2 moves the Brewers can still make to save their 2026 trade deadline

It's deadline day. Often one of the most exciting days of the MLB season, the final 24 hours before the trade deadline almost always come with a flurry of activity that reshapes the landscape of the league. For a team like the Milwaukee Brewers, who hold the best record in baseball, that should mean at least one impact addition who elevates their roster for a postseason push.

However, to this point, the Brewers have acted quietly, just as they did a season ago. Milwaukee did swing a four-player swap with the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday morning, but the trade netted them two players, Bo Naylor and Codi Heuer, who they immediately optioned to Triple-A, suggesting their impact on the big-league club this season will be minimal.

In the time since their surprise trade with Cleveland, the Brewers have watched Tarik Skubal land with the Los Angeles Dodgers, their division rivals, the Chicago Cubs, add an All-Star starter in Kevin Gausman, and the starting pitching market dwindle as more and more options fall off the board.

Brewers fans, as a result, are starting to get anxious, remembering what it felt like last year to see their team make modest additions at the deadline despite also having the best record in baseball at that time. However, time remains, and impact additions still exist. It's far too early to chalk this deadline up as another disappointing one for the Brewers, but the front office will need some last-minute fireworks to avoid that fate.

2 trades the Brewers must make to avoid another disappointing trade deadline

1. Add an experienced starting pitcher who elevates their starting rotation

The Brewers' top priority remains adding a starting pitcher who improves their inexperienced starting rotation and can be counted on to start a playoff game. Several options still exist on the trade market, including Casey Mize of the Detroit Tigers, Trevor Rogers of the Baltimore Orioles, and Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants.

Milwaukee certainly could roll into the postseason with the trio of Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, and Logan Henderson heading their rotation. However, given Harrison's recent stint on the IL, Henderson's injury history, and the inexperience of all three, the Brewers' front office would be wise to add a veteran arm into the mix. The Brewers essentially ran out of starting options during the 2025 postseason -- the result of a late-season injury to Brandon Woodruff and a lack of trust in José Quintana in October. To avoid that same fate, Milwaukee must make an addition to their rotation before the day is done.

2. Create one of baseball's best bullpens by adding one of the top available relief pitchers

It would be surprising for the Brewers not to add a big-league relief pitcher before the end of the day. Milwaukee has added a reliever at every deadline (other than the modified 2020 deadline) since their run of seven postseason appearances in eight years began back in 2018. However, the type of relief arm they add before the end of the day will be telling in regard to how aggressive the front office truly did plan on being this year.

The Brewers are reportedly interested in New York Mets' right-hander Luke Weaver, who is one of the top bullpen arms available, but comes with an expensive $11 million salary for the 2027 season. That said, Weaver, alongside Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill would give the Brewers one of, if not the best bullpens in MLB. Though his asking price is reportedly very high, Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres would be an even more notable addition for the Brewers, and would balance the amount of right- and left-handed high-leverage relievers in Milwaukee's 'pen.

Roughly eight hours remain for Matt Arnold and company to bolster their first-place roster ahead of this year's trade deadline, which is 5:00 p.m CT tonight. The Brewers are all but guaranteed to make a trade before the end of the day, but the type of deal they end up making will ultimately determine whether fans view this as a successful trade deadline or a repeat of last year's disheartening deadline day.

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