2024 Record: 93-69
General Manager: Matt Arnold (entering year 3)
Manager: Pat Murphy (entering year 2)
Notable Offseason Acquisitions: SP Jose Quintana (1 year, 4.25 million), RP Tyler Alexander (1 year, 1 million), SP Nestor Cortes (trade acquisition from NYY)
The Milwaukee Brewers had an amazing regular season in 2024, winning 93 games and taking home 1st place in the NL Central. They faced off against the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card Series and surprisingly lost in three games. This was a disappointing ending for the Brew Crew, as they probably were the better team on paper. But alas, Milwaukee’s former GM David Stearns who was now with the Mets, had gotten the Brewers number in October.
Milwaukee looked to the offseason to try to get better to compete in 2025, but unfortunately, I don’t think general manager Matt Arnold accomplished that task in the slightest this winter. They lost shortstop Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants, one of their key up-the-middle defenders and better hitters in the Brewers lineup. That is 25 to 30 home runs out the door.
Milwaukee also traded away star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees ahead of his impending free agency in 2026. They received starting pitcher Nestor Cortes in return, who will help log innings. However, I’m not sure he has the same firepower as Williams, who dazzled hitters with a high-velocity fastball and 80-grade changeup.
I like the addition of starter Jose Quintana, who, like Cortes, will provide a dependable innings eater. But does that really help the Brewers take it to the next level? Probably not. Reliever Tyler Alexander does not help raise the ceiling that much, either.
For Milwaukee to remain at the top of the division, they will have to get improvement from within. Hitters such as second baseman Brice Turang, outfielders Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick, and shortstop Joey Ortiz will need to take leaps to help the more established hitters of catcher William Contreras and outfielders Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio by lengthening the lineup.
The biggest X-factor will be on the pitching side. Starter Brandon Woodruff is expected to return to the squad in 2025 after missing parts of the last two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. If he can return to all-star form, the Brewers will be in phenomenal shape and probably will win over 90 games and take home the division title again.
However, the Milwaukee Brewers competition has gotten way stronger and it will no longer be a cakewalk as it has been in the past. They have a strong enough core in which they will be able to fight off the rival surges and still be able to win enough games, but the Brewers will need their homegrown players to take steps forward. The Brew Crew had a lousy offseason overall, but if a couple of young players hit a little more than last season and health is on their side, Miller Park will be a fun watch in 2025.
