In a surprise offseason shake-up, the Milwaukee Brewers have traded outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ángel Zerpa. The deal, announced on Sunday, sees Milwaukee reshuffle parts of its roster as it positions itself for another competitive season in 2026.
While the trade might initially seem like a swap of bullpen and bench pieces, it reflects deeper strategic thinking on the part of Brewers front office leadership. By targeting Zerpa, Milwaukee evidently believes it is adding a pitcher capable of contributing in multiple roles, while the Royals acquire two players who can help both their offense and bullpen in 2026.
What Milwaukee Is Banking On With Ángel Zerpa
Ángel Zerpa, the 26-year-old southpaw reliever, brings an intriguing profile. Known for an above-average ground-ball rate and a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, Zerpa offers a contrast to the Brewers’ existing bullpen arms. In 2025, he appeared in a career-high 69 games for Kansas City, compiling a 5-2 record with a 4.18 ERA and showing durability that appeals to Milwaukee’s pitching staff.
“A really good, power sinker/slider combination, and I think putting that in front of our defense is something we’re really excited about,” Matt Arnold, Brewers president of baseball operations, said. “This guy has been able to put the ball on the ground at an elite level. He’s somebody we’ve tried to access for a long time.”
Importantly, the Brewers see versatility in Zerpa’s game. The club is “open to” experimenting with him as a starter or multi-inning option–a move that could expand his value beyond typical late-inning relief work. This interest stems from his past experience as a starter early in his professional career and Milwaukee’s reputation for developing pitchers in flexible roles.
“We have some scouts that think he can do it. He has done it in the past,” Arnold said. “This guy also has postseason experience, too, which we obviously value a lot. Having a guy with that kind of versatility and experience in big games is something we think will really help us.”
Zerpa’s abilities fit well with the Brewers’ strong infield defense, giving manager Pat Murphy another weapon in high-leverage situations. Even if he remains primarily a bullpen arm, his profile adds balance to a relief corps that can sometimes skew right-handed, potentially improving matchups late in games.
What Kansas City Gains
For the Royals, acquiring Collins and Mears represents a chance to add useful pieces at both ends of the roster. Collins, a 28-year-old outfielder, enjoyed a breakout 2025 season in Milwaukee, finishing with a respectable slash line and demonstrating stolen-base ability, plate discipline, and on-base skills that helped fuel the Brewers’ postseason push.
Collins’ production, including nine home runs, 16 steals, and a .368 on-base percentage, made him a valuable contributor. His versatility in the outfield and switch-hitting ability give the Royals flexibility as they construct their 2026 lineup.
“At this point, we felt like this was a very good move for us considering our needs,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “The need for on-base, the need for an outfielder. Adding a switch-hitter to our roster, and then Isaac’s positional versatility is very attractive when you combine that with the number of years of control.”
Mears bolsters Kansas City’s bullpen depth. The right-hander posted a 3.49 ERA over 63 appearances for Milwaukee in 2025 and has shown the ability to deliver quality innings in high-leverage spots. While not a star, Mears adds dependable relief innings for a Royals bullpen that has sought consistency.
Roster Implications for the Brewers
After signing outfielder Akil Baddoo earlier in the offseason, the Brewers found themselves with a surplus in the outfield, making Collins more expendable than at other points in 2025.
Fans and analysts have already begun debating whether the Brewers might miss Collins’ versatility, defense, and offensive sparks. Some argue that his presence offered depth that could be hard to replace, especially over a long season where injuries and fatigue inevitably strike.
That said, the acquisition of Zerpa opens up new strategic options for Milwaukee’s pitching staff. If Zerpa can thrive in high-leverage roles, or even emerge as a multi-inning weapon, the trade could pay dividends in tight divisional races. The Brewers also retain flexibility on the 40-man roster and can continue to hunt for additional pitching or position-player upgrades.
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