Quick. No peeking at your mobile device. Name four members of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Knew you couldn’t pull it off. They do have a franchise legend in Christian Yelich, a steady-as-a-rock catcher in William Contreras, and a pitcher who can throw 105 miles-an-hour, in Jacob Misiorowski, at 24 still a young pup.
But mostly the World Series champs are an unheralded bunch. They had a respectful celebration at Tropicana field in St. Petersburg, Fla., after winning the Series in five games. No doubt, the 29 owners of teams that didn’t win the World Series were also celebrating, including the Montfort family, which holds the key to the piggy bank at Coors Field: “Hey, if the Brewers can do it with a payroll like theirs, maybe we can too.”
Yep. The Brewers spent $143.5 million in 2026 — not chump change, we admit, but in baseball dollars it’s a pittance. The New York Mets spent $346.8 million, the LA Dodgers, $338 million (which doesn’t include what they pay Shohei Ohtani’s translator).
Only two notches below the Brewers, at $117 million, stand our Colorado Rockies. The Brewers’ payroll produced World Series champions; the Rockies’ payroll produced the worst record in baseball this year, a team that’s lost more than 100 games four years straight — a team that once again generously became the farm team for its MLB brethren at the trade deadline: Brenton Doyle, gone. Traded to the Chicago White Sox, who helped the Sox get to one win away from getting to the World Series. Antonio Senzatela, arguably the Rockies’ best relief pitcher, gone. Traded to . . . the Brewers! Victor Vodnik, gone. The next-best Rockies reliever, gone to the Marlins.
The Rockies haven’t been built for a post-season appearance since 2018, when they won 91 games. That team, in the playoffs, lost to . . . the Brewers!
Before the Brewers’ run of four straight division titles, they did go through a period of mediocrity (two straight losing seasons, 2015-2016). But the Rockies had six straight losing seasons (2011-2016), an ignominious prelude to the current plight.
The Brewers woke up in 2018 and became a force. Here’s the Rockies’ definition of being a force: This past year the team lost 15 games less than the 2025 version (which lost 119 games). An improvement!
An optimist would say, with a semblance of reason, that the Rockies could reach another level of improvement next season, with the caveat that the owners find a reason to stop trading away their best players.
Which brings us to the Montforts, and the Penner minority owners, too. There are some marquee names currently on the market, the likes of the Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki and Detroit relief pitcher Kenley Jansen.
Alas, all this optimism comes as all the owners prepare for a pre-emptive off-season lockout. The owners want a salary cap. The players don’t. Baseball doesn’t have a history of achieving labor peace in a timely way. No signs loom that a work stoppage can be averted.
Should there be baseball in 2027, the Rockies could step up. Their core of Hunter Goodman, TJ Rumfield, Cole Carrigg and Mickey Moniak is solid. But they need help — a lot of help — alongside. If that doesn’t materialize, look forward to losing another 100 games (at least).
Yes, the Monforts and Penners must seek help. If they do, there could be some surprises ahead.
Just ask the Brewers.
© IJN 2026
