The Milwaukee Brewers have never been shy about shaking things up. Over the past few seasons, fans have watched a steady stream of roster turnover - a revolving door that’s left only four players from the 2021 NLDS squad still donning the navy and gold: Aaron Ashby, Freddy Peralta, Christian Yelich, and Brandon Woodruff.
That kind of churn might make it tough to keep your jersey collection current, but it’s all part of the plan. The Brewers’ front office has built a reputation for knowing when to hold ‘em and when to deal ‘em - identifying peak value and moving on before the decline hits.
And when you’ve got a player development team that consistently turns raw talent into big-league production, that strategy becomes a whole lot easier to execute.
Heading into the 2025-26 offseason, many expected Milwaukee to finally tap the brakes on that constant roster reshuffling. After all, they were coming off a franchise-record 97-win season, and the pieces were in place to run it back. But in true Brewers fashion, the front office made a bold move over the weekend, shipping out two everyday players to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a high-upside lefty in Ángel Zerpa - a move that fits squarely into their long-term blueprint: sell high, buy potential, and trust the system.
The trade sent infielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears to Kansas City. For Mears, it closes the book on a short but memorable stint in Milwaukee - one that packed plenty of punch into just a season and a half.
Let’s take a look back at some of the most electric moments from Mears’ time in blue and gold.
Mears’ October Breakout: Shining Bright in the 2024 NL Wild Card Series
When the Brewers entered the 2024 postseason, Nick Mears was something of an enigma. His stuff was undeniable - a high-octane four-seamer paired with a wipeout slider - but the long ball had been his Achilles’ heel.
In just 13 regular season appearances with Milwaukee, he’d surrendered five home runs. That’s not exactly the profile of a playoff bullpen stalwart.
But manager Pat Murphy saw something in Mears. When the Brewers squared off against the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card Series, Murphy didn’t hesitate to throw his midseason acquisition into the fire.
In Game 1, with the Brewers already trailing in a high-scoring affair, Mears came in and slammed the door. Four outs, all clean.
One strikeout. Twelve pitches, nine for strikes.
He carved up the Mets’ lineup and gave Milwaukee a chance to claw back.
Then came Game 3 - the winner-take-all showdown. Scoreless into the seventh, Murphy once again turned to Mears.
And the right-hander delivered one of the most memorable innings of his Brewers career. He struck out Pete Alonso.
Retired a red-hot José Iglesias. Then punched out former Brewer Jesse Winker - a moment that brought a roar from the mound and a jolt of energy to the dugout.
Milwaukee broke the tie in the bottom half of the inning, and while the game didn’t end the way they hoped, Mears’ seventh-inning shutdown was a defining moment.
Early 2025: Mears Becomes Milwaukee’s Go-To Escape Artist
Coming into 2025, expectations for Mears were elevated. He’d had a full offseason to work with the Brewers’ pitching staff, and his postseason poise suggested he might be ready for a bigger role. By the end of April, Mears had not only earned Murphy’s trust - he was thriving in high-leverage spots.
He posted a minuscule 0.79 ERA in April, but it wasn’t just the numbers that stood out. It was the way he handled pressure. Mears had a knack for navigating traffic - the kind of reliever who could walk a tightrope and come out clean.
That skill was on full display in early May against the Houston Astros. On back-to-back nights, Mears entered with multiple runners on and the game hanging in the balance.
Both times, he stranded the runners and preserved a slim Brewers lead. Milwaukee won both games - a rare streak during a stretch when wins were hard to come by.
While May brought some turbulence, June saw Mears return to form. Another 0.79 ERA.
Another stretch of dominance. By early July, with his ERA hovering around 2.00, there was even quiet chatter about All-Star consideration - no small feat for a non-closing reliever.
The rest of the season had its ups and downs, but when October rolled around, Mears was once again ready for the spotlight.
Final Act: Mears Delivers in the 2025 NLDS
Late-season back tightness put Mears’ availability for the postseason in question, but he returned in time to make the NLDS roster for Milwaukee’s highly anticipated clash with the rival Chicago Cubs.
Mears was used surgically - three appearances, five outs, all in high-leverage moments. Whether it was stepping in for Aaron Ashby in Game 2 or relieving Quinn Priester in Game 3, Mears was the guy Murphy turned to when the margin for error was razor-thin.
Each time, he delivered.
The decision to leave him off the NLCS roster raised some eyebrows, and in hindsight, may have signaled the Brewers’ intent to move on. But that doesn’t diminish what Mears brought to the table. His Brewers tenure may have been brief, but it was packed with moments that mattered - big outs, big innings, and a presence that rose to the occasion when it counted most.
Now, as Mears heads to Kansas City and Milwaukee welcomes Ángel Zerpa into the fold, the Brewers continue to do what they’ve done best: make tough decisions, trust their process, and keep building a roster that can compete year after year.
And for Nick Mears, his chapter in Brewers history - though short - is etched in October grit and high-leverage heroics.