The Milwaukee Brewers continue to be a team to watch in the ongoing Tarik Skubal sweepstakes.

Knowing Skubal is a rental, it's important to look at how much the Detroit Tigers were going to pay him for the remainder of the year.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Skubal is owed approximately $9.4 million for the rest of 2026.

Obviously, he's a free agent after this season, so it's not like the Brewers would be locked into an outrageous amount they can't afford in 2027 and beyond.

In a move that could make the return less for the Tigers, Milwaukee is willing to pay every penny that Skubal is owed. 

Rosenthal wrote, "The Brewers, despite playing in Major League Baseball’s smallest media market, are willing to take on the remainder of Skubal’s salary, according to a person briefed on their discussions."

Obviously, for a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers, money is not an issue. They've proven that time and time again with these deferred deals, something the Brewers simply don't have the pleasure of being able to pull off. 

In the grand scheme of things, $9.4 million doesn't seem like that much money. It's not a salary the Brewers would typically pay someone, especially for only three months of service time, but this could finally be the move they need to get over the hump and win a World Series.

If this is about protecting prospects, the Brewers know a thing or two about that. There's no reason to believe they can't get Skubal based on having the top farm system in all of baseball, but that doesn't mean Milwaukee is willing to part with some of their top prospects.

Fast riser Andrew Fischer has made himself untouchable, while it's confirmed that Jesus Made isn't going anywhere. There are a ton of other intriguing prospects the Tigers could be interested in; it's just a matter of how much they prioritize paying Skubal's contract over getting prospects in return.

Rosenthal did note that Skubal "would strictly be a rental for the Brewers, who almost certainly would not re-sign him as a free agent."

Skubal has already been linked to the Dodgers for 2027, should there even be a season to play in the first place.

That's a problem for another time, though, and for now, all eyes are on the Brewers and if their $9.4 million check can help set them apart from the rest.