The 2026 contract extension Brewers fans are surprisingly still waiting for

Pat Murphy is batting 1.000 on winning Manager of the Year Awards. The caveat to that fact is that the sample spans just two seasons, but his résumé is undeniably impressive even after just 324 regular season games at the helm of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Which is what makes it so surprising that the team and their manager haven't found common ground on an extension this offseason. Murphy is entering the final year of the original three-year deal he signed to replace Craig Counsell, making him something of a lame duck head coach despite the organization's resounding success under his stewardship.

Now, that's not to suggest that Murphy is eying the door or that the team has a replacement lined up for him. By all accounts, both sides want to keep this partnership going, at least for a few more years.

"I found a home. If I do it 10 more years, you know, I’d like to do it in Milwaukee,"Murphy told ESPN's Jeff Passan in December. It's clear the respect is mutual between both parties, but it's fair to wonder how much longer the 67-year-old skipper will want to keep coaching.

Will Brewers, Pat Murphy agree to extension before Opening Day?

Age is a key factor here; Murphy originally considered heading to Chicago with Counsell back in 2023 because he was worried about taking a top coaching job for the first time at 65 years old. Thankfully for all of us, that didn't happen.

Back in January, there were some comparisons to Matt Quatraro's new contract with the Kansas City Royals, which lasts for three seasons and includes a club option. It's not so long-term that the team is on the hook for big money if things go south, but it's also not just kicking the can down the road another year.

Alas, despite a perfect template, no news has come out. Murphy did address rumors regarding his contract status at spring camp, but in his usual fashion, he simply said he's happy to have a locker and that the focus should be on the players, not him.

Of course, now that William Contreras' arbitration situation has been settled, Murphy's contract should be the focus, at least for the finance people in the front office. He's a proven leader beloved by fans, players, and the media alike, and it sure doesn't hurt that he's got a 17-14 record against Counsell and the Cubs (including the playoffs) since taking over the dugout.

With six weeks still remaining between now and Opening Day, it's clear that there's one more move the front office needs to make: extend Pat Murphy.