3 trade candidates the Brewers could go "all-in" for during the 2025-26 offseason

Much of the early offseason chatter regarding the Milwaukee Brewers has focused on the topic of Freddy Peralta. The Brewers, who have been known to part with players entering their final year before free agency in an effort to prolong their current period of sustained success, will unsurprisingly listen to offers for their ace this offseason.

However, listening to offers does not set anything in stone, and there's a very real possibility that the Brewers hang on to Peralta for the 2026 season in an effort to finish what they started in 2025. For a team that was just one stop away from the World Series in 2025, retaining their ace and going "all-in" in 2026, though it would certainly break from the mold that has led to the Golden Age of Brewers baseball, is still a possibility this offseason. With the team reportedly interested in Garrett Crochet a season ago, it's fair to say that the front office is willing to make a major offseason trade so long as it doesn't hamstring them too severely in the future.

So let's set a hypothetical stage that would lead to the Brewers executing a blockbuster deal that signifies them going "all-in" next season. For argument's sake, let's say the Brewers have decided to retain Freddy Peralta for the 2026 season, have agreed to an extension with Brice Turang that frees them up to move one of their top middle infield prospects, and have made the difficult decision not to bring Brandon Woodruff back in free agency, after he hypothetically turned down the qualifying offer.

As a result, the team could use another front-line starter to pair with Peralta or a major offensive addition who could reshape the top of their lineup. Here are three trade candidates that the Brewers would have to surrender a significant group of players for, but would solidify their status as World Series contenders in 2026.

3 trade candidates the Brewers could acquire this offseason that would signify going "all-in" for the 2026 season

1. LHP MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals

Many thought MacKenzie Gore, the ace of the Washington Nationals' starting rotation, would be moved at the 2025 trade deadline, with the Chicago Cubs as one of the leading clubs rumored to acquire the 26-year-old southpaw. However, after the Nationals' front office, which was going through a midseason reshaping at the time, decided to hang on to Gore, effectively making him one of the top trade candidates for the offseason ahead.

Gore, a former top prospect, hasn't quite put it all together just yet, and he still maintained a 4.03 ERA over 62 starts in the last two seasons combined. That said, his high strikeout rate and strong underlying metrics tell a story of a pitcher who is on the cusp of really breaking out, especially if he were under the tutelage of the Brewers' renowned pitching coaches.

Adding Gore to a rotation that presumably keeps Peralta and sees Woodruff walk in free agency would give the Brewers a really strong starting staff in 2026. With Peralta being the Opening Day starter in such a scenario, having Gore, Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski, and then one of the team’s young arms like Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick, or Robert Gasser, as the starting five gives the Brewers an excellent chance to at least return to the NLCS.

On top of that, Gore is under control for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, and expected to make just $4.7 million this season, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Therefore, not only would the Brewers be getting a cheap high-end arm for the 2026 season, but they could also move Gore ahead of his final year of team control and recoup some of the prospect capital they would lose in the deal to acquire him from the Nationals.

2. RHP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins sold nearly every single one of their valuable pieces at the 2025 trade deadline, but they notably hung on to their ace, Joe Ryan, who is also under team control through the 2027 season. With the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs both reportedly interested in Ryan at the time, prying him away from the Twins won't come cheap, but the Brewers have the farm system depth to pull off a trade.

Ryan enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025 and finished with a 3.42 ERA across 30 starts. He made his first All-Star Game in 2025, building off of what was a strong 2024 campaign for the 29-year-old right-hander.

The Brewers adding Ryan to their roster would effectively accomplish the same goal that adding Gore to their starting rotation would: pairing Peralta with a proven top-tier No. 2 starter at the top of their rotation. Both scenarios take the pressure off of the team's young, unproven arms, who will no doubt impact the team in 2026, but would also likely benefit from the spotlight on them being dimmed slightly.

Any trade package for Ryan or Gore likely starts with one of the Brewers' top infield prospects -- Jesús Made, Luis Peña, or Cooper Pratt -- which is why it is important for the Brewers to extend Brice Turang prior to executing either of these hypothetical deals. Locking Turang into a middle infield position for the next 5-6 years lessens the need for three premier shortstop prospects in the Brewers' farm system.

3. OF Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox

While figuring out their starting rotation has to be the Brewers' top priority this offseason, much of the criticism surrounding Milwaukee a season ago was in regard to their offense. The Brewers, whose offense went dormant during the NLCS, could look to add an impact bat via trade this offseason to reshape their lineup for the 2026 season.

If they do elect to explore the position player trade market, the Red Sox would be an interesting trade partner for them. Boston currently has a surplus of outfielders, and as a result, 2024 AL MVP candidate Jarren Duran has been rumored to be a trade candidate this offseason.

Duran was nearly a nine-win player in 2024, a season in which he slashed .285/.342/.492 with a league-leading 48 doubles. He's not a huge power threat, but his game fits the Brewers' mold well. He offers a tough at-bat, gets on base, and impacts the game on the base paths. Despite not being the best defender, Duran has proved to be a serviceable corner outfielder.

Slotting Duran in as the team's left fielder, while opting for Jackson Chourio in center field and Sal Frelick in right, would give the Brewers one of the better outfield groups in the National League. Additionally, adding him to the top of a lineup that already includes Chourio, Turang, Christian Yelich, William Contreras, and Andrew Vaughn gives the Brewers a much deeper lineup than they had in 2024. With the Red Sox reportedly looking for controllable starting pitching, something the Brewers have plenty of, a Duran to Milwaukee trade isn't as far-fetched as it may initially seem.