Manager Craig Counsell, who is considered the best in the game, departed after the 2023 season, but Pat Murphy kept things humming in 2024. However, another playoff flop and tumult in the offseason have baseball betting odds gamblers turning away. It is unlikely that Milwaukee will be anywhere close to the most profitable team on the MLB board in 2025, which they were last year. It was another year of ecstasy, followed by agony for the Milwaukee Brewers. Accordingly, the Brewers are coming off the most successful seven years in their history.
2025 Milwaukee Brewers
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2025 Milwaukee Brewers Manager and Key Players
Milwaukee ranks 23rd for MLB payroll. Major moves: Acquired SP Nestor Cortes, INF Caleb Durbin via trade from New York, Acquired RP Grant Anderson via trade from Texas, Selected RP Connor Thomas from St. Louis in Rule 5 Draft
For Milwaukee, it has been another offshore betting offseason of familiar faces finding homes elsewhere. First, star shortstop Willy Adames secured a massive free-agent deal with San Francisco. Also, closer Devin Williams was shipped to the Bronx, entering the final year of his contract.
Overall, Adames’ departure was hardly a shock, considering the price. However, the trade of Williams was a more intriguing organizational decision. The move had similar vibes to the trade of ace Corbin Burnes to Baltimore a year ago — but with some key differences.
Certainly, the Brewers deserve the benefit of the doubt as this division’s most consistent contender of the past half-decade. However, it’s hard not to feel a bit uninspired by their otherwise quiet winter. In particular when related to the aggressive maneuvers executed by Chicago and Cincinnati. At the very least, it’s exceptionally difficult to argue that this team got better this winter.
It’d be foolish to bet against this franchise as a relevant character in the division race. Still, it’s also tough to imagine them cruising to another NL Central title in the fashion they did a year ago. And if they end up struggling to keep pace, we might point to their lackluster offseason as part of the reason. Manager Pat Murphy was a Brewers coach from 2016 through 2023. Previously, he was named National League Manager of the Year in 2024.
Previously, the Burnes trade netted two young, cost-controllable pieces plus a draft pick in exchange for Williams. The Brewers received only one long-term piece in Caleb Durbin while adding another player entering the final year of his contract in Cortes. In turn Cortes’ 2025 salary is nearly identical to Williams’.
Trading from the bullpen to address the rotation makes sense on the surface. Consider Milwaukee’s needs. But this was a far more short-term move than we’re used to seeing the Brewers make. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though.
2025 Milwaukee Brewers Team Overview
Milwaukee has six playoff appearances in that span. Including an MLB odds
loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2018 NLCS 4-3. Unfortunately, there is a sense that the Brewers’ era of annual contention is over.
In 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers had a record of 93-69 and were 1st in the National League Central Division. Offensively, Milwaukee ranked 6th for runs scored, 12th for batting average, 10th for OPS, 16th for home runs, and 2nd for stolen bases. In turn, defensively, Milwaukee ranked 4th for earned run average, 8th for WHIP, 22nd for strikeouts, 28th for quality starts, 21st for fewest errors, and 2nd for bullpen ERA.