Milwaukee’s starting rotation might look different next season with right-handed pitchers Frankie Montas and Colin Rea both becoming free agents.
On Monday, the Brewers announced that Montas had turned down his part of a $20 million mutual option for 2025. At the same time, Milwaukee decided not to pick up the $5.5 million club option on Rea’s contract.
Montas will receive a $2 million buyout, and Rea will get a $1 million buyout.
In other moves on Monday, the New York Mets claimed right-hander Kevin Herget off waivers, while left-hander Rob Zastryzny was claimed by the Chicago Cubs.
First baseman Jake Bauers and right-hander Bryse Wilson both cleared waivers and were assigned outright to Triple-A Nashville.
The Brewers also made a $21.05 million qualifying offer to shortstop Willy Adames. If Adames accepts, he will stay with Milwaukee for another season. If he turns it down and signs with another team, the Brewers will receive at least one draft pick as compensation.
Montas, 31, had a 7-11 record with a 4.84 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings over 30 starts this season, split between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brewers. He was 3-3 with a 4.55 ERA in 11 starts for Milwaukee, who acquired him just before the trade deadline.
Rea, 34, posted a 12-6 record with a 4.28 ERA in 32 appearances, including 27 starts. He struck out 135 batters in 167 2/3 innings. Rea struggled in September, finishing with an 8.31 ERA, and was left off the Brewers’ NL Wild Card Series roster.
Herget, 33, did not have a record with Milwaukee but recorded one save and a 1.59 ERA in seven appearances. He was 5-1 with four saves and a 2.27 ERA in 38 relief outings at Triple-A Nashville.
Zastryzny, 32, went 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in nine appearances with the Brewers. He made 30 appearances for Nashville, where he went 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA.
Bauers, 29, hit .199 with a .301 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, and 43 RBIs in 116 games. He also hit a key seventh-inning home run in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, although the Brewers lost the game 4-2 after a Mets rally in the ninth inning.
Wilson, who will turn 27 on December 20, had a 5-4 record with a 4.04 ERA in 34 appearances, including nine starts.
