Brewers Manager Pat Murphy Apologized to Brian Cashman Over Viral Hot Mic Remark About Jake Bauers

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy says he personally apologized to New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman after a hot mic captured a profanity laced comment he made to first baseman Jake Bauers in the aftermath of the team's World Series championship.

Murphy was overheard telling Bauers, the NLCS MVP who now heads into free agency off a career year, that he was going to get rich, while also making a disparaging reference to the Yankees team Bauers previously played for and suggesting players on that club had been playing for themselves. The remark spread quickly and drew backlash from those who took it as a shot at the Yankees organization.

Bauers spent the 2023 season with the Yankees, a team that finished 82-80 and missed the playoffs.

Speaking on the New York Post podcast 'The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman,' which was released Tuesday, Murphy said he moved fast once he learned the audio had gotten out. 'I picked up a phone and called Brian right away, and had a good conversation,' Murphy said, adding that he did his best to explain he was not talking about the 2026 Yankees.

Murphy described the comment as part of a running bit between him and Bauers. He said that after every celebration he would shake the first baseman's hand and tease him that he was about to get paid, that the Brewers would not be able to afford him, and that he would forget how the club did things once he left.

'I was just referring to the teams that have a lot of high-paid, long-contract players,' Murphy said. 'That sometimes it's harder to get all those guys together to play together. And I used the Yankees because I knew Jake was with them before.'

Murphy said he regrets the remark but framed it as private humor between him and his player that happened to get caught on a live microphone.

Bauers made $2.7 million last season, double his previous career high, and is now positioned to land a far larger contract in free agency after his career year and NLCS MVP performance.

The flap arrives at the start of the offseason for both clubs. Murphy indicated his conversation with Cashman went well, and there has been no public sign that the Yankees general manager took offense to the comment.

For now, the Brewers remain World Series champions, Bauers is one of the more intriguing names on the free agent market, and Murphy's behind the scenes banter has become an unexpected early storyline of the winter.