The Brewers have put themselves in a position where the conversation has shifted from “can they contend?” to “how far are they willing to push it?”
Sitting atop the NL Central and looking like a team headed for a first-round bye, Milwaukee already has one electric arm in Jacob Misiorowski. He’s been sensational and is the clear Cy Young front-runner this season.
Even with that breakout, the rotation still needs help. Misiorowski is likely headed for an innings limit, Kyle Harrison is on the injured list for now, and Brandon Woodruff is done for the year. That’s why the idea of Milwaukee making a major move on the mound has gained traction.
Andy McCullough of The Athletic thinks the Brewers could win the trade sweepstakes for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, beating out clubs such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
“Milwaukee lands Tarik Skubal,” McCullough predicts. “Will they?
Probably not. Milwaukee built up its excellent farm system through discipline and diligence, and they may not deviate from that strategy.”
Still, it’s hard not to picture what that would look like in October. A Misiorowski-Skubal pairing at the top of the rotation would be a nightmare for opposing lineups. The only duos that really stack up are the Philadelphia Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler, or the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Skubal would come with all the baggage of a massive acquisition. He’s a one-year rental, the $32 million ace is headed for free agency, and he’s expected to land a deal that will likely soar well past $300 million overall.
The numbers back up the appeal. Skubal has a 2.70 ERA this season and 2.9 bWAR, and he’s done it after undergoing elbow surgery mid-season. That makes him not only an elite arm, but also a pitcher showing he can return from injury and keep dominating.
The fit in Milwaukee is obvious. The cost, though, would be steep. Jesus Made probably would not need to be part of the package since Skubal is only under control for the rest of 2026, but the Brewers would almost certainly have to part with multiple other top prospects to pry him away from the Tigers.
It’s the kind of move that could make sense for a club with a real shot at the World Series. It’s also the kind of move Milwaukee may hesitate to make. McCullough, however, is betting the Brewers “go for broke” and pull off the blockbuster anyway.
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At the same time, there is still a fresh layer of uncertainty around the clubs health. Kerry Carpenter is being evaluated after aggravating a heel issue in a recent game, and that adds another moving part for a team already trying to sort out how its next stretch should look. With reinforcements on the way and one more injury situation still being checked, Detroits deadline week has become more complicated by the day. [Read more 🡒]