The Brewers are expected to be busy at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and the starting rotation sits right near the top of the shopping list. Milwaukee wants help for a deep postseason push, and while the bullpen is also in play, the bigger buzz has centered on the possibility of landing Tarik Skubal to join Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison.
That kind of splash would grab attention in a hurry. But if Detroit isn’t moving Skubal, or if the price gets too steep, Milwaukee may need a different lane. Robert Murray of Fansided.com says there’s a clear one: Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
“But if Skubal is unlikely for the Brewers, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggests, then how exactly could Milwaukee pivot?" Murray writes.
"... And the Los Angeles Angels' Reid Detmers would seem like a logical fit."
That idea makes sense for a few reasons. Skubal would be a rental starter, and if the Tigers demand a massive return, the Brewers could decide the cost is too rich. Detmers, by contrast, is under club control through the 2028 season, which gives Milwaukee something much more appealing from a long-term standpoint.
Detmers also fits the age and timeline the Brewers seem to be targeting. He’s 26, carries a 4.13 ERA, and could give Milwaukee a young, affordable arm to pair with Misiorowski and Harrison for the next 2.5 years. If the Brewers were able to keep Jesus Made in the process, the rotation picture would look even better.
That matters because the need is real. Brandon Woodruff is injured, and Brandon Sproat has struggled with a 5.13 ERA, leaving the Brewers with a clear opening to add a starter before the August 3 deadline.
So if Skubal becomes too expensive, Detmers looks like the natural fallback. He may not carry the same headline value, but he would give Milwaukee a cheaper path to the kind of rotation upgrade it needs, and one that could last beyond this season.
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The uneasy part for Angels fans is how quickly that tradeoff has turned into a leaguewide conversation. Neto is piling up strikeouts at a rate that puts him in a messy race no hitter wants to be part of, but he has made clear he is not dwelling on the number and is more concerned with how hard it is to square up big-league pitching in the first place. For a team still trying to sort out its offensive identity, he has become both a bright spot and a reminder of how thin the line can be between impact and frustration. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Trouts Return Just Forced A Brutal Angels Roster Decision
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The corresponding move was the tougher part of the transaction, with veteran infielder Donovan Walton designated for assignment as the Angels made room. Trouts return also leaves Jose Siri and Josh Lowe in place for now, so the outfield picture stays crowded while the club sorts out its next move over the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Another Angels Bullpen Letdown Just Made This Skid Feel Worse
Jos Soriano gave the Angels a chance to settle in against Texas, working six innings and allowing two earned runs while Jacob deGrom handled five innings for the Rangers in the series opener. For a while, it looked like the game might stay tight enough for Los Angeles to lean on its starter and keep its recent slide from getting any worse.
Instead, the bullpen could not hold the line. The Rangers turned a 3-3 game into a blowout with five runs in the eighth inning, and the 8-3 loss extended the Angels losing streak to seven games. For a club already searching for any sign of traction, another late unraveling only made the skid feel heavier. [Read more 🡒]