The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa, sources reported Saturday night. The deal, which remains unconfirmed by the teams, comes amid the Royals' active offseason pursuit of outfield help. Collins, a 28-year-old switch-hitter, had a breakout 2025 season with the Brewers.
Following the Winter Meetings, the Royals continued their roster adjustments by swinging a trade with the Brewers on Saturday night. Kansas City receives versatile outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears, while sending lefty Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee. The transaction has not yet been officially announced by either club.
Collins, 28, emerged as a key contributor for the Brewers in 2025, finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. The switch-hitter posted a .263/.368/.411 slash line, along with nine home runs, 54 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases primarily in left field. He also saw action at third and second base, offering utility value. Defensively, he recorded minus-3 defensive runs saved in the corners. Collins, originally acquired by Milwaukee from the Rockies in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, remains under team control through 2030 and is not arbitration-eligible until 2028.
Mears, 28, provided stability in the Brewers' bullpen last season with a 3.49 ERA over 56 2/3 innings in 69 appearances. He struck out 46 batters against 13 walks, relying on a fastball-slider mix with an occasional curveball. His 33.5% chase rate ranked in the 93rd percentile, adding swing-and-miss potential to the Royals' relief corps, which had the American League's lowest strikeout rate in 2025. Mears is arbitration-eligible this offseason and projected to earn $1.6 million in 2026, with free agency possible after 2027.
In return, the Brewers gain Zerpa, 26, who spent all of 2025 with the Royals, appearing in 69 games with a 4.18 ERA over 64 2/3 innings. The sinkerballer, averaging 96.6 mph on his two-seamer, held left-handed hitters to a .644 OPS and set career highs in innings, strikeouts (58), and holds (14). Zerpa, who debuted with Kansas City in 2021, enters his first arbitration year and is controllable through 2028, bolstering Milwaukee's bullpen depth with five left-handers.
The move helps the Royals address outfield needs, complementing their recent agreement with Lane Thomas on a one-year deal. For Milwaukee, coming off a franchise-record win total, it trims an outfield surplus after signing Akil Baddoo.