4 Milwaukee Brewers free agents still without jobs as 2026 spring training approaches

It's February, and baseball will be played this month. Despite this reality, four Milwaukee Brewers who became free agents at the completion of the 2025 season remain unsigned, still waiting for clarity on where they will be heading for the 2026 campaign. Most players and teams prefer to have their free agency decisions squared away prior to the start of spring training, and given the fact that pitchers and catchers report in a mere eight days, odds are these remaining Brewers free agents should have their 2026 destinations decided on in the near future.

Four Milwaukee Brewers free agents still without jobs as 2026 spring training approaches

1. LHP José Quintana

For the second straight winter, Quintana’s free agency has lingered well into the offseason. Even at 37, he has remained remarkably productive in the late stages of his storied career and should eventually land a deal. However, last season Quintana earned a major league deal from the Brewers on March 5, and elected to slowly build up to his first big-league start on April 11. It's entirely possible that Quintana, who only has so many pitches remaining in his left arm which will be entering its 15th MLB season in 2026, elects a similar path this season. A late signing, and therefore a late start to the MLB season would theoretically allow Quintana to remain the effective innings eater that he is through the end of the season.

It's not out of the question that Quintana runs it back with the Brew Crew next year. Brewers insider Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported that Pat Murphy is hoping the team's front office adds a veteran starter before the end of the offseason, and Quintana offers exactly that. He was effective throughout the regular season and would balance out the inexperience of the rest of Milwaukee's rotation (Brandon Woodruff not included).

2. 1B Rhys Hoskins

Eight-year veteran Rhys Hoskins has endured a run of misfortune over the past few seasons. An ACL tear wiped out his entire 2023 campaign, and his first year back produced the worst offensive numbers of his career. It's not entirely surprising; while players can return to the field a year after an ACL injury, they usually aren't up to full speed until the second season removed. Hoskins looked like his normal self at the beginning of the 2025 season, carrying the Brewers through a dark time of the season, but a thumb injury in early July sidelined him for months and ultimately cost him his starting job after Andrew Vaughn's emergence.

Now, with his short-term deal with the Brewers complete, free agency has been unkind. Aside from brief rumors linking him to the Washington Nationals, Hoskins’ market has been quiet, leaving the former postseason hero -- during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies -- still searching for his next opportunity.

3. LHP Jordan Montgomery

Acquired in last year’s Shelby Miller deal, Jordan Montgomery never appeared for the Brewers as he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March. The Brewers acquired Montgomery, and some of his remaining salary, to avoid paying a prospect cost for Miller -- a savvy move from the Brewers front office that also allowed them to build a relationship with Montgomery in the meantime.

As a result, speculation about a reunion has emerged this offseason, with Montgomery potentially representing a cost-friendly option for Milwaukee, as the team searches for a left-handed veteran starter to pair with their inexperienced right-handed starting staff. Montgomery might not be quite ready for action by Opening Day, which could steer the Brewers in a different direction, but if he can regain the form that led him to a 3.20 ERA in 2023, the veteran left-hander could be a valuable buy-low option for a team like Milwaukee, who often capitalizes on such players.

4. RHP Erick Fedde

Erick Fedde, who was excellent in seven outings for the Brewers down the stretch last season, with a 3.38 ERA during that span to prove it, also remains unsigned. A top trade candidate at the 2024 trade deadline after a hot start in his return to MLB with the Chicago White Sox, Fedde ultimately landed with the St. Louis Cardinals. However, a brutal first half from Fedde in 2025 soured the relationship between him and the Redbirds, which culminated in a designation for assignment in late July. Fedde spent the next month with the Braves, where his struggles increased, before he salvaged his season with a strong final month in Milwaukee.

The soon-to-be 33-year-old hasn't drummed up many rumors this offseason, suggesting that interest in his services for the 2026 season is low. However, Fedde is just one year removed from a 3.30 ERA, and though his underlying metrics don't look great, the need for starting pitching remains high and surely a team will offer him an opportunity in the coming weeks, even if it does end up being a minor league contract.

As teams finalize rosters for 2026, it’s hard to imagine that all of these will remain on the sidelines much longer. Each certainly holds the track record to deserve another opportunity, meaning it's only a matter of time before they find spots for the upcoming season.