The 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is set for Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET, which means there is less than a month remaining for teams to bolster their rosters, move off unfavorable contracts and more.

One of the 30 teams that should seriously consider not just making a move, but taking a big swing, is the Milwaukee Brewers.

At 56-33 heading into Tuesday’s slate of games, the Brewers have surged to the second-best record in baseball, only behind the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they have dealt with quite a bit of adversity when it comes to maintaining health, and it has affected a key area: pitching. 

As of Tuesday, the Brewers have 10 pitchers on the Injured List. Many of them are expected back in early July, per MLB.com, but the trend has been ongoing and concerning for a team of this caliber. 

Most of Milwaukee’s pitchers on the IL are relievers, which has led Brewers reporter Adam McCalvy of MLB.com to emphasize the importance of centering deadline activity on acquiring bullpen help. McCalvy is correct in his analysis of the Brewers’ situation, but what if the organization made a more ambitious move? 

What if it pursued Tarik Skubal?

Sure, this may sound outlandish, especially for a small-market franchise like the Brewers, but it would not be the first time Skubal has been linked to Milwaukee. In a recent appearance with Foul Territory TV, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal talked about what a trade for Skubal could look like for the Brewers. 

As it currently stands, Skubal is on a one-year, $32 million deal with the Detroit Tigers after winning a historic arbitration case during the offseason. 

But at 40-50 and fourth place in the American League Central Division, the Tigers are in a rough spot, and Skubal’s future with the only franchise he has known is tenuous at best. 

Things are much different for the Brewers. In 2025, their 97-65 record was the best in MLB, and they went to the National League Championship Series. However, they were swept by the Dodgers, but have followed it up with another dominant campaign so far.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers continue to be their Kryptonite, just as they are for the rest of the teams vying for a title.

A move for Skubal is not just about the Dodgers, though, it is about boosting a very talented team with one of the best at his position. The Brewers have a bonafide star in Jacob Misiorowski, and Kyle Harrison has been a strong second option in the rotation, but after trading away Freddy Peralta in January and the unstable health of Brandon Woodruff, the gap in talent with the rest of the rotation becomes drastic.

Skubal would most likely be nothing more than a rental for Milwaukee as the money he will command as a free agent will be more than what the organization can offer. But for the remainder of the season, he could be the right kind of spark.

Quality pitching in the postseason is non-negotiable, and the Brewers need more than Misiorowski who, despite having a record-setting season, is still in the infancy of his career, and Harrison, who is a young pitcher himself. Does the organization trust them to carry the torch through an arduous playoff landscape? 

What about Brandon Sproat? The 25-year-old righty who is just now learning what it takes to start consistently? Can he be trusted in high-leverage moments? Not likely.

Skubal solves those problems in a lot of ways. He has been to the postseason multiple times and has been compelled to pitch in big spots. His resume speaks for itself, and he could create a lethal one-two punch with Misiorowski that could be supplemented by Harrison as the third option.

When it comes to health, Skubal has dealt with his own problems this season. Loose bodies in his left elbow kept him off an MLB mound from the end of April to mid-June, and his last four starts have seen him allow seven home runs. However, Skubal still has 30 strikeouts in that span, and he is still very capable of constructing a level of play that has earned him consecutive Cy Young Awards.

The Brewers have what it takes to win now, and with teams like the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves proving to be giants in the National League alone, the presence of a player like Skubal feels more like a requirement than a luxury if Milwaukee wants to win its first World Series.

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