2 realistic blockbuster trades Brewers must consider to meet World Series goals

The Milwaukee Brewers enter play on July 24 just a half game back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball. The Brew Crew has a 7.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and a 4.0-game advantage over the Atlanta Braves for a first-round bye in the postseason. With the most successful team in franchise history through the first 102 games of the season, the 2026 Brewers have the opportunity to overcome the NLCS roadblock that has stymied them twice in the last eight years and return to the World Series for the first time since 1982.

However, to do so and to overcome the juggernaut that is the Dodgers' squad, the Brewers need to get aggressive at the deadline. Fortunately for Brewers fans, it sounds like that could be in the cards this year. As reported by Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, "Brewers officials are prepared to adopt a more aggressive approach at the Trade Deadline compared to recent years." Given Milwaukee's conservative approach at the deadline in each of the last two seasons, that doesn't necessarily mean they are the frontrunners to land Tarik Skubal, but it does suggest that the Brewers will pull the trigger if the right deal presents itself this year, even if that means parting with coveted prospect capital.

While Skubal is certainly the top prize, plenty of other All-Star caliber arms should be available ahead of the midseason trade deadline this year. It's definitely not the Brewers' typical strategy to go after one of the top names on the trade market, but the organization would be doing a disservice to their record-breaking 2026 roster if they didn't at least consider executing a blockbuster ahead of this year's trade deadline.

While many are justifiably advocating for the Brewers to go after Skubal or San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, Milwaukee has plenty of other options that would represent them being more aggressive at the deadline than in year's past. With that in mind, here are two realistic "blockbusters" that would both adhere to McCalvy's recent report and the Brewers' recent deadline strategy.

1. Brewers add All-Star starter, promising relief arm in five-player swap with Orioles

Brewers receive: LHP Trevor Rogers, RHP Yennier Cano

Orioles receive: RHP Josh Knoth, 1B/3B Luke Adams, OF Josiah Ragsdale

By all accounts, the Brewers are in the market for a clear No. 3 starter ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, and Baltimore Orioles' southpaw Trevor Rogers may be the perfect fit. Rogers is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, he's playing on just a $6.2 million contract this year, of which about $2.25 million would remain after the deadline, and he's just now hitting his stride after a slow start to the season, meaning his price may undervalue what he can give to the Brewers down the stretch.

Since June 1, Rogers has a 1.69 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in eight starts, and his 2025 season indicates this is closer to the norm than the lackluster numbers he posted earlier this year. Rogers sits a tier above the Brewers' internal options who would otherwise fill the No. 3-starter's role behind Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison.

Yennier Cano, meanwhile, would form a daunting quartet alongside Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill at the back end of the Brewers' bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander has electric "stuff" and is under team control for two seasons after the 2026 season.

Acquiring both Rogers and Cano wouldn't be cheap, but it also wouldn't command the type of Top 100 prospect capital that Skubal or Miller are likely to bring in. A package of three of Milwaukee's top 16 prospects is an extremely competitive offer, one that should convince the Orioles to part ways with these two arms and top anything a potential challenger may offer.

2. Brewers add breakout southpaw, controllable reliever in deadline trade with Angels' new front office

Brewers receive: LHP Reid Detmers, RHP Ryan Zeferjahn

Angels receive: LHP Robert Gasser, 3B/SS/OF Jett Williams, OF Braylon Payne

At the beginning of the month, the Los Angeles Angels parted ways with general manager Perry Minasian and replaced him with former St. Louis Cardinals' President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, signaling that the organization was ready to start doing things differently. Los Angeles has been hesitant to part with their trade candidates at past deadlines, but Mozeliak will likely look to change that.

Like Rogers from the Orioles, left-hander Reid Detmers would be a clear-cut No. 3 option in the Brewers' rotation this year. Though his ERA has slipped a bit in July, the 27-year-old Detmers still holds an excellent 3.31 expected ERA with a strong 27.6% strikeout rate. He has two years of team control after this year, meaning he won't come cheap, but the Brewers would also have the option to recoup some of their prospect losses in a future trade if they wish to do so.

The 28-year-old Zeferjahn would be an intriguing addition to the Brewers' bullpen. Though he's sporting a 14.8% walk rate that ranks in the 4th percentile among qualified pitchers, Zeferjahn is maintaining a ridiculous 32.5% strikeout rate and a 35% whiff rate. Opponents rarely make contact with his electric arsenal, and he's under team control for four more seasons after the 2026 campaign.

A Detmers-Zeferjahn package would certainly cost more than the Rogers-Cano trade listed above, and it's likely the Brewers would have to part ways with one of their young MLB arms in addition to several top prospects. A package of Gasser, Williams, and Payne should be enough on paper, but Detmers figures to be a popular name at the deadline, so Milwaukee may end up having to pay more for the controllable lefty who is just entering his prime.

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