The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a blockbuster trade on Friday afternoon, sending All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees.

In return, Milwaukee brought back 24-year-old utility man Caleb Durbin and veteran starting pitcher Nestor Cortés Jr.

The trade doesn’t do much to balance the Brewers’ books considering Cortés and Williams would both make $7.7 million in arbitration this offseason, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Cortés also doesn’t give Milwaukee any more control or flexibility than it did with Williams, as both are scheduled to hit free agency next winter.

Therefore, the Brewers must view Cortés as a valuable addition to their roster if they want to compete again in 2025. With the 30-year-old left-hander now on the roster, Milwaukee’s starting lineup could look like this to open the season:

1. Freddy Peralta, RHP
2. Brandon Woodruff, RHP
3. Tobias Myers, RHP
4. Aaron Civale, RHP
5. Nestor Cortes Jr., LHP

Peralta filled in admirably for Corbin Burnes in 2024, taking on the role of Brewers ace after the front office dealt the former Cy Young winner to the Baltimore Orioles. In 32 appearances, the 28-year-old went 11-9 with a 3.68 ERA, a 1.215 WHIP, 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.6 WAR.

Since becoming a full-time starter and making the All-Star Game in 2021, Peralta has posted a 3.49 ERA, a 1.099 WHIP and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

Woodruff, on the other hand, missed all of last season due to shoulder surgery. Before he went down, Woodruff was coming off a dominant five-year stretch in which he went 41-23 with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.015 WHIP, 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.2 WAR.

Assuming he’s back to full strength by Opening Day, the soon-to-be 32-year-old could even challenge Peralta as the Brewers’ ace.

Myers had a surprising breakthrough last season, going 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.174 WHIP, 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.7 WAR. Even though the 26-year-old didn’t make much noise in the NL Rookie of the Year race, he still proved he can be a reliable starter in the big leagues.

Milwaukee acquired Civale from the Tampa Bay Rays before the July trade deadline and posted a 3.53 ERA, 1.216 WHIP, 65 strikeouts and 1.1 WAR in his 14 starts with the Brewers. Civale doesn’t have as high a ceiling as some of his teammates, but the 29-year-old had made 117 starts during his time in Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Milwaukee.

Cortés will round out the rotation after having a solid bounce-back season in the Bronx. After posting a 2.61 ERA, 0.979 WHIP and 7.2 WAR between 2021 and 2022 – and making an All-Star appearance in the latter season – Cortés battled a rotator cuff issue in 2023 and finished the year with a 4.97 ERA, a 1.297 WHIP and a 0.5 WAR.

Then, in 2024, Cortés went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA, a 1.153 WHIP and a 2.6 WAR, proving he still had gas left in the tank. Although one of the last pitches he threw in a Yankees uniform was Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the World Series, Cortés still had a moderately successful season.

The Brewers have depth beyond those five arms, starting with left-handed DL Hall.

Hall was one of the key pieces Milwaukee got in return for Burnes last February, posting a 3-0 record, 3.26 ERA, 1.190 WHIP, 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.2 WAR as a reliever in 2023 He then went 1-2 with an ERA of 5.02, a WHIP of 1.605, 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a -0.2 WAR in 13 appearances with the Brewers, missing several months with a knee injury.

And while the 26-year-old former standout had a 3.00 ERA in his six relief appearances, compared to a 5.81 ERA in his seven starts, he still posted a 0.77 ERA, 1.029 WHIP and 10 in the two games He averaged .8 strikeouts per nine innings in August.

Aaron Ashby delivered a solid 2024 after missing all of 2023 with a shoulder injury, posting a 2.86 ERA, 1.059 WHIP, 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.2 WAR. Most of that production came from the bullpen, however, and the Brewers can afford to wait with the left-hander considering he still has three years — plus two club options — left on his contract.

Robert Gasser is unlikely to pitch before the end of 2025, if at all, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in June. If he returns, the 25-year-old prospect may be able to pick up where he left off in 2024: 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA, 1.036 WHIP and 0.6 WAR in five starts.

With Civale and Cortés set to hit free agency next November, the Brewers should feel comfortable knowing Hall, Ashby and Gasser are waiting in the wings. Milwaukee also has a $20 million mutual option on Woodruff and an $8 million club option on Peralta for 2026, so it remains to be seen how long this current version of the Brewers’ rotation holds together.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee should contend for another NL Central title, despite the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds making runs of their own.

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