Friday, December 19

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Pat Murphy was bench coach when the Brewers traded Josh Hader and had ascended to manager by the time they dealt Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams. All were All-Star pitchers creeping up on free agency. All netted young talent knocking on the door of the Majors. All helped the Brewers sustain what has been the longest stretch of regular season success in franchise history.

And with All-Stars Freddy Peralta and Trevor Megill drawing inquiries this week during the Winter Meetings, Murphy is realistic about the odds it could happen again.

“Yeah, it's hard,” said Murphy, heading into his own contract year coming off back-to-back NL Manager of the Year Awards. “You know the player, you know what he brings and you know your connection with him. And when he's not there for you, you're like, 'God, I miss him.'

“And then you just turn the page, keep going. That's part of our world.”

• Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage

It’s part of life for a team that relies less on free agency to fill the roster with talent and more on astute trades and player development. Hader netted left-hander Robert Gasser -- who was off to a great start with the Brewers before Tommy John surgery and figures to be a big part of the plan in 2026 -- and Esteury Ruiz -- who was flipped for star catcher William Contreras. Burnes netted a starting shortstop in Joey Ortiz and a still promising arm in left-hander DL Hall, though the story is incomplete on both. And Williams netted Caleb Durbin, who finished third in 2025 NL Rookie of the Year Award balloting.

Megill should fetch a strong return coming off 98 appearances with a 2.60 ERA and 51 saves over the past two seasons, and, with two years of control remaining, generated significant interest this week, including from the Mets. The Brewers also get calls on their outfielders given the depth there, and would be open to trading a player like Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins or Isaac Collins for the right return.

But the biggest prize is Peralta, coming off three straight 200-strikeout seasons and a fifth-place finish in 2025 NL Cy Young Award balloting. With Brandon Woodruff accepting a qualifying offer to return in 2026 and a stable of young starters behind him -- Gasser, Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick and Logan Henderson have all proven they can pitch in the Majors -- it makes sense for Milwaukee president of baseball operations Matt Arnold to listen on Peralta. He is signed for an affordable $8 million in 2026 and will reach free agency after the season concludes. The Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Giants and Astros all have shown interest, according to The Athletic. 

“I think they know what they're doing [in the front office],” Murphy said. “My role is to take whatever guys we have. I hope Freddy is one of them.”

BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Resolution of Peralta’s future

The biggest question facing the Brewers at the start of the offseason remains the biggest question with the Winter Meetings in the rear view mirror.

2) A power bat

Milwaukee needs a power bat, but with no clear openings in the lineup, where would it fit?

3) Set the coaching staff

It's believed the Brewers still have some significant changes in mind for Murphy’s staff that they’ve yet to finalize. At least one candidate for a hitting opening interviewed in person with Milwaukee officials in Orlando.

• Get Brewers gifts for the holidays

HE SAID IT

Murphy, joking: “You have them as 'astute.' Our front office? I don't use that word with them. I don't refer to them as 'astute.'”

Reporter: “Well, they hired you.”

Murphy: “Like I said, they're not that astute.”

RULE 5 DRAFT

The Brewers didn’t select a player in the Major League phase, but they didn’t lose any players, either, which had club officials breathing a sigh of relief after watching righty Shane Smith go from Rule 5 Draft pick to AL All-Star with the White Sox last year. The Brewers did lose a handful of notable players in the Minor League phase, including Hedbert Perez, a former top outfield prospect, and 2021 12th-round Draft pick Caden Vire, a lefty who originally signed for $497,500.

The Brewers’ only addition in the Minor League phase was 22-year-old Mariners right-hander Cole Phillips, a second-round Draft pick of the Braves in 2022 who made it to Rule 5 eligibility before throwing a pitch. Since he’s been besieged by injuries, the Brewers relied on their video and Draft reports from his amateur career.

“If we can get him healthy, there’s some upside,” said Brewers special assignment scout Scott Campbell. “It’s a roll of the dice.”

Rule 5 Draft
• Each pick from the 2025 Rule 5 Draft
• Most recent keepers | Best picks of past decade
• Past results | A history of the Rule 5 Draft

MORE FROM THIS WEEK

• The Brewers won Baseball America’s Organization of the Year Award for a record fifth time on Monday, which helps explain why this was such a quiet Winter Meetings for Arnold’s club. More >>

• Brice Turang will man second base for Team USA in next spring’s World Baseball Classic, the latest quantum leap for a 26-year-old on the ascent who has become critical to the Brewers’ hopes of remaining atop the NL Central next season. More >>

• Brewers broadcaster Brian Anderson was a finalist for the Ford C. Frick Award, which went to longtime Cardinals and FOX broadcaster Joe Buck. More >>

GM'S BOTTOM LINE

“I don’t think we’re in field goal range on anything. There’s, like, goal line, and there’s field goal. I don’t think we’re in field goal range. But sometimes, hey, you can throw a deep ball.” -- Arnold, offering a sense of where trade talks stand

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