The Milwaukee Brewers are viewed as a dark-horse candidate to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before the July 31 trade deadline, according to an analysis by CBS Sports.
Skubal, a back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, has posted a 2.83 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 82⅔ innings this season. He has issued just 11 walks while recording 98 strikeouts.
The left-hander remains a pending free agent, positioning him as a high-value rental for any club willing to surrender significant prospects or young talent. The Tigers currently sit six games below .500 yet trail by only 4½ games in the wild-card race, giving them incentive to retain Skubal for a potential playoff push.
The Brewers face notable questions in their starting rotation as they battle to maintain their position in the National League Central. Key contributors have been sidelined or face workload concerns heading into the stretch run.
Veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff is done for the season after suffering an injury. Left-hander Kyle Harrison is currently dealing with elbow problems that have limited his availability.
Young right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is expected to see a significant increase in innings this year, raising questions about the depth behind him. The Brewers would benefit from adding reliable innings to support their rotation.
CBS Sports writer Dayn Perry described the Brewers as a long-shot possibility in his July 20 breakdown of Skubal’s potential landing spots.
“Consider the Crew to be the dark horse long-shot pick in the Skubal derby. This is not the kind of move they tend to make, at least of late, but it would be evocative of their legendary deadline deal for walk-year ace CC Sabathia back in 2008. Skubal would be a fit because the Brewers will need innings if they’re going to fend off the Cubs, and they need a second ace alongside Jacob Misiorowski if they’re going to make a deep playoff charge (and maybe win the World Series for the first time in franchise history). Brandon Woodruff is done for the season, and Kyle Harrison is presently laid up with elbow problems. On top of all that, Misiorowski’s in line for a big jump in innings this season.”
Acquiring Skubal would provide the Brewers with a proven frontline starter capable of anchoring the staff through the final two months and into October. The addition would complement Misiorowski and help address the loss of Woodruff’s production.
Such a move would echo Milwaukee’s bold 2008 deadline acquisition of CC Sabathia, who helped the team reach the playoffs that year. While the Brewers have generally avoided major deadline splashes in recent seasons, Skubal’s profile aligns with what a contender needs for a deep postseason run.
The Brewers remain focused on fending off the Chicago Cubs in the division standings while positioning themselves for October baseball. A second ace would elevate their chances of advancing beyond the wild-card round and potentially reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
Any trade for Skubal would require the Brewers to part with high-end prospects or established players. The Tigers’ own playoff aspirations add another layer of complexity to negotiations.
The NL Central race remains tight, with Milwaukee and Chicago locked in competition. Strengthening the rotation now could prove decisive in the final weeks of the regular season.
Perry’s assessment frames the Brewers as an unlikely but intriguing option in the Skubal market. The coming days will reveal whether Milwaukee’s front office pursues this type of aggressive addition.
For a team with realistic World Series aspirations, adding a pitcher of Skubal’s caliber could transform their outlook heading into the postseason. The Brewers’ rotation needs make them a logical, if unexpected, suitor.
