The Milwaukee Brewers' 2026 offseason was a head-scratcher, a departure from what you'd expect from a team that just dominated the league! The Brewers achieved something truly special in 2025, racking up a franchise-best 97 wins and finally shattering their postseason losing streak by reaching the NLCS for the first time since 2018. While their playoff journey ended a bit abruptly, it was undeniably a triumphant year. With their core players all set to return for the 2026 season, many believed the Brewers could contend for another championship without needing major offseason reinforcements. However, the moves they did make felt more like the playbook of a team in full rebuild mode, not one that had just led the entire league!
But here's where it gets controversial...
Their first significant move on December 14th involved trading Isaac Collins and Nick Mears to the Royals for Ángel Zerpa. This raised eyebrows because both Collins and Mears played crucial roles in 2025. Collins had a fantastic rookie year, and Mears was a rock-solid reliever in the bullpen.
And this is the part most people miss... When you dig a little deeper, this trade actually starts to make sense. The Brewers had a bit of an outfield logjam, with five players – Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, Garrett Mitchell, and Collins – vying for just three starting spots. Even with a rotation, it would be tough to give more than four outfielders consistent playing time. Adding to that, Collins experienced a slump towards the end of the season, leading to concerns about his ability to replicate his earlier success. Mears, on the other hand, was out of minor league options and had a reasonable, but escalating, salary. This trade effectively cleared up that outfield crowdedness and brought in another capable reliever who still has a minor league option, offering valuable flexibility.
Then, on January 21st, came the next big shake-up: trading Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the Mets for Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. This one stung, as Peralta was their ace. However, it wasn't entirely unexpected. With Peralta just one year away from free agency, he joined a growing list of star pitchers, like Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams, who were traded before reaching their walk year.
What was more surprising was the inclusion of Myers. He'd had a mixed two years with the Brewers, arguably leading the rotation in 2024 before an injury in 2025 sent him to the minors for much of the season. Still, he showed signs of a rebound late in the year. Nevertheless, the move was logical. The Brewers boast a deep pool of pitching talent for their rotation, and Myers would have faced an uphill battle to reclaim a starting spot. The return for this trade was quite promising, with Williams and Sproat both considered near major league-ready and poised to make an impact as early as this season. Williams offers versatility, able to play both infield and outfield, while Sproat might not crack the starting rotation immediately but is expected to get opportunities throughout the season. This trade, while painful in the short term, is projected to benefit the team beyond 2026.
But the trade that truly sent shockwaves through the baseball world occurred just two days before pitchers and catchers were set to report. On Monday, the Brewers sent Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox as the centerpiece of a package that also included Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and their Competitive Balance B draft pick (the 67th overall). In return, they acquired Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and David Hamilton.
Unlike the previous trades, Durbin was widely seen as a player who would be a significant contributor for the Brewers for years to come. He's coming off an exceptional rookie season, even finishing third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He's young, with six years of team control remaining – precisely the kind of player a team builds around and typically doesn't trade lightly. If the Brewers had received a player with a more established track record who could immediately elevate the team, this move might have been more palatable. Instead, they opted to further bolster their minor league system.
This isn't to say the players the Brewers acquired aren't talented. They all have the potential to contribute both now and in the future. Harrison is expected to immediately slot into the Brewers' starting pitching depth, and Hamilton could potentially take over at third base. This strategy, however, strongly resembles that of a rebuilding team. This is further complicated by the Brewers' apparent uncertainty at the third base position. A recent comment from Murphy suggests they have a number of players who will compete for the starting role.
Adding to the complexity is the abundance of near-major league-ready prospects. Jesús Made, the organization's top prospect and a consensus top-10 prospect overall, is getting a taste of major league action this spring. While he's unlikely to make the Opening Day roster or even play this season, he could be ready by next year. Furthermore, the Brewers' next three highest-ranked prospects – Luis Peña, Williams, and Cooper Pratt – are all infielders. They also have other potential third base candidates like Andrew Fischer and Luke Adams further down the pipeline. While a move to address the potential future logjam was anticipated, it wasn't expected this season. These prospects still require development time in the minors, and the Durbin trade has created a potential void for a year or two.
Finally, the Brewers' quiet activity in the free agent market further fuels the discussion. While it's not unusual for them to avoid major free agent splashes, a significant addition might have been welcomed given their strong roster post-2025. However, with changes to their TV deal and a consistent effort to manage costs, this offseason wasn't the time for a blockbuster signing. They adhered to this strategy, making only two free agent signings: outfielder Akil Baddoo and catcher Gary Sánchez, both on modest contracts that minimally impacted the payroll. (Brandon Woodruff's return technically counts as a free agent signing, but he's more akin to a returning player.)
The outcome? The Brewers head into spring training with some of their former key players no longer on the roster. They've undeniably increased their depth, and some of these new acquisitions are expected to contribute this season. Given their history of defying expectations, it would be foolish to count them out. Matt Arnold and Pat Murphy have cultivated an organization that excels at maximizing the talent they bring in. After such an unconventional offseason for a team that led the league, the question remains: can they pull off another miracle?
What do you think about these moves? Were they brilliant long-term plays or a step back from contention? Let us know in the comments below!
