The Dodgers may be stepping back from the Tarik Skubal chase, and if that holds, the ripple effect could be huge for the Brewers.
Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that Los Angeles is “unlikely” to trade for the Detroit Tigers’ two-time reigning AL Cy Young award winner. That matters in Milwaukee because the Dodgers are the Brewers’ biggest competition in the NL, and the two clubs currently look headed for an NLCS rematch this fall.
If the Dodgers are out, the Brewers’ path gets a little clearer. Detroit would still have to decide whether it is even willing to move Skubal, but removing Los Angeles from the mix changes the market in a big way.
The asking price is already steep. It’s been reported that the Tigers would want an established MLB starting pitcher along with “quality prospects) in return for Skubal. Milwaukee would be smart to protect 24-year-old right-hander Logan Henderson, though it could try to build a different package if it really wants to land the left-hander.
The Brewers have every reason to be aggressive before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. MLB analysts and experts expect general manager Matt Arnold to make Milwaukee one of the most active buyers, and that lines up with where the club sits right now.
Los Angeles is the two-time defending World Series champion. Milwaukee is still chasing its first title and its first trip to the Fall Classic since 1982. So if the Dodgers are no longer in the Skubal conversation, that only helps the Brewers’ chances of staying in front in the senior circuit.
And even if Milwaukee doesn’t land Skubal, it still has options. The Brewers have the best pitcher in baseball in 2026 with Jacob Misiorowski, and breakout left-hander Kyle Harrison is due back from the injured list soon. Henderson gives them another strong arm, and if the front office decides not to push hard for Skubal, it could still target another pitcher, including former two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta.
That’s the balance Milwaukee has to strike: be bold, but not reckless. A run at the Tigers’ southpaw would be tempting, but the Brewers want to be smart and avoid overpaying.
The Dodgers’ own injury situation only adds another layer here. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are both on the IL, Edwin Diaz is also sidelined but expected to be activated on Wednesday, and Blake Treinen is out as well. On offense, Will Smith and Enrique Hernandez are both on the IL.
Even without Skubal, Milwaukee’s pitching numbers already stack up well. The Brewers lead the NL in team ERA at 3.43 and rank second only to the Dodgers in opponent batting average at .219 and team WHIP at 1.16. If Los Angeles is truly out on Skubal, that’s one less heavyweight in the way of Milwaukee’s push.
In Other News...
Brewers Fans May Not Like Where Andrew Vaughn Is Entering Talks
The Phillies are shopping for help before the trade deadline, and their wish list is broad enough to touch starting pitching, the bullpen and a right-handed bat. One name that has surfaced in that search is Andrew Vaughn, who has quietly rebuilt some value since coming back from a left hamate fracture and is again drawing attention as a power option at first base.
For Milwaukee, the wrinkle is less about what Vaughn has done lately than what he represents in a market where controllable bats tend to carry extra weight. Philadelphia could also reshuffle its own lineup if it lands a first baseman with some thump, but Vaughns appeal comes with a cost, since he is not just a rental and would require more than a short-term rental price. That kind of conversation is exactly the sort that can complicate deadline talks fast. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Could Land An Elite Arm Without Touching Their Top Prospects
The Brewers are still in the pitching market as the trade deadline approaches, and the chatter around them has only intensified with Detroit starter Tarik Skubal already tied to their search. ESPNs Paul Hembekides added another layer by floating a speculative deal that would give Milwaukee a high-end arm without forcing the club to dip into its top five prospects, the kind of framework that naturally gets attention in a system the Brewers have worked hard to protect.
What makes the idea interesting is the balance it would strike: Milwaukee would be paying with prospect depth rather than its premium young talent, which is exactly the sort of move front offices love to explore when they want impact without emptying the cupboard. It is still just a proposal, not a confirmed path, but it does raise the question of how aggressive the Brewers want to be if they decide their deadline answer needs to come from outside the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Closing In On A Pitching Decision Fans Saw Coming
Brandon Sproat has given the Brewers enough flashes this season to keep the conversation alive, but not enough consistency to quiet it. The right-hander has shown potential in several starts, yet the same issues keep surfacing: his velocity tends to fade as outings go on, and the swing-and-miss stuff that should play up his above-average pitches has not been there often enough to make him a reliable starter.
That is why the next move around the rotation matters so much for Milwaukee, especially with the trade deadline approaching and the club still looking for another starter to add depth. The Brewers have been trying to stabilize the front of the staff while sorting through the rest of the options behind it, and Sproats role is one of the more interesting decisions hanging over that process. [Read more 🡒]