Milwaukee Brewers reach World Series after sweeping Dodgers

The Milwaukee Brewers reached the World Series for the first time since 1982 by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers, translating regular-season success into a deep playoff run. Playing in Major League Baseball’s smallest market with a payroll in the bottom half of the majors, the franchise secured the best record in the majors for a second straight year, claimed an eighth playoff berth in nine seasons, and won a fourth straight NL Central title. Conventional wisdom projected a decline following the departures of president of baseball operations David Stearns to the New York Mets and manager Craig Counsell to the Chicago Cubs, but internal promotions and strategic roster management sustained the franchise’s competitive edge.

Front-office continuity and internal promotion under Matt Arnold

Following David Stearns’ departure, the Brewers promoted Matt Arnold to president of baseball operations. Arnold, who reached the World Series with the Tampa Bay front office in 2008, had served as Stearns’ right-hand man. He utilized the organization’s farm system by signing outfielders Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara and shortstop Cooper Pratt to long-term contracts prior to their major league debuts, securing core contributors early. Arnold also appointed Pat Murphy as manager after serving as Craig Counsell’s bench coach since 2016. Murphy was selected as NL manager of the year each of the last two seasons. “He’s tremendous, I think, and well-rounded in a way where he has a great way about going about his business with the push-pull,” Arnold said of Murphy. “He’s good at pushing when you need it and pulling back when you need it as well. He does a fantastic job.”

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, moving them within one win of a World Series berth. pic.twitter.com/ewHwCvExeN

— https://x.com/WISN12News/status/2110569296262746193

Foundational trades and draft picks built over multiple seasons

The roster’s competitive window opened through a series of calculated trades and drafts. In January 2018, Stearns acquired Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Lewis Brinson, Isan Díaz, Monte Harrison, and Jordan Yamamoto. Yelich won the MVP in 2018, finished second in the voting in 2019, signed a nine-year, $215 million contract in March 2020, and was named the first captain in Brewers history last month. In the 2020 draft, Milwaukee selected Garrett Mitchell out of UCLA with the 20th overall pick; Mitchell played 145 regular-season games and hit two homers in the NLCS. In the 2022 draft, the Brewers selected hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski out of Crowder College in the second round, developing him into this year’s Cy Young Award favorite alongside reliever Aaron Ashby, another Crowder College alumnus drafted in 2018 who has thrown 12 1/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.

Calculated risks in high-profile roster transactions

Front-office decisions involved parting with established stars to restock depth. At the 2022 trade deadline, the Brewers dealt closer Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres for Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser, Dinelson Lamet, and Esteury Ruiz, a move that initially drew criticism when the team missed the postseason. However, left-hander Gasser recovered from 2024 Tommy John surgery to contribute key postseason innings, allowing one run in nine innings in the playoffs. That transaction also positioned the club for a three-team trade in December 2022, acquiring William Contreras, who made two All-Star teams with Milwaukee, finished fifth in the 2024 MVP voting, and is hitting .367 with a 1.157 OPS in this postseason. The deal also brought in reliever Joel Payamps. Subsequent additions included trading for reliever Trevor Megill from the Minnesota Twins in April 2023, acquiring Jake Bauers from the New York Yankees in November 2023 for minor leaguers, and trading 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024 for infielder Joey Ortiz and pitcher DL Hall before Burnes reached free agency.