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?

[Mr Southpaw]

4 key words... at the right price.

[wibadgers23]

I could definitely get on board with trading for Miller and then going out and getting a SP who won't cost as much as Skubal. Someone like Wacha or Gausman if he would be willing to waive his NTC.

[wallus]

The issue I'm seeing with Miller is people see what the Padres gave up and are expecting just as much if he is traded again. 

Two problems: 1. The Padres overpaid last year and everyone knows it. 2. He has one less year or control so should be worth a fair amount less, especially when that year is a cheap salary year

[wibadgers23]

4 minutes ago, wallus said:

The issue I'm seeing with Miller is people see what the Padres gave up and are expecting just as much if he is traded again. 

 

Yeah they traded their top prospect at the time who is now the 2nd best prospect in baseball. We ain't trading Made. 

[MrTPlush]

I don’t think I could get behind the price Miller would likely cost and I don’t see us desperate enough for an elite bullpen arm like that. The bullpen should be fine and hopefully gets a boost in the postseason via Logan Henderson and other starters.

Skubal is the obvious answer if we are trying to make a splash. Miz/Skubal is a potential WS winning combo. 

[narwhalattack]

58 minutes ago, MrTPlush said:

I don’t think I could get behind the price Miller would likely cost and I don’t see us desperate enough for an elite bullpen arm like that. The bullpen should be fine and hopefully gets a boost in the postseason via Logan Henderson and other starters.

Skubal is the obvious answer if we are trying to make a splash. Miz/Skubal is a potential WS winning combo. 

I have a feeling the Tigers are gonna demand way too much for a rental who’s gonna sign with the Dodgers at the first chance he gets. 

[TURBO]

16 hours ago, Brian said:

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

Miller is going to cost more in prospects and SP than Skubal.  I shudder thinking about the pricetag the Padres are going to ask for.

[liveforoctober]

I don't know anything and I'm willing to be wrong - but I hear "Brewers are prepared to be more aggressive" and all it tells me is "Brewers are going to make sure the Cubs gut their entire system to get Skubal or anyone else".

I'll be gobsmacked if either of Skubal or Mason Miller are wearing a Milwaukee uniform in two weeks.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I've rather see them pursue Skubal if they're going to "go big".

1. Skubal is wayyyyyy cheaper

2. I do not believe in giving up big prospect capital for a reliever, ever.

[wibadgers23]

1 minute ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

2. I do not believe in giving up big prospect capital for a reliever, ever.

And I think that is Matt Arnold's philosophy too, even if Miller isn't a rental. It's fun to think about what the bullpen could be with Miller in it but you're probably right that they'd be much more likely to pursue Skubal.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, wibadgers23 said:

And I think that is Matt Arnold's philosophy too, even if Miller isn't a rental. It's fun to think about what the bullpen could be with Miller in it but you're probably right that they'd be much more likely to pursue Skubal.

I'm actually more okay with paying for someone like Miller if they're on an expiring contract. At that point, you're modestly overpaying for 2.5 months of the guy, not hoping his arm doesn't fall off at any point in the next three years.

[Brian]

47 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Miller is going to cost more in prospects and SP than Skubal.  I shudder thinking about the pricetag the Padres are going to ask for.

I see even the Pirates interested in Miller, well it's a no brainer to me to pursue Skubal instead.  Personally I think Skubal if no arm issues is every bit as valuable plus we could get double the innings pitched. 

[Samurai Bucky]

2 hours ago, wibadgers23 said:

I could definitely get on board with trading for Miller and then going out and getting a SP who won't cost as much as Skubal. Someone like Wacha or Gausman if he would be willing to waive his NTC.

Gausman is a non-starter ☹️

https://www.si.com/mlb/brewers/onsi/brewers-surprisingly-on-blue-jays-star-s-no-trade-list-pat3

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, Samurai Bucky said:

Gausman is a non-starter ☹️

https://www.si.com/mlb/brewers/onsi/brewers-surprisingly-on-blue-jays-star-s-no-trade-list-pat3

No trade clauses are nothing more than a negotiating chip for the player.
 

You think Gausman would really rather play out the string in Toronto,  than pitch meaningful games for the Brewers? I don’t. 
 

That clause was nothing more than protection from being shipped somewhere he didn’t want to go while having multiple years left in his deal. At this point, if he was traded to Milwaukee it probably wouldn’t be much of an issue, given the alternative of pitching meaningless games on a moribund team.

[MrTPlush]

I’m guessing we exist on his no-trade list due to pitching depth. Does want to be an injury fill-in and then possibly pushed to a pitching role. Not great if you aspire to get a contract this offseason. If one can recall, that was an issue for Lucroy and Cleveland..,he didn’t want to split time at 1B etc.

it isn’t a nothing burger because any agreement to a trade here could involve a handshake agreement he has to start regardless of performance etc.

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

No trade clauses are nothing more than a negotiating chip for the player.
 

You think Gausman would really rather play out the string in Toronto,  than pitch meaningful games for the Brewers? I don’t. 
 

That clause was nothing more than protection from being shipped somewhere he didn’t want to go while having multiple years left in his deal. At this point, if he was traded to Milwaukee it probably wouldn’t be much of an issue, given the alternative of pitching meaningless games on a moribund team.

The fact the Brewers were on his list though, is just crazy.

The Brewers consistently win, and he doesn't want to play for a winner?  Don't we have a top 5 winning % in the last decade, and yet, this guy puts us on his no trade list?

Kind of funny really.

[Jopal78]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

The fact the Brewers were on his list though, is just crazy.

The Brewers consistently win, and he doesn't want to play for a winner?  Don't we have a top 5 winning % in the last decade, and yet, this guy puts us on his no trade list?

Kind of funny really.

Who knows? Maybe his family lives somewhere that makes it inconvenient to get to Milwaukee. Doesn’t like small markets, cold weather in the spring, etc., etc. 

Its probably has little to do with baseball and is all about maintaining leverage and personal comfort. 

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

Who knows? Maybe his family lives somewhere that makes it inconvenient to get to Milwaukee. Doesn’t like small markets, cold weather in the spring, etc., etc. 

 

Doesn't he play in Canada?  I can't imagine that is convenient for travel. 

Isn't Canada cold?

[Jopal78]

6 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Doesn't he play in Canada?  I can't imagine that is convenient for travel. 

Isn't Canada cold?

Really? Toronto is the size of Chicago and is a major airline hub for North America where one can fly direct to almost anywhere in the world.