Who’s Mitch, from sign at Milwaukee Brewers’ playoff game? Here’s his story
Mitch Romasko’s friends showed their support for him amid his health issues.
Pitcher Freddy Peralta will be the subject of trade talks, although those haven’t heated up yet.Despite offensive struggles, Joey Ortiz is expected to return as shortstop due to his Gold Glove-level defense.The team is considering moving relievers Aaron Ashby or DL Hall into the starting rotation for the 2026 season.Milwaukee remains optimistic about pitcher Craig Yoho’s future despite his struggles in the major leagues last season.
Fresh off his newly announced promotion to president of baseball operations and general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Arnold took a seat next to manager Pat Murphy at American Family Field a day before the World Series began.
The Brewers, for the first time in seven years, came within one series of playing in the Fall Classic but the franchise’s two most prominent public figures were instead on hand at the ballpark to wrap up the year that was for the Brewers and what lies ahead.
Here are five highlights of what the duo had to say.
A Freddy Peralta trade ‘not at the front’ of mind
The question was always going to be asked. The answer was always going to be the same.
Freddy Peralta will be heavily featured in trade discussions and rumors this winter as the Brewers, just as they do with their approach to all soon-to-be free agents, have to keep an open mind. The right-hander has a team option for $8 million for 2026 before hitting the open market, where he could command a deal for anywhere from five to six years approaching $100 million.
The time will come where those talks pick up, but that hasn’t happened yet, says Arnold.
“I feel like that’s been out there and to be honest it’s not at the front of my mind,” he said. “Honestly, it’s something where you can never shut the door on anything in our situation. Of course we’ve had to make very tough decisions. That’s part of what we have to do, is make tough decisions to help the long-term view of the franchise.
“But I can tell you that Freddy means more to that clubhouse than most that I’ve ever been around, and he’s a special player on and off the field. I’m proud to have him as a teammate.”
There’s more to come from Joey Ortiz
Joey Ortiz struggled mightily on offense as the Brewers’ starting shortstop, batting just .230 with a .593 OPS – worst of any qualified hitter in baseball. His defense (13 outs above average, fifth-best among shortstops and 15th overall in baseball) was what gave the Brewers the confidence to keep playing him every night, and it sounds as though there’s a good chance he begins next year penciled in as the shortstop again.
“Joey Ortiz, the defense that he provided to us this year (was) at a Gold Glove level,” Arnold said. “The offense wasn’t probably where he had hoped it would be but you’re talking about a guy that made every single play and most plays that nobody can get to, honestly. I thought he was tremendous on the defensive side of the ball. I think he can still grow because he has some really good offensive tools.”
Could Aaron Ashby or DL Hall be considered to start in 2026?
Aaron Ashby did yeoman’s work out of the bullpen after missing the first two months with an oblique strain, setting a career high with 43 appearances while pitching to a career-best 2.16 ERA.
DL Hall, meanwhile, missed considerable time at the beginning of the season with a lat strain and also at the end of the season with an oblique strain. He pitched 20 games in relief in 2025, posting a 3.49 ERA and WHIP of 1.06 in 38 ⅔ innings but has made only 33 total appearances in two seasons since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles in the Corbin Burnes trade.
The Brewers do have a need for some left-handed balance in the rotation – Robert Gasser is currently the only option expected to be back and in the mix – with the rest of their young returnees and Peralta all throwing from the right side.
“Everybody’s considered,” Murphy said. “It’s like, we’ve got a lot of ingredients, and I’ve said this before – we’re putting them in there and we’re stirring it, trying to make a good tasting soup. If it means, ‘This guy is this,’ then there’s a lot of factors involved. What the player wants, what the player believes, what the (front office) believes. And you just kind of try to get it all together there and make it work.”
Added Arnold: “Yeah, I agree. There’s a lot of factors that go into that. Obviously the depth of the roster and what things look like on opening day is probably going to be different than what it now in this moment. The fact that they were both successful this year is a really good foundation to start from.”
What happened to Craig Yoho?
Expected to be a contributor for the Brewers in 2025 after earning co-minor-league pitcher of the year honors in 2024, right-hander Craig Yoho did make his major-league debut but ultimately struggled badly.
In eight appearances over four stints with Milwaukee, the 26-year-old posted a 7.27 ERA and WHIP of 1.96 with seven strikeouts in 8 ⅔ innings. Compare that to his body of work at Class AAA Nashville, where he went 6-1 with a 0.94 ERA, WHIP of 0.97 and 60 strikeouts in 47 ⅔ innings over 43 appearances.
He also saved eight games.
How does Yoho factor into Milwaukee’s bullpen plans in 2026?
“When you look at what he did in Triple-A, he was phenomenal and then he got to the big leagues and his role changed a little bit, and he’s got to be ready for that,” Arnold said. “He’s a young guy on the (40-man) roster. He’s got to be able to do a lot more here, and we’re going to demand more. I think that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t necessarily characterize what he did in the big leagues as who he is, because we’ve seen really, really good flashes, especially later in the season, too.
“I think there’s plenty to be excited about.”
What about the new addition, Sammy Peralta?
Milwaukee’s first offseason transaction came down Oct. 22 when the team claimed left-handed reliever Sammy Peralta off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.
The 27-year-old has pitched in 30 major-league games since 2023, including five with the Angels this season (7.59 ERA in five appearances) and has one minor-league option remaining.
“Interesting dude,” Arnold said. “Not a flamethrower by any means, but a funky guy with some interesting ingredients that we think can help us. He’s pitched in length as well, so he’s kind of done both roles.
“So a guy that has some versatility that we think has a chance to contribute next year.”