3 former Brewers from the 2025 squad who are struggling with their new teams

During the Milwaukee Brewers' recent run of success, one area of roster construction in which the front office has excelled is knowing when to move on from certain players. Whether it be by trading players during the offseason, not being afraid to designate them for assignment during the regular season, or electing not to re-sign them as free agents, the Brewers have been very timely with many key departures in recent years. As a result, Milwaukee has experienced a great deal of roster turnover during this period, meaning many players around the league hold the title of "former Brewer."

Roster turnover is part of the game, but it doesn’t always lead to immediate success elsewhere. For a few former members of the Brewers’ 2025 squad, the transition to new teams hasn’t gone as planned. Here’s a look at three former Brewers who are off to slow starts with their new clubs.

Three Brewers from the 2025 team who are off to slow starts elsewhere in 2026

1. LHP Jose Quintana

Veteran left-hander José Quintana made 24 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2025, posting a solid 3.97 ERA. Milwaukee declined his $15 million option for 2026, sending him into free agency, where he ultimately signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Colorado Rockies. Now in his 15th big-league season, Quintana has gotten off to a slow start with his new club.

Through three starts, with one of them at Coors Field, Quintana has struggled to find his rhythm, posting a 6.23 ERA over 13.0 innings. The Miami Marlins tagged him for two earned runs in his debut, the Houston Astros followed with three, and most recently the Los Angeles Dodgers got to him for four. Quintana has yet to pitch beyond 5.0 innings in any outing, a notable drop-off from last season, when he reached that mark in 14 of his starts with the Brewers.

2. 1B Rhys Hoskins

Similar to Quintana, Rhys Hoskins, had his 2026 option with the Milwaukee Brewers, valued at $18 million, declined, sending him into free agency. He remained unsigned into Spring Training before eventually agreeing to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Guardians on February 23. Hoskins ultimately earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, but has struggled to find consistency through March and April.

Through his first 20 games with the Guardians, Hoskins has appeared 15 times at first base and five as the designated hitter. Defensively, he’s posted a -3 Outs Above Average mark, an early red flag. At the plate, he’s slashing .213/.351/.344. While his ability to draw walks and get on base remains a strength, his 29% strikeout rate is more concerning, continuing a trend that has worsened throughout his career.

3. RHP Joel Payamps

After being designated for assignment late in the 2025 season by the Brewers, Joel Payamps caught on with the Atlanta Braves, a club at the time in need of healthy arms to close out the year. He reached free agency that offseason but ultimately returned to Atlanta on a new deal.

Early in 2026, Payamps has been used frequently, appearing in 10 games for the Atlanta Braves. However, half of those outings have been brief, either recording just one out or, in one case, none at all. He’s allowed five earned runs over 6.1 innings, good for a 7.11 ERA. While reliever numbers can fluctuate quickly, his usage tells a story as well. With just two holds so far, it appears Payamps is no longer being relied upon in the high-leverage role he once held with Milwaukee.

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