The Milwaukee Brewers' sustained success would not be possible without President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold.
The Milwaukee Brewers have done something once again that is not easy to do in a sport still without a salary cap: display small-market dominance.
At the time of writing, the Brewers need just one more victory to become the first team since 2023 to reach 100 wins, and with four games remaining, they hold a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball.
If Milwaukee finished with the best record, it would be the second year in a row. The organization's success is remarkable and comes down to many factors, but it wouldn't be possible without the architect.
Matt Arnold's leadership
The architect is Matt Arnold, the savvy President of Baseball Operations who commands the Brewers’ front office and decision-making with precision.
It seems that Arnold rarely missteps, and he has constructed an elite baseball team without taking on massive contracts or big-name stars. He has trusted in the development of players within the organization, and it has paid off time and time again
One example of Arnold’s decision making on full display was the decision to trade Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets in January. Peralta was about to be playing for a big payday in 2026, and it was set to be one the Brewers could not afford.
So, Murphy traded Peralta after the front office picked up his $8 million club option, and Peralta was coming off a 17-6 season with a 2.70 ERA. Fans would have loved to see him stay, but Peralta ended up struggling with the Mets, and Jacob Misiorowski became the new ace of the Brewers.
Perhaps it was only chance that Peralta struggled with his new team, or maybe Arnold saw the writing on the wall; either way, his bet paid off.
As it stands, the Brewers' payroll for the 2026 season sits at $145.4 million, which ranks 19th according to Spotrac. The team with the below-average payroll is ahead of the Dodgers, who lead MLB with $378.2 million in total allocations.
The Brewers have also shown this season that their promising young roster, with veterans sprinkled in, can beat the star-studded yet aging Dodgers. That is, again, a credit to the type of team Arnold has built with far fewer financial resources.
Arnold has already won the Executive of the Year Award in back-to-back seasons, and while Chris Getz of the Chicago White Sox is looking like the favorite to take it this season, Arnold is still in the running, as he should be.
