The Milwaukee Brewers could not reel in the biggest fish at the Trade Deadline, but it's not because they didn't try.
The Milwaukee Brewers missed out on the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, but it was not for a lack of trying.
That is according to manager Pat Murphy who, ahead of the Brewers’ series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, said as much to Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920 and other members of the media as he sat at the podium.
"I don't know exactly the details of it all, but I know this: it isn't as simple as that's a better package," Murphy said. "It's not as simple as that. There's a lot more, a lot more layers to it. I don't understand it fully, but I think this is a bigger situation rather than, well, that was a better package, and to say that the Brewers didn't try is simply incorrect."
Instead of landing Skubal to strengthen their own World Series aspirations, the Los Angeles Dodgers added him to their star-studded lineup in hopes of winning a third-straight World Series.
What does it mean?
The Dodgers did not give up a massive haul. The trio of players included in the deal were outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith, none of whom were the organization's top prospects.
That adds to the air of mystery surrounding Murphy’s quotes, raising more questions than providing answers. President of Baseball Operations Matt Arnold said in the days leading up to the Trade Deadline that he wanted to be responsible in helping the team, and he followed through on that approach after the clock struck 6 p.m. ET on Monday and the Deadline had passed.
What was it that the Detroit Tigers could have asked for from Milwaukee that would have been irresponsible for Arnold and the front office to engage in? Were they asking for Jesus Made, the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball, in exchange for Skubal?
Given what Detroit got in return for the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, it does not seem like it would have tried to demand that much from the Brewers in exchange. Again, it’s not as if the Dodgers parted ways with Josue De Paula, the No. 1 prospect in the organization.
However, unless Arnold or Murphy comes out directly and says who the Brewers dangled in negotiations, we can only speculate.
What now?
It is not as if the Brewers had a terrible Deadline. The additions of Dustin May, JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela will certainly bolster the pitching staff, and catcher Bo Naylor gives them another option behind the plate.
Still, their kryptonite got the best available player, again. When the Brewers faced the Dodgers in the 2025 National League Series, they were swept, and that was before Los Angeles had Skubal, Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz on the roster.
Milwaukee is having a great year, and heading into Tuesday’s slate of games, it currently holds a 0.5-game lead over the Dodgers for the best record in baseball. However, Los Angeles is adding the pieces to create a dynasty, and it will be far from easy for the Brewers to contend with that when October rolls around.
Who knows if Skubal would have been the key to getting the Brewers over the hump? Now, all they can do is prepare for him as a member of the greatest opposition.
