We’re still not over how last season ended.
However, spring training is a new beginning. It is a fresh slate where the desert air smells like hope and the grass at the ballpark is actually green. But for the Milwaukee Brewers, who descend upon American Family Fields of Phoenix this week, the renewal comes with a side of reflection.
The 2025 season was a masterclass in defying expectations. The Brewers powered their way to another National League Central title, beat the Cubs in the playoffs, before a disappointing and somewhat lackluster exit against the Dodgers. Now, as the calendar flips to 2026, the club enters the Cactus League with a familiar mix of high-ceiling youth and a front office still juggling the pieces of a complex puzzle.
Again.
Spring training is about finding answers. There are a lot of seemingly interchangeable pieces, and it is up to Pat Murphy and his staff to combine the right components to solve the puzzle, on a tight budget. Again.
The Logistics of Camp
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Feb. 12, followed by the first full-squad workout on Feb. 17. While the gates of Maryvale open this Thursday, the roster already looks vastly different than the one that walked off the field last October.
Key Departures and Trade Winds
The offseason was defined by a stunning late-winter trade that surprised the fanbase, if not clubhouse. On Feb. 9, the Brewers dealt 2025 Rookie of the Year finalist Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox. In exchange, Milwaukee landed a haul that includes high-octane left-hander Kyle Harrison and infielder David Hamilton.
The Durbin deal follows a December shakeup where the Brewers sent outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals for left-hander Angel Zerpa. Durbin, who finished third in the 2025 Rookie of the Year balloting, became a casualty of a roster that continues to trade from a position of depth to fortify the pitching staff. As expected, the staff is no longer anchored by Fastball Freddy. The departure of Freddy Peralta to the Mets has left a massive void at the top of the rotation.
A New Look on the Bench
The coaching staff has also undergone a significant overhaul. After two seasons as associate manager, Rickie Weeks is moving back upstairs to the front office. Weeks is transitioning to the role of special assistant in baseball operations and domestic and international scouting, ending the former All-Star second baseman’s stint on the coaching staff.
The Brewers will not hire a new coach for the role. Instead, fan-favorite Daniel Vogelbach has traded his bat for a fungo, joining the staff as a hitting coach alongside Guillermo Martinez.
“He [Weeks] was Murph’s right-hand guy for a couple of years now, but we felt it was better to distribute that among a lot of different people,” President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold told MLB’s Adam McAlvy.
Three Key Questions for the Next Five Weeks
- The Backup Battery: While William Contreras is an iron man behind the plate, the Brewers need a veteran insurance policy. With Jeferson Quero working back from shoulder surgery, the eyes of camp are on veteran Reese McGuire. “McGuire is probably the favorite to land the Opening Day job at this point in time,” according to Reviewing the Brew.
- The Left-Side Void: With Durbin and Collins gone, who claims the utility and corner roles? The Brewers are betting on their farm system and the recently acquired Hamilton to bridge the gap.
- The Veteran Anchor: Brandon Woodruff is now the undisputed elder statesman of the rotation. Can he lead a group that includes several arms with fewer than 25 career starts?
As the first bullpen sessions begin this weekend, the Brewers once again find themselves in a familiar position: overlooked by national pundits but confident in a process that continues to churn out winning baseball.
Next in the Series: A deep dive into the 2026 pitching staff, featuring the battle for the final rotation spots and the surplus of lefties in the bullpen.
Sign up for our 4 minute weekday updates!
