The Milwaukee Brewers have secured the NL Central title in three straight seasons, and after setting a franchise record for wins, the club has made a decision to keep the leader of the squad in place for several more years.
The Brewers agreed to a new three-year contract with manager Pat Murphy on Thursday, February 19. The agreement between Milwaukee and its skipper was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Murphy was heading into the final season of his previous deal. The updated contract adds two more years, plus a club option for the 2029 campaign. He’ll make an extra $8.95 million under the new contract, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Milwaukee Brewers Sign Manager Pat Murphy to New Contract
Murphy took over for former manager Craig Counsell following the 2023 season. Counsell had been with the club since 2015, but bolted for a more lucrative deal with the Chicago Cubs. Murphy won 93 games in his first year at the helm. He led the team to 97 wins this past season, the best mark in the league.
The Brewers failed to escape the Wild Card round in Murphy’s first season, falling to the New York Mets in three games. Milwaukee defeated Counsell’s Cubs in the National League Divisional Series this past year. The team was then swept by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
The impressive two-year run has led to major accolades for Murphy. He’s earned National League Manager of the Year honors in back-to-back campaigns. The 97 wins in 2025 set a Brewers franchise record.
Can the Brewers Contend Again in 2026?
While the team has invested in Murphy, it hasn’t put the same work into improving the team for the upcoming season. The main moves this offseason have been subtractions. The Brewers sent ace Freddy Peralta to the Mets for a package of two top prospects, Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. The club then dealt infielder Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox for a group of players led by left-hander Kyle Harrison.
The additions for Milwaukee have been on the smaller side. The team brought in veteran utilityman Luis Rengifo to fill the void left by Durbin’s departure. Gary Sanchez is returning to the squad to handle backup catcher duties. Angel Zerpa was acquired from the Kansas City Royals to contribute to the bullpen. The Brewers will get a full year out of first baseman Andrew Vaughn, a midseason trade acquisition in 2025. The former No. 3 overall pick excelled in half a season with the team.
The PECOTA projections at Baseball Prospectus are anticipating a major step back for the Brewers. The team is projected for 80.8 wins, good for a distant second place in the division. PECOTA has the Cubs winning the NL Central with 90.4 wins. The projections have the Pittsburgh Pirates nipping at the Brewers’ heels at 80.4 wins. The Cincinnati Reds aren’t far behind at 78.5 wins. It’s not exactly the outlook Brewers’ fans were hoping for after a trio of division titles. Murphy will have his work cut out for him in 2026.
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