ERA in 252 games.
He was sharp in 2025 with a 2.07 ERA in 65 appearances, and he logged a 3.36 ERA in 65 outings in 2024. He hasn’t generated much buzz this winter, but that shouldn’t change Milwaukee’s view of him.
Spotrac’s projection looks fair, especially on an annual basis, and the Brewers should be ready to move on it.
In Other News...
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Andrew Vaughns place in the picture now hinges on what Bauers does next. If Bauers turns down the one-year deal and chases a longer contract elsewhere, Milwaukees path gets a lot clearer, but if he stays in the fold, the Brewers may have a hard time justifying room for both first basemen as they balance payroll and roster fit heading into 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruff Reunion Suddenly Feels Real For The Brewers
Brandon Woodruffs path back to Milwaukee is suddenly looking less like a sentimental idea and more like a real offseason possibility. After 13 years in the organization, the longtime Brewers right-hander is a free agent, and MLB.coms Adam McCalvy has pointed to him as the clubs most likely external name to come back into the fold. For a team that knows Woodruff as both a homegrown arm and a recent World Series champion, the fit is obvious enough to keep the conversation alive.
The Brewers still have to navigate the part that makes this complicated, because any reunion would need to account for both his value and his injury history. No deal is finalized, and Milwaukee is expected to weigh a contract offer carefully before moving forward. Even so, the possibility of Woodruff returning gives the front office something meaningful to consider as it sorts through the market and decides how much faith to place in a familiar face. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Face A Trevor Megill Decision Fans Wont Agree On
Trevor Megill has become one of the most important pieces in Milwaukees bullpen, the kind of late-inning arm a contender usually tries to keep around rather than shop. After a strong 2026 season in which he posted a 2.63 ERA and finished with 30 saves, Megill helped give the Brewers the sort of relief depth that can shorten games and protect a lead when the stakes get higher.
Even so, his future is suddenly part of the offseason conversation, with his contract situation and value likely to draw attention from around the league. For a Brewers club that has leaned on him heavily, the question is whether stability in the ninth inning matters more than whatever kind of return a trade market might bring, and that is not the kind of decision everyone in Milwaukee will see the same way. [Read more 🡒]