With the trade deadline closing in, the Milwaukee Brewers keep getting linked to the biggest arm on the board: Tarik Skubal. But the latest buzz doesn’t exactly point toward a blockbuster in the making.
The Brewers have been a natural fit in the speculation. They need pitching, Skubal would be the top starter available if Detroit decides to sell, and Milwaukee’s farm system is widely viewed as the best in the league.
That combination has kept the idea alive for months. Still, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal poured cold water on it.
"The Brewers are unlikely to trade big prospects for a rental like Skubal, according to people briefed on their thinking. But the depth of their system gives them the potential to make multiple moves," Rosenthal wrote.
That’s a tough read for Brewers fans hoping for a swing at the biggest prize. Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, looks more like a long shot than a realistic target for Milwaukee this summer.
The logic behind passing on a rental isn’t hard to understand, but the Brewers are also in a spot where a bold move makes sense. They have a real chance to make noise this season, and the National League’s other heavyweights have been hit by injuries, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves.
There’s also the bigger-picture backdrop. Baseball’s future beyond the 2026 season is uncertain with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the campaign, which only adds another reason for a team in Milwaukee’s position to push now.
If Skubal doesn’t happen, the Brewers still have names to weigh. Sandy Alcántara, Sonny Gray, Casey Mize, Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants, and Clay Holmes of the New York Mets are all mentioned as arms that would cost less in prospects than Skubal, though none would come cheap. Any pitcher who can move the needle is going to require a meaningful package.
And Milwaukee does need help. Brandon Woodruff is hurt again, and the Brewers are looking for another veteran starter. They may be justified in balking at the price tag attached to Skubal, but standing pat isn’t really an option if they want to give this team a legitimate shot at a run.
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Caleb Durbin Is Suddenly Forcing Brewers Fans To Rethink Everything
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Since June 10, though, Durbin has started to look like a completely different player. He has piled up seven home runs in that stretch and paired the surge at the plate with strong work at third base, turning what once looked like a frustrating early return into one of the more interesting developments on the roster. The bigger question now is whether this is a hot streak or the moment he finally settles in as the player Milwaukee thought it was getting. [Read more 🡒]
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One name already in the mix is Jett Williams, the clubs No. 5 prospect, who has yet to make his major league debut but has been productive at Triple-A this season. The Brewers have also been using Joey Ortiz at third base with Cooper Pratt at shortstop, so any move would have to fit into a lineup card that is already changing shape as they wait on Hamiltons recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Suddenly Look Linked To A Proven Late-Inning Difference Maker
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For a Brewers club dealing with multiple bullpen injuries, that kind of track record makes obvious sense on paper. Chapman has also piled up 18 saves in 26.2 innings, which only adds to the appeal if Milwaukee decides it needs another arm it can trust in the final innings, though how aggressive the front office wants to be still leaves plenty of room for the deadline to shape the answer. [Read more 🡒]