The Brewers traded Mears to the Royals on Saturday alongside Isaac Collins in exchange for Angel Zerpa, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mears enjoyed the best campaign of his career with Milwaukee in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 56.2 innings while also notching his first career save. The 29-year-old righty is unlikely to beat out Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg in the race for high-leverage opportunities, but Mears will inject some depth into Kansas City's middle-relief unit.

Mears is not on the Brewers' NLCS roster, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mears made three scoreless appearances during the NLDS and posted a 3.49 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 46:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings during the regular season, so his exclusion from the NLCS roster comes as a surprise. His spot is being absorbed by Tobias Myers, who will offer the Brewers more length in the bullpen.

The Brewers reinstated Mears (back) from the injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Mears will rejoin the Brewers' bullpen following a minimum-length stay on the injured list. The 28-year-old should be a candidate for holds during the final weeks of the regular season, while most of the save chances will likely go to Abner Uribe until Trevor Megill (elbow) returns. Jose Quintana (calf) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.

Manager Pat Murphy said Tuesday that he expects Mears (back) to return from the injured list Wednesday, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lingering back tightness sent Mears to the injured list in early September, but he now seems to be ready to return to Milwaukee's bullpen without embarking on a rehab assignment. The 28-year-old righty owns a career-best 3.42 ERA and 0.91 WHIP through 52.2 innings on the year, and he'll likely be used fairly often in high-leverage situations -- especially while Trevor Megill (elbow) is still on the shelf.

Mears (back) threw a 17-pitch bullpen Friday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Friday's session marked Mears' first time throwing off a mound since being placed on the injured list in early September due to back tightness. The 28-year-old is scheduled to throw another bullpen Sunday. He's eligible for reinstatement Wednesday.

Mears (back) played catch from 105 feet Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander landed on the shelf last week due to back tightness but wasn't shut down from throwing for long. Mears will be eligible to be reinstated Sept. 17, and the Brewers are targeting that date or shortly after for his return from the injured list.

The Brewers placed Mears on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 2, due to back tightness.

EDGE Analysis

Mears hasn't pitched since he allowed three runs in one inning against the Phillies on Monday, and it's now known he's been dealing with a back injury. The 28-year-old joins Trevor Megill (elbow), Grant Anderson (ankle) and DL Hall (oblique) as Brewers relievers on the 15-day injured list. Milwaukee recalled Carlos Rodriguez from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that Mears (back) will be available for Monday's game against the Cubs, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mears tweaked his back prior to his relief appearance in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Marlins, but after resting up during the final two games of the weekend, the veteran reliever looks like he'll be ready to go for Monday's series opener. The right-hander heads into the contest having logged one win and 13 holds to go with a 2.95 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 45 appearances for Milwaukee this season.

Mears "wrenched" his back while warming up Friday and is getting imaging, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The back injury may explain why Mears struggled in his relief outing Friday, as he gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning versus Miami. Though he decided to take the mound after hurting his back, the Brewers are concerned enough about the issue to send him in for testing. Mears has been one of the team's top setup men this season, notching 13 holds while posting a 2.95 ERA with a 34:7 K:BB over 39 innings spanning 44 appearances.

The Brewers reinstated Mears (illness) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mears missed a significant amount of time during spring training due to an illness, and he began the season on the injured list in order to regain his strength. After throwing 3.2 scoreless innings during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville, the 28-year-old righty is now ready to rejoin the Brewers' bullpen. He'll replace Connor Thomas (elbow), who landed on the injured list Tuesday.