Logan Henderson couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Sunday’s pitching matchup on the schedule at Dodger Stadium. The Brewers right-hander has already been linked to Tarik Skubal once in the trade chatter that surrounded the Deadline, and now the two are set to share the stage.
“It’s funny how that works out,” Henderson said.
The connection makes sense. Milwaukee made a serious run at Skubal, the Tigers’ Trade Deadline prize, and was willing to part with a hefty package that included Luis Peña, the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect and No. 21 overall. At the same time, other clubs were checking in on Henderson, a 24-year-old whose changeup has helped him post a 2.53 ERA through his first 16 big league starts.
Just how close Milwaukee and Detroit came to a deal depends on who you ask. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Henderson was among a short list of controllable players considered off-limits. In the end, Detroit sent Skubal to the Dodgers for three top prospects.
Now Henderson and Skubal will face each other Sunday afternoon as their clubs close out a four-game series.
“It’s pretty cool to go up against him,” Henderson said. “Any time you get an opportunity to go up against a lineup like [the Dodgers’] or a starter like that, it’s a cool opportunity.
I’m just trying to go out there and do the same thing I’ve been doing all season. That’s a guy I’ve watched for quite some time now.”
Skubal, for his part, made clear that the trade was out of his hands. The Tigers drafted him in the ninth round in 2018 and developed him into a two-time Cy Young Award winner, but the decision to accept Los Angeles’ package instead of Milwaukee’s was strictly Detroit’s call.
"[Detroit president of baseball operations] Scott Harris and I didn’t have any conversations of that sort," Skubal said upon his arrival in L.A. "I really don’t try to get into the business side of things. He made all the decisions."
He has also been open about the emotional side of the move. Skubal had long hoped to help deliver a World Series title to Detroit, only to be shipped to Los Angeles, where he now gets a shot at being part of a Dodgers team chasing a three-peat.
“The entire focus of this organization is on winning championships and that is my entire focus playing baseball so we’re very much aligned,” he said. “I’m ready to go out there and compete and give this organization and city everything that I’ve got."
Skubal’s first two starts in a Dodgers uniform have been solid if not sharp. He has given up five earned runs in 11 innings, good for a 4.09 ERA, while striking out 12 and walking four. He said he felt nerves in both his team debut and his first home start, so his third outing since the trade could come with a little more comfort.
Henderson has kept moving forward as well. Milwaukee has split his two starts since the Deadline, including a loss to the Padres earlier on this trip when he worked into the seventh inning for the first time in his major league career. Overall, he is 6-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 11 Brewers starts this season.
After the Deadline passed and he was still with Milwaukee, Henderson ran into president of baseball operations Matt Arnold.
“I said, ‘Thank you for not dishing me away,’” Henderson said. “Honestly, I love this team.
I had [rumors] sent to me a few times, but it doesn’t carry much weight. It’s a lot of talk.
I’m a Brewer, so I’m grateful for that.”
In Other News...
Brewers Make A Dodgers-Day Roster Move Fans Didnt See Coming
The Brewers added another layer to their roster before facing the Dodgers, pulling in Jonathan Ornelas from the Athletics in a minor trade for cash considerations. Ornelas had just gone through a brief shuffle with Oakland, where he was designated for assignment and then brought back on a minor league deal, and Milwaukee is moving quickly to get him into the mix as it continues sorting out the back end of its roster.
To clear space, the Brewers are parting with Jihwan Bae in a corresponding move, an example of how fluid these spots can be when a club is trying to keep options open heading into a big series. For Milwaukee, it is less about a headline grab and more about urgency, with a fresh acquisition arriving at exactly the moment the team needs another body available. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Naylor Is Giving Brewers Fans A New Reason To Believe
The Brewers deadline shuffle has already produced a mixed bag, with Dustin May giving the rotation a lift while Antonio Senzatela has had a far rougher go in relief. Help could still be on the way in the bullpen, too, with left-hander JoJo Romero expected back from injury soon, giving Milwaukee another arm to mix into a group that has been tested since the deadline.
Meanwhile, Bo Naylor is making sure the catcher conversation around the organization stays interesting. The 25-year-old, still at Triple-A, flashed the kind of pop that keeps evaluators intrigued with a big night at the plate, reinforcing why the Brewers view him as more than just a depth piece. Even so, the path to Milwaukee remains crowded behind William Contreras and Gary Snchez, which leaves Naylor in a familiar spot for now: promising, productive, and waiting for the next opening. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Suddenly Need Brice Turang Back More Than Ever
Brice Turangs absence has landed at a tricky moment for Milwaukee, with the second baseman sitting out a second straight game because of left knee pain and remaining day-to-day. For a Brewers club that leans hard on infield stability and everyday availability, even a short-term loss at the top of the lineup and in the field can ripple through the rest of the roster, especially when the player involved has been such a steady presence.
Pat Murphy said Saturday will be an important checkpoint in figuring out where this goes next, and whether the Brewers have to start considering a bigger move. There is at least one encouraging sign in all of this: Turang has been able to swing the bat without discomfort, which gives Milwaukee some reason to hope the issue stays on the short end of the spectrum while the club waits for more clarity. [Read more 🡒]