Brewers manager apologizes for comments on Yankees
Pat Murphy said he contacted Brian Cashman after his remarks about the New York franchise went viral following the World Series clincher.
By Samir Patterson ·
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy expressed regret on Tuesday regarding his remarks to outfielder Jake Bauers about the New York Yankees, stating he did not intend to slander the franchise.
The comments surfaced in a video captured during the celebration at Tropicana Field after the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the World Series. This victory secured the first World Series title in Milwaukee franchise history. The moment went viral last week, prompting Murphy to address the situation on the New York Post's The Show podcast.
Murphy said he contacted Yankees general manager Brian Cashman immediately upon hearing the clip circulate. He described their subsequent exchange as a good conversation. Murphy explained that he was not aware he was on a hot microphone during his interaction with Bauers on the field. He clarified that his comments referred to wealthy teams that sign many players, contrasting them with a low-expectation underdog narrative. He stated he was not specifically criticizing the 2026 Yankees roster.
The incident occurred as Bauers presented Murphy with the ball from the series-clinching play. Murphy told Bauers, who was entering free agency that offseason, to remember his time playing for a team where players were focused on individual performance. Murphy noted that this style of conversation was consistent with his behavior throughout the championship run, where he frequently told Bauers he would be wealthy and might forget how the team operated.
Bauers, who was traded from the Yankees to the Brewers in November 2023, posted career-best numbers in 2026. He batted .266 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs while maintaining an .874 OPS. He was named the MVP of the National League Championship Series after batting .286 with six RBIs in Milwaukee's four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2023, Bauers played 84 games for New York, batting .202 with 12 home runs and 95 strikeouts in 272 plate appearances.
Murphy acknowledged that referring to the Yankees as an iconic machine with high expectations was not the smartest choice. He apologized for the phrasing while maintaining that his intent was to reference a high-payroll team rather than single out the Bronx club for criticism.
