As the trade deadline looms, insider Bob Nightengale believes the Milwaukee Brewers may pivot from the Detroit Tigers' ace.
The talk of the town regarding the Milwaukee Brewers has been whether or not they're going to add Detroit Tigers' pitching ace Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline.
Plenty of teams are in on Skubal, the Tigers' ace who's made it very clear he wants to stay in Detroit and make a run at the postseason.
Obviously, this is a business, and the Tigers may have to justify moving on from the two-time American League Cy Young award winner.
With the MLB Trade Deadline less than a week away, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale recently revealed that he doesn't believe the Brewers will find the Tigers asking price worth it, and the Brewers will fill some of their other biggest needs elsewhere.
Nightengale: Brewers should prioritize three other things
"They still need a power bat. They could use another late-inning reliever. They could use someone to step up and be that solid No. 3 starter," he wrote. "Simply, there’s too much risk for the Brewers to take on Skubal when they know they’re going to be in the postseason, anyway."
Making the playoffs is never a lock, but the Brewers have put themselves in a nice position as they're currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in all of baseball.
Nightengale's case for a solid No. 3 starter is interesting. As long as Logan Henderson stays healthy, he seems to be the guy. Milwaukee could walk into the postseason with Henderson as the No. 3 alongside Jacob Misiorowski, who's been dealing with arm fatigue himself, and Kyle Harrison, a guy who should be coming off the Injured List sooner rather than later.
Ultimately though, a power bat could undoubtedly set this team up for success in October. Jake Bauers was recently banged up, and he's their home run leader with 18.
Is Nightengale hinting at a Mason Miller deal?
The San Diego Padres find themselves in an uncomfortable position with star closer Mason Miller. Out of all the late-inning relievers on the market, and there aren't a surplus, Miller is far and away the best option.
That said, he comes at an asking price that some believe could be higher than Skubal's. Milwaukee already has Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill, so the question is just how much are they willing to move around in order to bring in a top-tier player?
At this point, the jury is still out on whether or not the Brewers will trade for Skubal. They're clearly in on the sweepstakes, and at this point it's just a waiting game because if the price isn't right, there's no way the Brewers are depleting their farm system for a 2026 rental.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
