Long before Jake Bauers became a postseason hero for the Milwaukee Brewers, the first baseman played for a New York Yankees team that finished 82-80 and missed the postseason in 2023.

Bauers became a World Series champion in Game 5 on Wednesday when Milwaukee defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1.

While celebrating with Bauers, who is entering free agency, Brewers manager Pat Murphy took a shot at his former employer.

According to JR Radcliffe and Curt Hogg from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Murphy told Bauers that his performance would make him rich in free agency.

Murphy then criticized the 2023 Yankees, describing them with an expletive and suggesting their players cared more about themselves than the team.

He contrasted that environment with the Brewers’ collective approach and urged Bauers to remember how Milwaukee achieved its success.

“You’re going to be a rich f***er,” Murphy told Bauers.

“Just remember when you’re on that horsesh** Yankees team and you guys are all playing for yourselves, just remember, this is the way we used to do it.”

Bauers recently told MLB insider Jon Heyman from the New York Post that he would love to remain with the Brewers and spend the rest of his career in Milwaukee.

However, there is a perception that the 31-year-old performed well enough to earn a contract the Brewers will not be willing to offer before the expected lockout begins in early December.

Bauers led Milwaukee during the regular season with 26 home runs and a .389 OBP in 144 games. He ranked third on the team with 86 RBIs and first among qualified players with an .874 OPS.

He then earned National League Championship Series MVP honors after hitting .286 with one double, one home run and six RBIs during Milwaukee’s four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bauers responded to Murphy’s comments by making it clear that the Brewers would not get rid of him easily.

Several teams could have an opportunity to influence that outcome once free agency begins in November.

After the World Series victory, Bauers told Yahoo Sports that he was most proud of how Milwaukee’s lineup came together.

He emphasized that every hitter, from the first spot through the ninth, committed to one approach and consistently executed it throughout the remainder of the season.

“I’m most proud of where the lineup came together, man,” Bauers said. “The way the lineup came together and bought in to a singular approach. One through nine, and all we did, the rest of the season, was f***ing executed.”

Bauers’ postseason moments should result in a substantial payday this fall.

His value to Milwaukee extended beyond his power. Bauers embraced the Brewers’ unselfish identity and became part of a lineup that prioritized each at-bat over individual recognition.

That willingness to buy into one plan helped him flourish during the most important stretch of the season. Bauers handled the pressure without abandoning the approach that made Milwaukee effective.

He also demonstrated perseverance by turning an uncertain career into a World Series-winning season. His connection with Murphy and desire to stay reveal how meaningful the environment became to him.

Milwaukee may struggle to match his market, but Bauers proved that his impact cannot be measured solely by his biggest hits. He became an embodiment of the collective mentality Murphy believed separated the Brewers from Bauers’ former Yankees team.