By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals continued their activity after the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings, making a trade Saturday evening with the Milwaukee Brewers in their mission to upgrade their outfield and bullpen.
The Royals acquired switch hitting outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Brewers, sending lefty reliever Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee, sources told MLB.com. The trade has not been confirmed by the clubs.
While Collins played a majority of his games in left field for the Brewers last season, utility player may be a better label for Collins, who also saw time at third base and second base. The 28-year-old was fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting after posting a slash line of .263/.368/.411 with a 118 OPS+, nine home runs and 54 RBIs.
The Royals have been scouring both the free-agent and trade markets for outfielders. They came to an agreement on a one-year deal with outfielder Lane Thomas on Thursday, a deal that’s not official yet. Collins fits the bill of what they’ve been looking for, especially as someone who can move around the field. Collins also fits the Royals’ type as a hitter, making solid contact and not missing much, with just an 18.4% chase rate last season and 22.5% whiff rate.
Mears, meanwhile, has some big stuff and posted a 3.49 ERA across 56 2/3 innings in 2025, with just 13 walks and 46 strikeouts. The 29-year-old logged a 33.5% chase rate in 2025 -- a number that ranked in MLB’s 93rd percentile, per Statcast.
Collins is not eligible for salary arbitration until 2028 and will be under club control until 2031. Mears meanwhile is arbitration eligible this year and can be a free agent following the 2027 season.
Zerpa had stretches of elite appearances over the past five seasons. He spent all of 2025 in the big leagues and posted a 4.18 ERA across a career-high 64 2/3 innings.
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