The Milwaukee Brewers don’t exactly look like a club begging for pitching help. Even with Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester and Kyle Harrison all out, their rotation still owns a 3.38 ERA, which is second-best in baseball. That’s a strong group by any standard, and it gets even better with Harrison expected back soon after an MRI came back “all good.”
Still, Milwaukee has already shown it’s willing to shop for arms. The trade for Lance McCullers Jr. from the Houston Astros last week made that clear, and it probably shouldn’t be the last move. With Woodruff and Priester not coming back this season, the Brewers have a case for adding one more veteran starter before the deadline.
One obvious place to look is Los Angeles, where the Angels sit at 39-61 and appear headed for a sell-off. Reid Detmers fits the kind of move that could make sense for both sides.
He’s 27, under control for two more seasons, and has posted a 4.16 ERA in 20 starts this year. He’s also been sharper lately, putting up a 3.47 ERA in eight starts since June 5.
Given Milwaukee’s status as having the best farm system in baseball, the Brewers could put together a package that gets the Angels’ attention.
If Detmers isn’t available, José Soriano is another Angels arm worth calling about. The right-hander has a 3.49 ERA in 20 starts this season and also comes with two more seasons of control beyond 2026.
Another name on the board is Michael A. Griffin, who made the All-Star team this season.
He would be a free agent after the 2026 season, which could make him cheaper to acquire than Detmers or Soriano. But the upside is obvious: Griffin has a 2.68 ERA in 20 starts during his return to the majors, and he hadn’t appeared in a big league game since 2022 before joining the Nationals.
In Other News...
Nationals Draft Signings Just Revealed Something About Toboni's First Class
The Nationals have moved quickly to lock in the middle of their draft class, signing second-rounder Chase Brunson, third-rounder Luke Williams and fourth-rounder Cooper Harris. For a front office trying to put its stamp on the organization early, the deals offer a first look at how Washington is valuing this group, with each player bringing a different background and a different kind of fit for the system.
What stands out is the shape of the money, which says as much about the clubs priorities as the names themselves. Luke Williams landed the biggest bonus of the three, while Brunson and Harris came in at lower figures, a spread that hints at how the Nationals balanced talent, leverage and long-term planning in this first class under Toboni. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Deadline Debate Just Took A Complicated Turn
With the trade deadline drawing closer, the Nationals front office is being pulled in a few different directions at once, and the pitching market is a big part of the conversation. Among the clubs linked to Washington are the Angels, Red Sox, Guardians and Cubs, with the Angels drawing particular attention because Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers are both expected to be available. For a Nationals club still sorting out its long-term direction, that kind of pitching inventory is hard to ignore.
Boston has also stayed in the mix as a possible partner if Washington decides to move Luis Garcia, which would open another lane for the Nationals to reshape the roster. In that scenario, names like Kyson Witherspoon and Rivera have come up as the sort of young arms Washington could seek back, while CJ Abrams has been mentioned as a fit for the Red Sox in the infield, more as an offseason idea than a deadline one. For now, the debate is less about one clean path than which direction the Nationals are most willing to commit to. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Bullpen Search Just Took A Sudden Trade Deadline Turn
The bullpen market got a little clearer for the Nationals with Colorado moving a young right-hander in a deal that brought back outfield prospect Landyn Vidourek and right-handed pitcher Nick Frasso. For Washington, which has been sorting through its own relief options with the trade deadline looming, the move offers a useful glimpse at what clubs are willing to part with for controllable bullpen help.
Seth Halvorsens profile is the kind front offices keep circling at this time of year: a reliever with major league experience, still under team control, and available in a market where late-inning arms are always in demand. Even with the deadline still ahead, the return attached to this deal gives the Nationals another data point as they gauge whether to add, stand pat, or wait for the market to shift again before Aug. 3. [Read more 🡒]