3 free agent reunions Brewers could realistically afford without cutting any payroll

Most Milwaukee Brewers fans were anticipating their team to have a quiet offseason this winter, but with New Year's Day, the unofficial halfway point of the MLB offseason, still yet to arrive, Matt Arnold and company have been more active than expected. The club added prospect Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster and brought fan favorite Brandon Woodruff back via the qualifying offer. They agreed to tender contracts to all of its arbitration-eligible players, added outfielder Akil Baddoo on a split contract, and later traded Nick Mears and Isaac Collins to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Ángel Zerpa.

One factor limiting Milwaukee’s lack of major moves may be the financial commitment to Woodruff, who is set to earn just over $22 million in 2026, the highest single-season salary ever paid to a pitcher in franchise history. While additional roster moves are still expected, the Brewers are likely operating with a tight budget, prompting a patient approach as they wait for player price tags to drop the longer the offseason unfolds.

That said, the last time the Brewers reached the NLCS in 2018, they followed it up by increasing payroll in 2019, signing both Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas in free agency (though both moves came at the tail-end of the offseason after neither player's market matriculated as they expected it to). After another deep postseason run last year, it’s possible general manager Matt Arnold may have the green light from owner Mark Attanasio to add talent, potentially increasing payroll by as much as $10 million overall, which would bring the payroll to around $135 million or so, depending on which payroll resource is used.

A need for more experience in their starting rotation is apparent, with several first- or second-year players currently projected to play a large role in Milwaukee's 2026 starting staff. One way that the Brewers could spend their modest remaining budget would be re-uniting with one of three veteran starting pitchers who they rostered at one point or another in 2025. Each is expected to command a reasonable salary in 2026, and their familiarity with the Brewers pitching department could be an asset for both parties involved.

3 familiar free agents who the Milwaukee Brewers could realistically afford without cutting any payroll

1) LHP José Quintana

After smartly declining a $15 million option for 2026 on José Quintana and instead paying him a $2 million buy-out, the Brewers could entertain a reunion with the veteran southpaw in free agency. With starting pitchers getting paid good money once again this winter, the biggest question will be if he is willing to accept a deal in Milwaukee's range, or if another team will pay him more, as despite approaching 37 years old, he continues to put up strong numbers year in and year out.

Quintana certainly doesn't have the big strikeout stuff or overpowering velocity that is becoming increasingly common in today's game, but he gets by with pinpoint command and an ability to effectively mix his pitches in a way that keeps opposing hitters off-balance. As an innings eater at the back-end of a rotation, Quintana still holds value, and paired with the guidance he can provide for the Brewers' young starting options, another year in Milwaukee is definitely possible.

2) LHP Jordan Montgomery

The Brewers acquired Montgomery at last year's trade deadline as part of the trade that brought Shelby Miller to Milwaukee. At the time, Montgomery was sidelined while recovering from elbow surgery he underwent in late March, with an expected return timeline in the May-to-June 2026 range. The Brewers knew he wouldn't be able to pitch for them on his current contract, but rather elected to cover some of his 2025 salary as a way to acquire Miller without having to surrender prospect capital.

However, what transpired was a positive relationship between the Brewers and Montgomery after the veteran pitcher had a rough go of it with the Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reported earlier this month that the Brewers are interested in bringing Montgomery back for the 2026 season. With the 2023 World Series champion starter needing a cheap, one-year "prove-it" deal, a deal with Montgomery makes a lot of sense for the Brewers this offseason.

3) RHP Erick Fedde

Speaking of reunions, Erick Fedde could be a good fallback option for the Brewers this winter if they fail to land either of the two names listed above. His ceiling isn't nearly as high as Montgomery’s, and his floor is much lower than Quintana's, but he's another experienced starter who likely wouldn't require an expensive salary in 2026.

The right-hander suited up for three different teams in 2025, ultimately landing in Milwaukee after being designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves following an earlier trade from the St. Louis Cardinals. Fedde was impressive over the final month of the season, appearing in seven games and playing his way into postseason roster consideration. Although he didn’t make the playoff roster, his late-season success could be enough to spark mutual interest in a reunion.

A reunion with any of these three could be just as impactful as adding an outside free agent. If a modest payroll increase is on the table to strengthen the back end of the starting rotation, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Brewers reinforce that spot with one or more familiar faces.