The Milwaukee Brewers are sitting pretty atop the National League Central with a 64-38 record. But they’re not just coasting into the playoff push. A new report from MLB.com says Brewers officials have already reached out to Detroit about starter Tarik Skubal and to Oakland about closer Mason Miller ahead of the August 3 trade deadline.
Milwaukee has been solid across the board this season. They pitch well, they hit enough, and they don’t beat themselves. But the front office apparently thinks there’s room to get bolder. Sources familiar with the club’s thinking told MLB.com that the Brewers are ready to take a more aggressive approach at the deadline than they have in recent years.
That could mean dealing from their deep pool of young big league starters or from a minor league system that MLB Pipeline ranks as the best in baseball. It’s a gamble either way. But the trade market this year comes with a few big names that could shift the balance in the NL.
Skubal and Miller: Two very different arms
Tarik Skubal has been excellent since returning from elbow surgery. The Tigers lefty carries a 2.83 ERA with six wins and looks fully healthy. Every big-spending team in baseball wants him. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Rays have all been linked to Skubal, so Milwaukee won’t get him cheap. Detroit hasn’t decided yet whether to trade him, but the Brewers are knocking just in case.
Mason Miller is a different story. The A’s right-hander throws absolute gas out of the bullpen and has been one of the few bright spots in Oakland this season. He’s tallied 15 saves with a 2.21 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 40 innings. That kind of arm could shorten games for a Brewers team that already has a strong bullpen. But the A’s might not move him unless someone blows them away with an offer.
Plenty of competition
Milwaukee will have company on both fronts. The Tigers, Dodgers, Yankees, and Rays all reportedly have interest in Miller. Skubal will draw offers from basically every contender with a decent farm system. The Brewers have the prospects to make something happen, but it’ll come down to how much they’re willing to part with.
Milwaukee opened a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. They’ve won six of their last ten. The deadline is August 3, so the next week and a half will tell us a lot about whether the division leaders go all in or trust what they already have.
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