While some teams have already made moves to upgrade their rosters during this year’s free agency, many of the biggest names available are still unsigned.
Earlier in the offseason, Paul wrote a series of (extremely thorough) articles about the Brewers’ potential offseason goals. That was before the Brewers traded outfielder Isaac Collins (who played in 130 games last season). Suddenly, Milwaukee doesn’t have much depth behind Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio.
Blake Perkins is a great defensive player who has shown a knack for timely hits, although he is more of a fourth outfielder than an everyday starter for a contender. Aside from that, the Brewers’ outfield options include the oft-injured Garrett Mitchell, Brandon Lockridge and… Akil Baddoo? Jake Bauers, something like that? Christian Yelich is the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option in left field, although the Brewers would prefer him at DH given his injury history and age. Milwaukee also has prospects Braylon Payne (No. 9) and Luis Lara (No. 12), but Payne certainly won’t be done this season. Lara spent last year in Double-A – theoretically he has an outside chance to contribute in the majors, but I wouldn’t bet on that happening. All of this is to say that the Brewers may now be looking for a new outfielder.
As conditions in Milwaukee have changed over the past month, so have those of their potential trading partners. The initial flurry of signings and trades has calmed down and things look a little different around the league. Let’s take a look at some of the players Paul mentioned as possible options to see what has changed in the past month.
Kyle Tucker: As Paul said, doesn’t happen. He’s still unsigned, but nothing about Milwaukee’s front office philosophy makes me think they would give Tucker more than $35 million per year.
Cody Bellinger: Also not signed, probably not happening. Recent reports indicate that Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras are asking for much more than the teams are currently offering. Even though he wasn’t represented by Boras, I don’t see Bellinger settling for a prove-it deal after a great year.
Mike Yaztremski: Signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. He will be 37 by the time he hits free agency after the 2027 season.
Byron Buxton (MIN): The two-time All-Star is an absolute stud and would be a wonderful addition to the Brewers roster. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic previously reported this month, Buxton is expected to remain with Minnesota. The Twins plan to rebuild around Buxton, Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez as they head into 2026 because “trading players like Ryan and Buxton would further alienate the fan base” after last season’s trade deadline collapse.
To be fair, Rosenthal did add the caveat that the “Twins will listen, as clubs in their position are obliged to do. But it would likely take an overwhelming offer for any of the three to be traded.” I know teams leak news like this to the media all the time to drive up a player’s asking price, but I just don’t see Milwaukee as the team that would overpay (in terms of prospects) for a 32-year-old outfielder struggling with injuries. Buxton has also been vocal about his desire to remain with the Twins and has a full no-trade clause until next season.
For what it’s worth, his contract would be within the realm of possibility ($15 million per year through 2028 plus bonuses). Milwaukee has a lot of talent in their farm system, so if the Twins decide to continue rebuilding (e.g. at next year’s trade deadline), he could be a potential trade target. As of now, it seems very likely that Buxton will wear a Twins jersey on Opening Day 2026.
Colton Cowser/Heston Kjerstad (BAL): Both are intriguing options, especially Cowser, but Baltimore just traded four of their top 30 prospects for Tampa Bay Rays starter Shane Baz. This makes a transaction less likely, for two reasons:
- The Orioles may be a little reluctant to trade more young players, especially considering two of the prospects they sent to the Rays (Slater de Brun and Austin Overn) are outfielders.
- The Orioles were (maybe still, but definitely were) in the market for a starting pitcher. They had been mentioned as a potential trade partner for Milwaukee if they chose to move Freddy Peralta, which would be a way to acquire a young outfielder without sacrificing depth of prospect. This move probably makes that less likely.
Jarren Duran (BOS): There’s a lot of smoke hanging around Duran right now, and where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. The Red Sox traded for veterans Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras this offseason; If these moves are any indication, the Sox appear to be stockpiling, not breaking down, a playoff push. Duran will help them next year, so any Duran deal would likely have to include a productive veteran in addition to prospects. That doesn’t seem like a match for Milwaukee, although I hope I’m wrong.
Lars Nootbaar (STL): Chaim Bloom built a successful team on a low payroll in Tampa Bay. Boston hired him to trade veterans, reduce salary, and fall under the luxury tax while remaining competitive. Now he’s the General Manager of the Cardinals, who have moved to… cut salary by trading veterans Gray and Contreras. Nootbaar is 28, so he may not have a future with the Bloom-era Cards. He’s not Duran or Buxton, but he would at least be an upgrade over Lockridge/Baddoo. It makes more sense to me the more I think about it.
He’s also a cardinal, so this probably won’t happen.
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Paul’s conclusion was that “the most likely outcome is that the Brewers enter the season with Collins, Chourio and Frelick, with Yelich as the designated hitter, Perkins resumes his role as one of the best extra outfielders in the league, and Mitchell as a scratch card in their back pocket.” I agree that a major acquisition doesn’t seem likely, at least at this point. Despite the Collins trade having an impact on the Brewers’ outfield depth, none of the realistic outfield options seem more likely than they did a month ago.
Perhaps the most realistic option is an unrealistic one. After all, Brewers GM Matt Arnold has surprised Brewers fans before…
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