The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to be aggressive before the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

The organization has built one of the National League’s strongest teams. Even so, there is still room to improve.

Starting pitching remains one of the team’s biggest priorities. The bullpen is another area that could use reinforcement.

Much of the recent speculation has connected Milwaukee to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

Pairing Skubal with Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison would give the Brewers one of baseball's most talented rotations.

There is one problem. Detroit may decide not to sell.

Even if the Tigers do listen, the asking price could become too expensive for a pitcher approaching free agency.

If that happens, Milwaukee should have another option ready.

Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers could become that alternative.

Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan from ESPN recently evaluated the top trade candidates across MLB.

They assigned Detmers a 20% chance of being traded before the deadline.

That percentage reflects the uncertainty surrounding the Angels more than the pitcher himself.

McDaniel and Passan noted that the Angels fired general manager Perry Minasian at the end of June and replaced him with former St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.

Because of that front office change, it remains unclear how much freedom owner Arte Moreno will give Mozeliak to move players with multiple years of team control.

“The Angels also fired GM Perry Minasian at the end of June and replaced him with former Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, so how much leeway owner Arte Moreno will give Mozeliak to potentially deal Detmers and others with multiple years of club control remains unclear at the moment,” McDaniel and Passan wrote.

If Detmers becomes available, Milwaukee should pay close attention.

The 27-year-old owns a 4.39 ERA in 108.2 innings across 19 starts this season. But he has a 1.14 WHIP, 3.38 xERA and 3.36 FIP, and averages 10.19 Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (K/9).

More importantly, he remains under team control through the 2028 season. That changes the conversation.

Unlike Skubal, Detmers would not be a short-term addition. He could become part of Milwaukee’s rotation for the next two and a half seasons. That long-term control fits the way general manager Matt Arnold has built the roster.

It could also allow the Brewers to keep top prospect Jesus Made while still making a meaningful addition.

A rotation built around Misiorowski, Harrison, and Detmers would give Milwaukee three young starters capable of growing together over the coming years.

That becomes even more important with Brandon Woodruff back on the Injured List and Brandon Sproat still searching for consistency.

The Brewers need another starter. If Skubal proves too expensive, Detmers offers a logical alternative.

Detmers succeeds because he attacks hitters in different ways. He is comfortable pitching inside the strike zone and trusts his arsenal rather than trying to overpower every opponent.

He also adjusts well during games, changing pitch usage and sequencing as lineups become more familiar with him.

That adaptability has allowed him to remain competitive against a wide range of hitters. Another strength is his age.

At just 27 years old, he still has room to develop while already possessing several years of MLB experience.

That combination of upside and experience makes him especially appealing for teams thinking beyond a single postseason run.

For Milwaukee, adding a pitcher with Detmers’ long-term value would strengthen both the current roster and the organization’s future rotation.

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