Make New York Post a Preferred Source Pat Murphy was right with his prediction that Jake Bauers would land a massive deal after his role as the Brewers’ playoff hero during their run to the World Series title.
Bauers, the NLCS MVP who went from nearly retiring two years ago to the sport’s ultimate stage, agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal with the Red Sox on Friday, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a single against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the World Series in Milwaukee on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Getty Images It served as Boston’s first major splash of an uncertain offseason, and because Milwaukee gave Bauers the qualifying offer following its title, the Brewers will get a compensatory draft pick following the first round in next year’s draft, according to ESPN.
Bauers, 31, spent the last three seasons with the Brewers after the Yankees sent him to Milwaukee in November 2023 in exchange for a pair of minor-league outfielders, but his emergence in 2026 helped anchor the run to the first World Series title in franchise history.
He finished second in the National League in on-base percentage (.389), along with 26 homers and 86 RBIs, and was named NLCS MVP after recording six RBIs — along with a pivotal home run — as the Brewers toppled the Dodgers.
In the aftermath of the Brewers’ victory over the Rays to clinch the World Series, Murphy told Bauers during the celebration at Tropicana Field that he was going to be a “rich f–ker.”
“Just remember when you were on that horses–t Yankees team and you guys were all playing for yourself,” Murphy told Bauers. “… Just remember, say, ‘This is the way we used to do it.’”
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers catches a throw during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Murphy said on “The Show” podcast with Joel Sherman and Heyman that he called Yankees general manager Brian Cashman after his interaction with Bauers went viral to claim that he wasn’t referring to the 2026 edition of the Yankees — and rather teams with “high-paid, long-contract players,” using Cashman’s group as an example given Bauers’ history with the organization.
But the sentiment of his comment ended up being ironic Friday, as Bauers joined the roster of the Yankees’ rival following a 2026 campaign where the Red Sox’s season ended in The Bronx during the wild-card series.
The Bauers signing also added a jolt of offense to the Red Sox’s roster just weeks before an MLB lockout is expected to begin, with the current CBA set to expire Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m.
Across his seven-year career, Bauers has hit .223 with a .717 OPS.
In the 2026 postseason, he hit .191 with a .621 OPS while adding the strong numbers against the Dodgers and consistent defense at first base.
