BASEBALL

Outfielders Isaac Collins and Adolis Garcia switch teams

2 months ago - Sportingbase

Offseason transactions are continuing in Major League Baseball. Over the last 48 hours, two outfielders have switched teams according to Rogers Sportsnet. On Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers traded outfielder Isaac Collins of Maple Grove, Minnesota and relief pitcher Nick Mears of Sacramento, California to the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Angel Zerpa of Valle de la Pascua, Venezuela. Then on Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies signed outfielder Adolis Garcia of Ciego de Avila, Cuba to a one-year deal worth $10 million.

Collins was fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025. This season with the Brewers, he batted .263 with nine home runs batted in. During 130 games, 372 at bats, and 441 plate appearances, Collins scored 56 runs and had 98 hits, 22 doubles, three triples, 16 stolen bases, 57 walks, 153 total bases, three sacrifice bunts, three sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .368, and a slugging percentage of .411.

Mears is joining his fourth MLB team. He previously pitched three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2020 to 2022), two seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2023 and 2024), and two seasons with the Brewers (2024 and 2025). Last season in Milwaukee, Mears pitched in 63 games, and had a record of five wins and three losses with an earned run average of 3.49. During 56 2/3 innings pitched, Mears had 27 holds, one save, and 46 strikeouts. He gave up 42 hits, 22 earned runs, seven walks, and 13 walks to go along with a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 0.97.

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Just like Tyler Alexander who went from the White Sox to the Texas Rangers on Friday, Mears had his first career Major League save in 2025. It came in a 6-5 Brewers win over the Cincinnati Reds on August 16.

Zerpa has pitched five seasons with the Royals. In 2025, he pitched 69 games and had a record of five wins and two losses with an earned run average of 4.18. In 64 2/3 innings pitched, Zerpa gave up 67 hits, 30 earned runs, seven home runs, and 22 walks, to go along with 58 strikeouts, 14 holds, and a WHIP of 1.38.

Garcia is joining his third MLB team. He was with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018, and the last six seasons with the Rangers since 2020. He was an American League All-Star in 2021 and 2023, was the 2023 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award winner, and won the 2023 World Series with the Rangers.

This past season in Texas, Garcia batted .227 with 19 home runs and 75 runs batted in. During 135 games, 507 at bats, and 547 plate appearances, Garcia scored 58 runs and had 115 hits, 28 doubles, 13 stolen bases, 28 walks, 200 total bases, seven sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .271, and a slugging percentage of .394.