The Brewers are buyers: who are your three trade targets?

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

1. Tarik Skubal

2. Sonny Gray

3. Jose Soriano

[formerlybis]

The expansion of the number of Wild Card teams makes it harder for teams to make the decision to be sellers. The coveted players from Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego, and especially Boston may not be actually available depending on how they do over the next week or so. That makes the pool of targets shallower.

I'm glad I'm not the GM. My biggest want is a power hitter, but I don't think there are many out there.

[owbc]

1 hour ago, formerlybis said:

The expansion of the number of Wild Card teams makes it harder for teams to make the decision to be sellers. The coveted players from Detroit, Minnesota, San Diego, and especially Boston may not be actually available depending on how they do over the next week or so. That makes the pool of targets shallower.

I'm glad I'm not the GM. My biggest want is a power hitter, but I don't think there are many out there.

Some of these GMs in the pack of near-.500 WC contenders are going to be realistic and jump on the high demand from buyers. We saw it happen with Arizona last year and they still nearly made the wild card anyway. 

Boston is the only one that has played themselves off the seller list, which has at the same time greatly knocked down the odds of other WC contenders in the AL that were sitting below .500.  

Toronto (7% playoff odds), Minnesota (23% playoff odds), Miami (14% playoff odds), St. Louis (24% playoff odds), and San Diego (9% playoff odds) should all be sellers. 

Detroit at 48-54 and 32% playoff odds isn't going to miss the opportunity to move Skubal. 

That still leaves a ton of buyers though.

[long ball]

Top tier dream target: Joe Ryan

 

mid tier dream targets: Taylor ward (I know he has not hit for much power this season but he has in the past). Morejon from the pitching side

lower tier gamble: Eugenio Suarez. He hasn’t hit well this season at all. Would be a gamble for sure, hoping he can find the power stroke at either DH or some starts at third base (I know Ortiz has been playing very well, but we’ve seen hot months from him in the past, just check out his blazing hot august last month followed up by his pitiful September/October offensive results)

[Team Canada]

4 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Reliever, reliever, reliever.

I think last year has people snakebitten and thinking they are farther from LA than they really are. They got cold at an awful time. They're not the sexiest lineup but they can do enough. Miz is the Wild Card that if he's on he can shut anyone down. The biggest hole for me is the closer spot. They will have to close a few high pressure 2-1 games to win the World Series and I am nauseous about MeGill or Uribe doing that. Doesn't mean they can't or that they're bad players, but it's the weakness.

I agree with your first statement, but closer is way down the list for me. Other than a terrible first couple weeks, Megill has been excellent.

[owbc]

21 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

I agree with your first statement, but closer is way down the list for me. Other than a terrible first couple weeks, Megill has been excellent.

That’s why a lefty reliever in particular is of interest. Then we can play matchups and not have defined 7th/8th/9th inning roles. 

[bensheeps]

I know it's probably emotions taking over rather than in depth thinking, but adding Skubal would be awesome as a fan.  I remember back to the half season of Sabathia and am excited about that type of energy playing out again. (I guess Mason Miller would create a similar "buzz")

1. Skubal - Can it happen with Jett W (instead of Pena), Gasser (instead of Henderson), Adams?

2. Joe Ryan - Still a playoff game #2 pitcher with an additional year of control.

3. Adrian Morejon

I don't know if there is an available bat that fits and makes enough of a difference.

[Brian]

16 minutes ago, owbc said:

That’s why a lefty reliever in particular is of interest. Then we can play matchups and not have defined 7th/8th/9th inning roles. 

Top Left-Handed Relief Trade Candidates

A.J. Minter (Mets): A primary target for playoff teams. The veteran rental brings established high-leverage and postseason experience to any contender's bullpen. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Brooks Raley (Mets): Another highly coveted rental arm being shopped by New York, known for effectively neutralizing left-handed hitters and providing steady setup depth. [1, 2, 3]

Sam Hentges (Giants): San Francisco's clear left-handed option on the trade block, presenting a controllable, matchup-versatile arm. [1, 2]

Erik Miller (Giants): Part of the Giants' bullpen depth, offering teams an intriguing under-the-radar southpaw option for the middle innings. [1]

Adrian Morejon (Padres): If San Diego decides to make him available, his electric stuff and high ceiling make him one of the most exciting young lefties on the market. [1, 2, 3]

Brock Burke (under-the-radar): A reliable, capable situational arm currently drawing interest for teams looking to add depth to their relief corps. [1]

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, BrewCrewBlueDevil said:

1. Tarik Skubal

2. Sonny Gray

3. Jose Soriano

That'd be my #1. 
He's got a great arm and I think we could help him take another step. 
Gray is expensive and... I just don't trust him. Skubal has been hurt and he's pitching for a new contract, so you're not getting probably 75% of the effort CC gave a few years ago. 

But Soriano and they've got a reliever. If we pony up and give up someone like Henderson, I'd want a Bachman of Zeferjahn back(I'm sure the trade would be larger than that with a couple prospects going to LAA as well, but to trade Henderson, that's what I'd want to include). 

[Jim French Stepstool]

On 7/22/2026 at 5:53 PM, wiguy94 said:

1, Adrian Morejon - Would love to push Ashby down the leverage list and Morejon is a stud

2. Clay Holmes - Vet groundballer who I think can eat innings for us and has a long history as a RP so will be comfortable being shifted to the pen in the playoffs. I think he's very likely to decline his player option so you don't need to worry about next year 

3. Lane Thomas - RHH who hits LHP really well. Would like another bat who can hit LHP.

This is pretty good. I've liked Thomas for a long time & he shouldn't cost much. There are some other LH relievers who would be fine but Morejon easily makes the short list and Holmes has versatility, which the Brewers always value.

[rickh150]

23 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

Always fun to think about. But this is like talking with your spouse about next summer's vacation - pulling up pictures of Bali and Athens and Madeira - but both of you know fully well you are going to end up at the Kalahari in the Dells to save some money.

Joe Ryan is a fun thought. Mason Miller is a wonderful thought.

We are going to end up with whatever this year's version of Lockridge is. Brett Harris or something like that.

Waaaaaay off this season....no doubt something BIG is happening.

The next CBA plays into this too and I think the Brewers can feel rule changes ALREADY that will hurt their depth and way of getting talent.  And if we are so deep at infield and outfield over the next 8 years, why aren't we trading to upgrade our team significantly? 

We sit tops in the league in record too. And the fans want a big move!  They understand the risk...but the risk is much smaller when you have multiple options already at most positions!

It's like a perfect storm! If we get mashed potatoes and a roll instead of steak I'll be more than surprised this deadline.  Sounds crazy to even write that, but i will be. It will go to the shocked stage of the 2022 deadline when we traded Hader.

Overall, I THINK THE FRONT OFFICE KNOWZ THEY WILL ROYALLY KICK THEMSELVES IF THEY GET PASSIVE AT THIS DEADLINE AND LOSE IN THE PLAYOFFS. THEY WILL FOREVER HAVE THE 2026 WHAT IFS OF NOT GOING BIG WHEN STACKED WITH A MINOR LEAGUE ROSTER.

Plan on a biggie.