3 questions facing the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason

After 58 long years, the Milwaukee Brewers finally stood atop the mountain.

The Brewers were no worse than .500 at any point in the season, cruising to a major-league-best 103 wins in 2026. After a close series with the Padres in the NLDS, the Brewers swept the Dodgers and dismantled the Rays en route to their first World Series title in franchise history.

Now comes the hard part. The Brewers need to stay on top of the mountain despite their smaller payroll. Their young core should result in a significant window of contention, but those supplemental pieces may be harder to find.

Three questions facing the Milwaukee Brewers

1. Will first baseman Jake Bauers accept the Qualifying Offer?

The Brewers found themselves in a no-win situation with Bauers. He had a career year in 2026, posting a .266/.389/.484 batting line with 26 homers and 22 doubles in his 578 plate appearances. That performance led the Brewers to extend the Qualifying Offer, worth $23.15 million, to Bauers in an attempt to keep him in town.

Such an offer is a considerable gamble. While Bauers showed some power previously, he was not close to that type of hitter, producing a .211/.307/.365 batting line with 58 homers and 78 doubles in his 1962 major league plate appearances between 2018 and 2025. If he can replicate his 2026 season, he would be worth that salary for the Brewers. If he reverts to his previous form, that offer could be a mistake the Brewers cannot afford.

2. Does closer Trevor Megill get traded?

Megill will never have to worry about paying for another beer in Milwaukee after recording the final six outs of Game Five to secure the Brewers' first World Series title. He had a strong showing during the regular season, posting a 2.63 ERA and a 0.892 WHIP over his 61.2 innings, recording 30 saves while striking out 69 batters with 15 walks. However, as Megill is a year away from free agency, he has already been the subject of trade rumors.

The Brewers are not tipping their hand. Anthony Castrovince from MLB.com asked Brewers GM Matt Arnold about trading Megill, only to be told that the two went to a Metallica concert together. While Arnold and Megill may have enjoyed the concert, that does not preclude a trade from taking place. The Brewers have a great deal of bullpen depth and could listen to offers for their closer.

3. Can the Brewers extend any other pieces of their core?

The Brewers have been proactive about locking in younger pieces of their core. Outfielders Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara and infielder Cooper Pratt signed long-term deals, locking the trio in through 2033 at the earliest. Fellow outfielder Cristian Yelich is in the midst of his own long-term deal and has a mutual option for 2029.

A pair of key pieces are closing in on free agency in Megill and catcher William Contreras. While it is unlikely that Megill receives an extension, Contreras is one of the best catchers in the game and a leader in the clubhouse. Locking him into an extension would send a message to the team and the league that the Brewers are serious about contending in the foreseeable future. Newly minted Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski and second baseman Brice Turang are further from free agency, but could be viable options for an extension as well.