Brewers Have Touched Base In Tarik Skubal & Mason Miller Trade Interest

[Brock Beauchamp]

According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are aiming high before the trade deadline on August 3. They've reportedly reached out to the Detroit Tigers about ace pitcher and perhaps the best pitcher in the American League, Tarik Skubal. They've also reached out to the San Diego Padres about their closer extraordinaire, Mason Miller.

Skubal is playing this season on an expiring contract. He won his arbitration hearing in February, receiving a record $32 million salary after the Tigers filed at $19 million, and said the Tigers made no long-term offer this offseason. He's expected to command roughly $400 million as the top 2026-27 free agent. On the mound, he posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over seven starts before a left elbow injury sidelined him in early May; he's since returned, and now sits at 6-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 98 strikeouts across 14 appearances.

Miller's situation is the opposite of Skubal's: cheap and controlled. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal to avoid arbitration in his first arbitration-eligible year, and remains under team control through 2029. He has expressed interest in a Padres extension, though no talks have occurred. Performance-wise, he's been dominant as San Diego's closer, with a 0.86 ERA, 25 saves, and 78 strikeouts against 15 walks this season. With the Padres coming under new ownership, it's almost impossible to predict the actions of their already-maverick president of baseball operations AJ Preller.

What do you think of this news? Are the Brewers aiming for a level higher than they have at previous deadlines, or is this just due diligence?

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[Brian]

I would take Mason Miller hands down over what we would have to give up for Terik Skubal. 

[rickh150]

Would rather see a Pena/Fischer/Henderson for Miller than Skubal...just with the control its an easy one for me.

[39Streak]

One of the great things about the Sabathia deal was CC’s willingness to pitch his arm off.  I will always be grateful for him answering the bell over and over, short rest in the late season run.  He could have wanted to save himself for his new deal.  An injury could have cost him big. I don’t know Skubal. On the brink of a $400M payday, will he put himself on the line?  I have no idea.  
 

Mason fits the mold of young and hungry that exemplifies the Brewers Way.  I’ll be happy to see either in Milwaukee for the right price.

[wiguy94]

4 minutes ago, 39Streak said:

One of the great things about the Sabathia deal was CC’s willingness to pitch his arm off.  I will always be grateful for him answering the bell over and over, short rest in the late season run.  He could have wanted to save himself for his new deal.  An injury could have cost him big. I don’t know Skubal. On the brink of a $400M payday, will he put himself on the line?  I have no idea.  
 

Mason fits the mold of young and hungry that exemplifies the Brewers Way.  I’ll be happy to see either in Milwaukee for the right price.

If the Brewers trade for Skubal they won't need him to pitch like CC did. The 2008 Brewers were in a race for the WC down to the end of the season. This year they have a 7 game lead in the division and a 11.5 game lead over the first team out. They would just need Skubal to go every 5th/6th game and be ready for the playoffs. They wouldn't need him to start on 3/4 days rest all September.

[rickh150]

A Miller closing for the Brewers...who's writing this script?