Despite a disappointing postseason run, the Phillies were (at least on paper) one of the best teams in MLB this year. Aside from winning 96 games, they also posted a combined OPS of .759 (4th in MLB) and an ERA of 3.79 (8th in MLB). With a colossal payroll (a CBT number of $307.8 million for 2025) and a roster more than capable of contending, it’s doubtful they’ll be willing to trade any core pieces. Likewise, their premium free agents—namely Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez—probably don’t fit within Milwaukee’s budget. But which members of one of their top NL rivals could the Brewers pursue this offseason?

SP Walker Buehler (Free Agent)
Buehler hasn’t been able to recapture the magic of his 2021 season, when he posted a 2.47 ERA with a 3.16 FIP over 207 ⅔ innings. Derailed by a second Tommy John surgery, this was the first season he had pitched more than 80 innings since his peak, and the results were lousy. Despite signing a one-year, $21.05-million contract with the Red Sox, he was released in August after pitching to a 5.45 ERA over his 22 starts. He rebounded well after being picked up by the Phillies, posting a 0.66 ERA in 13 ⅔ innings for the team.

The difference in velocity isn’t life-changing by any means, but it is still significant. Buehler’s average fastball was 95.3 mph in 2021 and 93.9 mph in 2025. What used to be his dominant pitch has become his downfall. He has tried to move away from relying on his heater by dramatically upping his sinker usage, but he’s still throwing the four-seam fastball more frequently than any other pitch—and opposing hitters are taking advantage, slugging .553 against it. With major issues against lefties and command, Buehler is more of a project now than he has been since he was a prospect. For a closer look at what’s been bothering him, take a look at this article by Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs.

If there’s any team that can potentially make something work, it’s the Brewers. They’ve built a reputation out of redesigning pitchers who are seemingly at the end of their careers, and although he’s just 31 years old, Buehler’s rapid decline likely leaves him with few teams clamoring for his services. This may also play in Milwaukee’s favor; this would be a potential buy-low, sell-high situation. If he signs an affordable short-term contract with opt-outs and options, he could salvage his value as a starting pitcher while helping the Brewers replenish their own rotation in the interim. 

RP Tanner Banks
As an 18th-round pick in the 2014 draft by the White Sox, Banks didn’t make his big-league debut until 2022, at the ripe age of 30. Since then, he has been a serviceable bullpen arm and had the best year of his career in 2025, posting a 3.07 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP over 67 ⅓ innings. Although he came out of the bullpen, he boasted an impressive five-pitch arsenal and was reasonably effective with all of them, other than his changeup. Because his velocity is limited to the low 90s, he relied on soft contact and precision command to get his outs, walking just 4.5% of opposing hitters and having a hard contact rate in the top quartile of qualified arms. 

The Brewers need more left-handed relievers. Had there been more good options, there’s a chance that Pat Murphy wouldn’t have had to rely on Aaron Ashby to appear in all but two of Milwaukee’s postseason games. This need is supported by the team’s recent move to acquire Sammy Peralta on waivers.

Banks seems like a reliable arm that could fill a role similar to Hoby Milner of years past. Although he comes with several years of control, he’ll be 38 by the time he hits free agency, which should theoretically bring down the asking price in a trade. A solid bullpen southpaw may be a small but important addition to an already well-rounded team like the Brewers.

IF Edmundo Sosa
One of the most valuable depth pieces in Philadelphia, Sosa’s utility has come in handy more than once. He spent considerable time at every infield position except first base, and in addition to being a plus defender at three positions, he also posted a 109 OPS+ and slugged .469 with 12 doubles and 11 home runs in 261 plate appearances. This would have placed him second on the Brewers in slugging percentage, behind Andrew Vaughn.

It’s difficult to ascertain whether Sosa is truly a capable hitter, because of the relatively small sample of games that he has played every season since debuting. In fact, he has not qualified for the batting title in any of the seven big-league seasons he has played in. But despite getting fewer chances than your typical starter, he has found ways to be valuable and could slot in well to the Brewers’ infield.

Milwaukee won’t be losing any major infielders this year, as Caleb Durbin, Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang, and Andrew Vaughn will all be sticking around unless traded. This means that there isn’t a clear gap to fill, but having someone like Sosa who can play multiple positions may serve as an upgrade over Andruw Monasterio. He has also shown flashes of big power, which is something Milwaukee was lacking last year, even if they managed to score 806 runs (3rd in MLB). With a projected arbitration salary of just $3.9 million in 2026, he could fit right into the Brewers’ broader infield picture.

Big-market teams like the Phillies run on star power. The Brewers can’t afford to do the same, but that’s ok. The different ways the two teams build rosters create opportunities for the Crew to swoop in on free agents who are no longer of interest to the mighty Phils, or for the two sides to get together on unexpected (if smallish) trades. These three guys are good examples of the kinds of players the Brewers might find appealing, as they peel away at the rosters of richer but dumber teams.