The Milwaukee Brewers have made their first notable move of the offseason, and it’s not the blockbuster many were expecting. While much of the early buzz centered around the possibility of dealing Freddy Peralta - the two-time All-Star starter entering the final guaranteed year of his deal - the Brewers have made it clear they’re not in a rush to move him unless a can’t-miss offer comes along. Instead, they’ve opted for a more measured approach, pulling off a trade that tweaks their roster without shaking its foundation.
On Saturday, Milwaukee sent outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals. In return, they acquired 26-year-old left-hander Ángel Zerpa - a pitcher with a live arm, years of team control, and the kind of versatility that fits Milwaukee’s evolving bullpen strategy.
Zerpa is coming off a season in which he went 5-2 with a 4.18 ERA across 69 appearances, including two starts. He’s not going to blow hitters away with raw velocity, but his ability to eat innings and handle both lefties and righties makes him a valuable piece for a club looking to retool its bullpen depth. Over his career, Zerpa holds a 12-7 record with a 3.97 ERA - steady numbers for a pitcher still entering his prime.
This move aligns with what Milwaukee had reportedly been exploring earlier in the offseason. The front office was shopping either Collins or Blake Perkins, aiming to bring in a bullpen arm with minor league options and long-term flexibility.
Zerpa checks those boxes. He’s under club control for several more seasons, and his ability to shift between roles gives the Brewers some breathing room as they reconfigure their pitching staff.
As for what they gave up, Collins was coming off a strong rookie campaign that turned more than a few heads. He finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting after slashing .263/.368/.411 with nine homers, 64 RBI, and 16 steals.
The 25-year-old proved he could handle big-league pitching and brought a balanced offensive profile with solid plate discipline and sneaky pop. But with Milwaukee’s outfield depth and some younger prospects pushing up from the minors, Collins became a trade chip they were willing to move in the right deal.
Nick Mears, meanwhile, was a key contributor out of the bullpen in 2025. He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.49 ERA over 63 appearances, providing reliable innings in middle relief. Mears brought energy and consistency, but with the Brewers looking to add a lefty to their relief corps and gain more roster flexibility, he became part of the cost to acquire Zerpa.
This trade isn’t going to dominate headlines the way a Peralta deal would, but it’s a smart, calculated move by Milwaukee. They’re not tearing things down - far from it.
They’re retooling, reshaping the roster with an eye on long-term control and roster versatility. Zerpa gives them a left-handed option who can be molded into multiple roles, and that’s exactly the kind of piece that can quietly become a difference-maker over 162 games.
The Brewers are signaling that they’re not done yet, but they’re going to be deliberate. Peralta remains on the roster, and unless someone meets their high asking price, he’ll be anchoring the rotation come spring. In the meantime, Milwaukee just added a controllable arm without giving up a cornerstone piece - and that’s the kind of move that builds sustainable success.