Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Easton McGee has seen his brief tenure with the Kansas City Royals come to an end, as the right-hander has elected free agency after being outrighted off the 40-man roster, according to the MiLB transaction log.

The 28-year-old, an ex-Brewers depth arm, joins the open market for the second time in three years.

Milwaukee originally signed him to a minor league contract in November 2023 after he elected free agency following an outright by the Seattle Mariners.

He spent parts of 2024 and 2025 in the Brewers’ system, primarily with Triple-A Nashville, before earning his first big-league looks with the club in 2025.

In nine relief appearances for Milwaukee that season, McGee posted a 5.52 ERA over 14⅔ innings.

He returned in 2026 for two scoreless frames across a pair of outings before the Brewers designated him for assignment on July 10 to clear a 40-man spot.

Four days later, they dealt him to Kansas City for cash considerations rather than risking him on waivers.

The Royals optioned him to Triple-A Omaha and shuttled him between the majors and minors multiple times. McGee appeared in seven games for Kansas City, struggling to an 8.68 ERA in 9⅓ innings.

Combined with his Milwaukee work, he finished the year with a 7.15 ERA in 11⅓ innings across nine MLB appearances. He had exhausted his final minor-league option, limiting his flexibility.

On October 22, as the Royals reshaped their 40-man roster ahead of the offseason, they outrighted McGee (along with several other pitchers) to Omaha.

Because he had previously been outrighted in his career, he retained the right to elect free agency and did so immediately, per the MiLB log. His status now lists him as a free agent.

From a Brewers perspective, McGee represented typical organizational depth: a tall (6-foot-7) right-hander who could soak up low-leverage innings or provide Triple-A stability.

He logged productive stretches in Nashville—most notably a 3.59 ERA in 47⅔ innings in 2025—but never seized a permanent major-league role.

Milwaukee’s decision to move him for cash in July was a straightforward roster-management move during a competitive season, and the cash return closed the book on his time in the organization.

Now 28 and available, McGee returns to free agency with a career MLB line of 4.54 ERA in 35⅔ innings across stints with the Rays, Mariners, Brewers, and Royals.

For Milwaukee, the episode is a minor footnote in a strong 2026 campaign, but it underscores the constant churn of fringe 40-man pitchers who can still surface as useful depth pieces elsewhere.