Brewers manager regrets viral anti-Yankees remark

Pat Murphy regretted his words to Jake Bauers after the video went viral.

The Milwaukee Brewers manager spoke with the New York Post's podcast The Show on Tuesday. This was six days after the team won its first World Series. Murphy said he did not mean to insult the New York Yankees when he made the comments on the field.

The exchange happened at Tropicana Field after Game 5. The Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to clinch the title. Bauers caught the final out. As the team celebrated, Bauers handed Murphy the ball from the play. Murphy told Bauers, who played for New York in 2023, to remember his time on a team where everyone was playing for themselves. He referred to it as that horses, Yankees team. He also told the outfielder he would become a rich man because he is a free agent this offseason.

Murphy said he was on a hot mic during the interaction. He did not realize the audio was being recorded. He called Yankees general manager Brian Cashman immediately after hearing the clip. The two had a good conversation. Murphy explained that he was not criticizing the 2026 roster. He meant to describe teams with large payrolls that sign many players. He said those teams often lack the underdog spirit. He described them as high-expectation groups where players focus on their own gains.

Bauers had a breakout 2026 season with Milwaukee. He was traded from the Yankees in November 2023. In his third year in Milwaukee, he posted career bests in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. He hit .266 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs. He also had an .874 OPS. He was named MVP of the National League Championship Series. He batted .286 with six RBIs in the sweep of the Dodgers.

Murphy noted that he used similar language with Bauers after every celebration during the postseason. He would shake the player's hand and tell him he was leaving the team. Murphy said he could not afford to keep him. He wanted Bauers to remember how the team played together. Murphy said he felt bad if he slandered the Yankees. He considered them an iconic machine. He admitted it was not smart to make the comment publicly. He apologized for the remark.