2 reunions Brewers should pursue during 2025-26 MLB offseason

The Milwaukee Brewers had their best season in ages in 2025, and there should be every intention of continuing to build on that momentum within the organization.

To do that, the team will have to bring in some outside talent over the offseason. However, it never hurts to reunite with proven contributors, particularly if they can provide key depth at positions of need.

Admittedly, the pickings are slim here. Danny Jansen and Rhys Hoskins both had disastrous second halves in Milwaukee this past season. Shelby Miller just had elbow surgery and will likely miss the entire 2026 campaign. Brandon Woodruff is already coming back via the qualifying offer.

By mere process of elimination, there's one obvious player to note, and then a bunch of minor-league free agents and players recovering from injury. Nevertheless, the Brewers would be wise to run it back with at least a few more players from their 97-win season in 2025, even if one of them didn't play at all.

2 players the Brewers should re-sign for the 2026 MLB season

José Quintana

Let's get the obvious candidate out of the way. José Quintana hasn't been an All-Star in a decade, and yet he remains one of the most workman-like starters in all of baseball.

The 36-year-old southpaw has pitched more than 165 innings nine times in his career, and he just made 24 starts for the Brewers in 2025. Though the advanced metrics don't love him -- outside of his 65th-percentile finish in exit velocity allowed, his Baseball Savant page is deep blue -- his ERA has settled below 4.00 in each of the past four seasons.

Rotation depth with considerable MLB experience remains an issue in Milwaukee, and Quintana could supply it with aplomb. He shouldn't be counted on as one of Pat Murphy's top five options on Opening Day, but as a swingman out of the bullpen, he could soak up bulk innings and save some bullets for the Brewers' key arms throughout the regular season.

Even after turning down his $15 million mutual option for 2026, there should be plenty of motivation to strike another deal here, particularly if Quintana is amenable to another short-term deal at a reduced salary.

Jordan Montgomery

Far less obvious of a candidate, Jordan Montgomery was acquired as part of the Shelby Miller deal at the trade deadline, with the Brewers assuming $2 million of his remaining salary to drive down the prospect cost of bringing in Miller.

The 32-year-old southpaw missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and the last time he pitched, he struggled to the tune of a 6.23 ERA and -1.4 bWAR in 117 innings in 2024.

Still, it was just two years ago that he was a key part of the Texas Rangers' championship run, pitching to a 2.90 ERA in 31 postseason frames in 2023. And prior to flaming out with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he ran an FIP below 4.00 in every season from 2019-23.

Given the aforementioned need for experience in the Brewers' 2026 rotation, Montgomery could be a low-cost, high-upside reclamation project for the Brewers' pitching factory. It may not be a sexy signing, but there's a reason they paid him $2 million to sit on the sidelines after the trade deadline.