Kansas City entered the offseason with a plan to add outfielders. The club has achieved these intentions this week. After signing Avenue Thomas on Friday, the Royals now add the switch-hitting Collins to the outfield mix. The prize is a controllable lefty reliever, although they get a bullpen piece in return. Milwaukee is clearing out some of its outfield surplus while adding a hard-throwing reliever who is only now entering arbitration.
The 28-year-old Collins went from relative obscurity to an integral part of Milwaukee’s offense last season. He made the team out of Spring Training and emerged as the club’s primary left fielder. Collins posted a 122 wRC+ in 130 games. He finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting, just behind teammate Caleb Durbin.
The Brewers reportedly wanted to add to some of their outfield depth, with Collins and Blake Perkins mentioned as potential candidates. Jackson Chourio And Sal Frelick are entrenched as everyday options, with Christian Jelich considering he’s not DHing. Collins, Perkins, Garrett MitchellAnd Brandon Lockridge were in the mix behind that trio. Milwaukee also added Akil Baddoo on a split deal.
Zerpa surfaced in trade talks last offseason but ultimately stayed in Kansas City. He reached 60 appearances for the second straight season, posting a 4.18 ERA over 64 2/3 innings. Zerpa took his solid groundball percentage to an industry-leading level in 2025. He had always been more of a grounder-getter than a strikeout, but his 63.7% groundball rate ranked in the 99th percentile last season.
The 26-year-old Zerpa’s career ERA of 3.97 doesn’t jump off the page, though his underlying numbers paint a better picture. The southpaw posted a career-best 3.38 SIERA rating in 2025, dropping his career mark to 3.67. He had a solid 3.50 xFIP this past year. Zerpa has recorded a BABIP above .320 in consecutive seasons. His ground ball approach may lead to some batted ball variance, but that number could decrease in coming seasons.
Mears came to Milwaukee via a trade from Colorado in July 2024. He struggled mightily in his first partial season with the team, but delivered solid results as a middle option in 2025. Mears faltered down the stretch, allowing five earned runs in five appearances in September. He also missed time that month due to back tightness. Mears pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in the NLDS, but remained off the NLCS roster.
Kansas City has been linked to several outfielders on the trade market, including Teoscar Hernández, Jake Meyers And Brendan Donovan. They were connected Jarren Duran earlier today. Harrison Bader And Austin Hays have been mentioned as free agent possibilities for the Royals. They entered the offseason with an unproven group Jac Caglianon, Kyle IsbelAnd John Rave in the outfield, with Tyler Tolbert And Dairon Blanco as banking options.
Thomas and Collins are not Durran-level additions, but they are improvements on the internal choices. The former Brewer should especially help against right-handed pitching. Collins slashed .280/.390/.415 over 295 plate appearances from the left side. He showed some power as a right-hander, but hit just .232 with a pedestrian .324 OBP. Thomas will likely see playing time against lefty starters.
Zerpa is an intriguing fit in what will be a lefty bullpen. Milwaukee has already done that Jared Koenig And Aaron Ashby locked in lever rollers, with Rob Zastrizny in a middle relief gig and DL-Hal like the tall man. Trevor Megil And Abner Uribe should make the most of the save opportunities, with Koenig being the situational closer if multiple lefties come up. Zerpa might need one or two of those relievers to compete for a late-inning job.
Photo courtesy of Benny Sieu, Imagn Images
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