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Frankie Montas, Colin Rea head to free agency; Brewers' Matt Arnold named MLB executive of the year

T.Lee30 min ago

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee's starting rotation could have a new look next season with right-handers Frankie Montas and Colin Rea heading into free agency.

The Brewers announced Monday that Montas had declined his part of a $20 million mutual option for 2025. The Brewers turned down the $5.5 million club option on Rea's contract.

Montas receives a $2 million buyout and Rea gets a $1 million buyout.

In other moves Monday, right-hander Kevin Herget was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, and left-hander Rob Zastryzny was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. First baseman Jake Bauers and right-hander Bryse Wilson cleared waivers and were sent outright to Triple-A Nashville.

The Brewers also made a $21.05 million qualifying offer to shortstop Willy Adames. If Adames accepts, he would be under contract with Milwaukee for another season. If he declines and signs elsewhere, the Brewers would receive at least one draft pick as compensation.

Montas, 31, had a combined 7-11 record with a 4.84 ERA and 148 strikeouts over 150 2/3 innings in 30 starts for the Cincinnati Reds and Brewers this season. He was 3-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 11 starts for the Brewers, who acquired him just before the trade deadline.

Rea, 34, was 12-6 with a 4.28 ERA this season in 32 appearances, including 27 starts. He struck out 135 in 167 2/3 innings. Rea had an 8.31 ERA in September and was left off the Brewers' NL Wild Card Series roster.

Herget, 33, had no record with one save and a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances with Milwaukee this year. He was 5-1 with four saves and a 2.27 ERA in 38 relief outings with Triple-A Nashville.

Zastryzny, 32, was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances with Milwaukee. He pitched in 30 games with Nashville and went 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA.

The 29-year-old Bauers batted .199 with a .301 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games this season. He also hit a seventh-inning homer that broke a scoreless tie in the decisive Game 3 of the Wild Card Series with the New York Mets, who rallied in the ninth to win 4-2.

Wilson, who turns 27 on Dec. 20, went 5-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 34 appearances, including nine starts.

Matt Arnold named MLB's top executive

Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold was chosen Major League Baseball's executive of the year after constructing a roster that won a second straight NL Central title in the league's smallest market.

The award is voted on by executives from all 30 MLB teams before the postseason. Arnold is the first Brewers official to win the honor.

Milwaukee went 93-69 and won the NL Central by 10 games after losing manager Craig Counsell to the division-rival Chicago Cubs in the offseason. The Brewers lost a three-game Wild Card Series to the New York Mets.

Arnold's major moves included promoting bench coach Pat Murphy to take over for Counsell as manager and signing young outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million contract before he'd ever played a game in the majors. Arnold also traded 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes for left-hander DL Hall and third baseman Joey Ortiz.

His acquisitions of Jared Koenig and Bryan Hudson solidified one of baseball's top bullpens. Arnold signed Rhys Hoskins to take over at first base and shored up Milwaukee's rotation by acquiring Aaron Civale and Frankie Montas.

Arnold, 45, joined the Brewers as vice president and assistant general manager in 2015. He was promoted to general manager in November 2020. When David Stearns stepped down as president of baseball operations after the 2022 season, Arnold took over for him.

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