Milwaukee Brewers

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October 23, 2026

To the untrained eye, the Milwaukee Brewers seem frugal. After all, the biggest external free-agent deals they’ve ever agreed upon were Lorenzo Cain’s five-year, $80 million contract in 2018 and Matt Garza’s five-year, $ 50 million deal in 2014. However, despite having a low payroll each year, the Brewers have finessed their way to the top of the National League.

Homegrown Talent

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Brice Turang

Brice Turang, a 2018 first-round pick, didn’t make his major league debut until 2023. However, his impact has been immediate. In 599 regular-season games, the 26-year-old has compiled 19.0 WAR. He’s also stolen 119 bases, including a 50 stolen-base season in 2024.

Aaron Ashby

Like Turang, Aaron Ashby was a 2018 draft selection. He made his major league debut in 2021, but the former fourth-round pick struggled mightily out of the gate, posting -0.8 WAR in his first two seasons. However, since 2024, Ashby has turned into one of baseball’s best relievers. In 2026, he appeared in a career-high 74 games, posting a 3.12 ERA with 116 strikeouts.

Jacob Misiorowski

Despite breaking nearly every velocity record in 2026, Jacob Misiorowski was never a highly touted prospect. In fact, the 24-year-old wasn’t a top-20 prospect when he debuted. Still, the Brewers let him loose on June 12, 2025, and the rest is history. In Game One of the 2026 World Series, Misiorowski even broke the record for the fastest pitch thrown in Fall Classic history (103.5 mph).

Low-Cost Trade Acquisitions

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Trevor Megill

The Brewers acquired Trevor Megill in April 2023 in exchange for minor league pitcher Taylor Floyd. Since then, the latter has produced an ERA over 4.00 in all four seasons, failing to make it past Double-A. Megill, meanwhile, has become one of baseball’s best relievers, posting a sub-2.75 ERA in three consecutive seasons.

Jake Bauers

After a mediocre 2023 season with the New York Yankees, the Brewers took a chance on Jake Bauers in the offseason. The team parted ways with prospects Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez, both of whom haven’t cracked the majors. Bauers, meanwhile, took home 2026 NLCS MVP honors, helping the Brewers to their first World Series appearance since 1982.

Andrew Vaughn

Despite being a first-round pick, Andrew Vaughn never panned out with the Chicago White Sox. However, since arriving in Wisconsin via trade, Vaughn has hit .306 in 168 games. He’s also compiled 2.8 WAR, proving all he needed was a move up I-94.

Productive International Signings

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Abner Uribe

Abner Uribe was a lanky, 166-pound teenager when the Brewers signed him as an international free agent in 2018. Eight years later, the Dominican Republic native has transformed into one of the game’s most feared relievers, posting back-to-back sub-2.00 ERA seasons in 2025 and 2026. With a fastball that routinely touches triple digits, Uribe will go down as one of the top signings from his class.

Jackson Chourio

Unlike Uribe, Jackson Chourio was a top-20 international prospect in the 2021 class. However, despite lofty expectations, Chourio has become one of baseball’s brightest young stars. At 22, the Venezuelan has produced three consecutive 20+ HR, 75+ RBI seasons. He’s also stolen 20+ bases in each campaign, playing elite defense in center field in the process.