The Brewers have already started trimming the edges of their roster this offseason, and one of the latest names out the door is outfielder Akil Baddoo.
According to the Brewers on X, Baddoo was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, keeping him in the National League Central after a short stay in Milwaukee’s system. He never got into a big league game for the Brewers, but he did provide depth at Triple-A Nashville.
Baddoo, a five-year veteran outfielder, appeared in 64 games for Nashville and put together a strong line: .252/.348/.470 with an .818 OPS, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. Milwaukee dealt with injuries during the summer, and there was a stretch when Baddoo looked like a player who could have been called up.
He had his own injury issues to start the year, but once he returned, he was productive in Triple-A. The Brewers just never gave him the chance at the major league level.
Now he moves on with plenty of big league experience already on his résumé. Baddoo has played in 347 major league games over five seasons, all with the Detroit Tigers, and carries a .224 career average with 28 home runs, 43 stolen bases and 104 RBIs. In the minors, he’s hit .255 across 539 games with 61 homers, 251 RBIs and 120 stolen bases.
Milwaukee’s outfield picture at the big league level is still crowded, with Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Luis Lara among the names in the mix. That made Baddoo a useful insurance option, especially if injuries had piled up. Instead, he’s now headed to Pittsburgh, and there’s at least a chance the Brewers could see him again in the division in 2027 if he makes the club out of camp.
Baddoo’s departure is just one piece of a busy Brewers offseason. Jared Koenig and Thomas Pannone have elected free agency, Dustin May declined his end of a mutual option, the Brewers declined their end of a mutual option with catcher Gary Sanchez, and Antonio Senzatela had his option declined for the 2027 season.
Milwaukee didn’t need Baddoo in the majors this past year, and the club went on to win the World Series. But with the offseason only getting started, the turnover is already rolling.
In Other News...
Pirates Face A Costly Lefty Decision With Real Rotation Risk
The Pirates are still weighing how aggressively to chase left-handed rotation help, and Jim Bowdens latest list of potential starters underscores why the market could get expensive in a hurry. Robbie Ray and Foster Griffin both surfaced as options for Pittsburgh, giving the club two very different paths to consider as it tries to add stability to a staff that could use another arm from the left side.
Ray brings the name recognition and the upside of a former Cy Young winner, but the injury history and uneven recent performance make him a tricky bet. Griffin, meanwhile, offers a younger profile and a strong recent season after returning from Japan, which gives him a more practical appeal as the Pirates look for help that can hold up beyond just the short term. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face An Outfield Gamble That May Not Fix Their Biggest Flaw
As the Pirates look ahead to the 2026-27 offseason, Daulton Varsho has surfaced as one of several free-agent outfielders on their radar, a name that makes sense on paper for a club still trying to patch together more complete roster balance. A former Gold Glove winner, Varsho brings the kind of defensive reputation Pittsburgh tends to value, and the idea of adding a left-handed bat with center-field experience has obvious appeal for a team that has searched for more reliable production in the outfield.
The fit, though, is not as simple as the resume suggests. Varsho is coming off a disappointing 2026 season in which both his offense and defense slipped, and the Pirates would have to weigh whether he actually solves one of their biggest issues or just adds another layer of uncertainty to a lineup already struggling against left-handed pitching. Playing time would also be part of the equation, since Pittsburgh would need to sort out where he fits before any move like this starts to look like a clean upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Face A Costly Rotation Question They Cant Ignore
The Pirates are already staring at a rotation picture that could be all right-handers by 2027, and that kind of imbalance is hard to ignore for a club trying to build something sustainable. Left-handed pitching depth is the obvious fix, which is why Trevor Rogers has surfaced as a name worth watching. He brings the kind of profile Pittsburgh could use, with recent performance that suggests real value if he stays healthy.
The question is whether the fit makes sense beyond the baseball case. Rogers comes with injury concerns, and the price tag attached to a pitcher of his caliber would force the Pirates to think carefully about payroll and long-term flexibility. For a team that has to pick its spots, this is the sort of decision that can shape not just the rotation, but the way the front office approaches the rest of the market. [Read more 🡒]
