Brewers rumors: MLB insider cites Milwaukee as good fit for top remaining free agent

As the Milwaukee Brewers navigate Spring Training and approach Opening Day, it's becoming increasingly clear that they will start the regular season off with a starting rotation that is not only not at full strength, but very inexperienced as well.

So far, Brandon Woodruff's availability for the early part of the season is murky, and Quinn Priester expects to miss at least a month, if all goes well. This leaves Jacob Misiorowski as the favorite to be the Brewers' Opening Day starter.

Behind him, Chad Patrick has been confirmed as part of the starting rotation, while pitchers such as Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, Brandon Sproat, Robert Gasser, and Logan Henderson are all competing for the remaining spots.

With injuries to several veterans and limited experience among those currently healthy, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see the Brewers add another veteran arm, even this late in Spring Training. Recently, MLB insider Robert Murray echoed that idea by linking the team to the top remaining free agent, Lucas Giolito.

In a recent column, Murray wrote: "The Milwaukee Brewers could use another arm, and Giolito would be excellent for an organization that can extract the most out of its pitchers. And after trading Freddy Peralta and his $8 million salary, you have to imagine the Brewers can afford it." Be sure to check out Murray's article, which is free to read over at Fansided.com and linked below for your convenience.

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MLB insider Robert Murray names Brewers as strong fit for top remaining free agent starting pitcher Lucas Giolito

The right-handed Giolito has experienced plenty of highs and lows over his nine-year career in Major League Baseball, but the 2025 season ranked among his best since he was in Cy Young Award discussions from 2019–2021. Pitching for the Boston Red Sox, he made 26 starts, logged 145.0 innings, and posted a 3.41 ERA.

Unfortunately, a flexor strain in his pitching elbow kept him out of the Red Sox' playoff series against the New York Yankees. While he's cited to be healthy, having reportedly started his offseason throwing program on time, this likely the main reason why he still remains a free agent.

For Milwaukee, recent history could complicate the decision. The team was burned last season by a pitcher coming off flexor issues: Nestor Cortes. That painful memory may ultimately sway the Brewers away from pursuing Giolito, but if additional injuries arise, Milwaukee could still feel pressure to target the veteran on what would likely be an affordable one-year deal worth under $10 million.