Offseason In Review: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers followed a heartbreaking postseason exit with an offseason punctuated by the departure of a franchise shortstop, the trade of a star closer, and severe payroll restrictions from ownership.

Major League Signings

• Jose Quintana, LHP: One year, $4.25MM
• Tyler Alexander, LHP: One year, $1MM
• Elvin Rodriguez, RHP: One year, $900K (plus $1.35MM club option for 2026)
• Grant Wolfram, RHP: One year (split major league deal)

2025 spending: $6.15MM
Total spending: $6.15MM

Option Decisions

• RHP Frankie Montas declined $20MM mutual option (Montas received $4MM buyout)
• 1B Rhys Hoskins exercised $18MM player option
• Team declined $12MM mutual option on LHP Wade Miley (Miley received $1.5MM buyout)
• Team declined $11MM mutual option on C Gary Sanchez (Sanchez received $4MM buyout)
• Team exercised $8MM club option on RHP Freddy Peralta
• Team declined $5.5MM club option on RHP Colin Rea (Rea received $1MM buyout)

Trades and Waiver Claims

• Acquired LHP Nestor Cortes and INF Caleb Durbin from Yankees in exchange for RHP Devin Williams
• Acquired RHP Grant Anderson from Rangers in exchange for LHP Mason Molina
• Traded INF Owen Miller to Rockies in exchange for cash

Extensions

• None

Minor League Signings

• Mark Canha, Manuel Margot, Jake Bauers, Jorge Alfaro, Tyler Jay, Bruce Zimmermann, Deivi Garcia, Vinny Nittoli, Jesus Liranzo, Thomas Pannone, Jared Oliva

Notable Losses

• Devin Williams, Willy Adames, Frankie Montas, Colin Rea, Joe Ross, Gary Sanchez, Owen Miller

The Brewers didn’t come right out and say it, but their early offseason activity was a portent for what became a glaring, obvious lack of financial resources for the baseball operations department. The decisions to decline pricey options on injured lefty Wade Miley (who had Tommy John surgery in late April) and backup catcher Gary Sanchez didn’t come as a surprise.

However, many Milwaukee fans were surprised to see the team place righty Colin Rea on outright waivers when he was a net $4.5MM call for them. The decision was perhaps justified originally when Rea cleared waivers and had his option declined, but the $5MM deal he eventually signed with the Cubs was larger than the net amount he’d have cost the Brewers to retain. The Brewers followed that with another somewhat surprising move to non-tender southpaw reliever Hoby Milner, who was projected for a $2.7MM salary. The 34-year-old’s 4.73 ERA was rocky, of course, but he posted terrific K-BB% numbers and had given the Brew Crew 129 innings of 2.79 ERA ball across the 2022-23 seasons.