It’s March 26, the Milwaukee Brewers hold a 4-1 lead over the Chicago White Sox heading into the eighth inning after Joey Ortiz slugged a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh. With a three-run lead, Brewers fans’ attention turns to the bullpen, wondering who Pat Murphy has tabbed to be his closer for the 2026 season.

One of two players is likely to be warming up in the bullpen in this hypothetical scenario: Trevor Megill or Abner Uribe. One will be the Brewers’ closer to start the 2026 season, and the other will immediately become one of the best set-up men in all of MLB. However, with Cactus League games now underway, it remains undecided which will be which.

A season ago, after the Brewers traded away Devin Williams in the offseason, Megill assumed the role of the everyday closer in Milwaukee. Things arguably couldn’t have gone better for Megill through the first five months of the season. Prior to a flexor strain in late August, the 6’8″ flame-thrower was having a career year. Megill maintained a 2.49 ERA, collected 30 saves in 36 opportunities, and was named to the National League All-Star team in what was certainly the best season of his five-year MLB career.

However, the late-season injury was impactful. When Megill went on the IL, Uribe took over the closing duties and did so with a great deal of success. Uribe was 5-for-5 in save opportunities and surrendered just two earned runs in 13 innings from the moment Megill went on the IL to the end of the season.

When the postseason arrived, Megill was back on the roster after healing from his flexor strain, but the Brewers went with Uribe in the lone save opportunity they encountered, and, in that same game, used Megill as an opener. However, the decision was due in large part to Megill’s August injury and shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as an indicator that Uribe will be the closer in 2026.

Trevor Megill should start the year as the Milwaukee Brewers’ closer

There’s an unwritten rule in baseball that “you can’t lose your job because of an injury.” In other words, if a player had a certain role on the team prior to an injury, he should at least have the opportunity to prove that he should retain that role when he returns from said injury. It’s by no means an official rule, hence the “unwritten” nature of it. In fact, the Brewers didn’t abide by the rule just last year, when Rhys Hoskins lost his starting role at first base to Andrew Vaughn while he was on the injured list. However, it’s more difficult to ignore the unwritten rule when the player who would be losing his job was also an All-Star in the previous season.

By all accounts, Megill did everything possible to keep his job as the Brewers’ closer in 2026. It just so happens that he’s set up by one of the nastiest relievers in all of baseball. Even still, Megill deserves a shot to prove that he belongs in the ninth inning for the Brewers, before the team hands the job over to Uribe.

There’s also the contract situation to consider, which absolutely shouldn’t be the reason why the Brewers ultimately make a decision, but it’s at least something worth noting. Presumably, after this season, the Brewers will receive plenty of trade interest in Megill, who will be one year away from free agency, especially if he replicates his 2025 numbers. Megill is a far more attractive trade candidate if he racks up a bunch of saves this season as opposed to if he is replaced by Uribe. Additionally, Uribe is set to hit arbitration after the 2027 season, and his price will be much higher if he has two full seasons of saves to his name. Again, it’s not a reason to make a move, but it could be a contributing factor to the Brewers not making a switch at closer.

Therefore, when the Brewers open regular season play next month, I expect Megill to assume the duties as the everyday closer while Uribe remains one of the best set-up men in MLB. That said, if Megill struggles in his role, don’t expect the Brewers to hesitate when replacing him with Uribe. What matters most is that the Brewers have a reliable, consistent arm at the back-end of their bullpen.