Brewers Rumors: Milwaukee's Interest in Cubs' Former Backup Catcher
With the Milwaukee Brewers' recent trade of ace pitcher Freddy Peralta, the team is now focused on bolstering their roster before spring training begins. One area of particular attention is catching depth, as the Brewers currently have only two catchers on their 40-man roster: All-Star William Contreras and top prospect Jeferson Quero. While Quero has yet to make his MLB debut, the Brewers are considering two potential paths to add catching depth.
The first option is to add a minor league backstop on a deal, willing to spend most of the season in Triple-A, awaiting an injury or underperformance to be called up. The second option is to add a more established veteran catcher on a major league deal, which is facilitated by the 40-man roster spot opened by the Peralta trade. This also provides more budget flexibility for a more impactful addition at the backup catcher position.
A recent report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com suggests that Milwaukee is interested in free agent catcher Reese McGuire, who played for the Chicago Cubs in 2025. McGuire, turning 31 before the 2026 season, is likely to be signed on a minor league deal, reinforcing the Brewers' belief in Quero. This would keep Contreras and Quero as the only two catchers on the 40-man roster.
McGuire's 2025 season with the Cubs was unremarkable, with just 44 games played and a .226/.245/.444 slash line, resulting in a decent OPS+ of 94. While his slugging percentage of .444 is impressive, his low batting average and on-base percentage are concerning. McGuire's inability to get on base becomes more tolerable when extrapolated over a full season, with nine home runs in 140 plate appearances.
However, McGuire's overall MLB career doesn't inspire confidence. He has never played more than 89 games in a single season and has an 84 OPS+ hitter career, with inconsistent performance at the Triple-A level. Defensively, McGuire has never posted a below-average season according to FanGraphs' defensive WAR model, but his inconsistency at the plate outweighs his defensive skills.
The Brewers' interest in McGuire may be attributed to their recent strategy of buying low on players who were once highly ranked prospects or first-round picks. McGuire, a former first-round pick, fits this profile, and the Brewers might see potential in him during his age-31 season, despite a sudden breakout being unlikely. A minor league deal would be a low-risk investment, but a major league deal would be less appealing.
