The Milwaukee Brewers have had terrible injury luck to start the season. Of the starting five the team envisioned, only one remains unhurt. The only good news is that the healthy pitcher happens to be ace Freddy Peralta. Other than that, it’s pretty dismal. To address their woes, the Brewers executed a deal with the Boston Red Sox for a fringe-level starting pitcher. It isn’t exciting. They’re simply running out of arms.
Cortes Injury Deals Milwaukee Brewers Latest Stinger, Forcing Deal with Red Sox
On Sunday, no.2 starter Nestor Cortes was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a strained elbow. Aaron Civale made one start this season before also going to the 15-day list. Expected back “by the end of April,” he logged a bullpen session Saturday. Outstanding 2024 rookie Tobias Myers has not made a start and is still working his way back. DL Hall, a back-end option, is on the 60-day list and not scheduled for a session until mid-April.
Brandon Woodruff, out injured since 2023, started the season on the injured list and is just now beginning a rehab assignment. Provided all are healthy at some point, he would join Peralta, Cortes, Myers and Civale, likely bumping Hall to the bullpen. But for the moment all of that is fantasy. So far, the Brewers have gotten five starts from the six guys above and five starts from elsewhere.
Enter Quinn Priester, ex-Pittsburgh Pirate who began the year in Boston’s minor league system after arriving from Pittsburgh last season. In his career, the 24-year-old right hander has thrown 99 2/3 innings with a 6.23 ERA, surrendering 19 homeruns and 114 hits while striking out 69 (41 walks). Fans might have to hold their noses, but the Brewers can’t afford to be choosy.
Priester was a bit better last season–significantly so, in fact–posting a 4.71 ERA across 49 2/3 innings and improving his K/BB ratio to 2.4. He will join an active rotation of Tyler Alexander, Elvin Rodriguez, Chad Patrick and Peralta.
Holding Down a Fragile Fort
In order to acquire Priester, the Brewers sent outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez along with a player to be named later, per ESPN. Boston will also receive a competitive balance draft pick.
At A-ball South Carolina last season in the Milwaukee’s system, Rodriguez put up modest numbers (7 HR, 60 RBI, .250 AVG). The Dominican Republic signee played three games at A-ball Wisconsin in 2025 before the trade.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Brewers sent pitcher Grant Wolfram to the Orioles for outfielder Daz Cameron, a .201 hitter across 394 major league at bats.
With the Brewers in dire need of pitching help, Priester will join the team immediately rather than beginning a stint in the minors, ESPN reports. Hopefully the Brewers only have to rely on Priester for a few starts.
As the current group wings it while the others rehab, the Brewers do have a Band-Aid in the cupboard: offseason acquisition Jose Quintana. Recording a 3.75 ERA in 31 starts as a Met last season, the veteran lefty has not yet completed the conditioning required to take the mound in a game. He did not sign with Milwaukee until spring training–“offseason” acquisition might be pushing it– putting him behind the down sticks to begin the season. But he should be available as soon as he has a few minor league outings under his belt.
The sooner Cortes, Quintana and the rest can toe the rubber, the better. In the meantime, fans should cross their fingers and hope that Priester helps cog the void.
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