The Milwaukee Brewers have added right-hander Joel Kuhnel to their active roster after acquiring him from the Athletics for cash considerations. Milwaukee opened a 40-man spot by moving Quinn Priester to the 60-day injured list, while Craig Yoho was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move ahead of the game against Kuhnel’s former club.
Kuhnel arrives after the Athletics designated him for assignment, ending a brief but notable run in Oakland’s bullpen. He had been one of manager Mark Kotsay’s more trusted ninth-inning options early in the season, collecting four saves in his first seven appearances.
What Kuhnel brings to Milwaukee
The 31-year-old right-hander stayed in high-leverage spots through much of May, but his most recent outings were rough. He allowed three earned runs over his final two appearances before a difficult showing against the Cubs pushed his ERA from 2.88 to 4.21.
Against Chicago, Kuhnel was asked to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning. He allowed four earned runs on five hits while getting only two outs, and the inning unraveled further when Luis Medina could not stop the damage and Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered the walk-off single.
A veteran arm with a long path back
Kuhnel has now pitched for four teams across parts of six major league seasons. He spent all of 2025 in Triple-A within the Yankees’ and Phillies’ systems before joining the Athletics on a minor league deal in December.
He did not break camp with Oakland, but he reached the majors after just two minor league appearances. That kind of quick ascent suggests clubs still saw enough value in his experience and his ability to handle relief work at the big-league level.
Why the Brewers made the move
Milwaukee’s bullpen has been thinned by injuries, leaving the club in need of depth. Angel Zerpa, an offseason trade pickup, is out after Tommy John surgery, while left-hander DL Hall recently suffered a pectoral injury.
Veterans Jared Koenig and Rob Zastryzny have also missed most of the season, which has forced the Brewers to keep searching for arms that can cover innings and support the late-game group. Kuhnel does not replace those injured pitchers directly, but he gives the team another experienced right-handed option.
Priester’s move creates the roster opening
Priester’s placement on the 60-day injured list cleared room on the 40-man roster for Kuhnel. He has been dealing with symptoms tied to thoracic outlet syndrome and has not needed surgery so far.
His rehab work has also been uneven, with recent struggles leading to a move down to Rookie ball. Across seven minor league appearances, Priester has issued 19 walks in 13 1/3 innings, and manager Pat Murphy recently said he could need another month of rehab before returning.
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