Brewers reportedly prepared to set new payroll record at 2026 trade deadline

Rumors are swirling, pitchers are getting scratched from their scheduled starts, and mock trades are popping up left and right. Major League Baseball's trade season is officially upon us and the Milwaukee Brewers are officially on the board after a four-player swap that sent reliever Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for catcher Bo Naylor and relief arm Codi Heuer. Though it's not the blockbuster Brewers fans are waiting for the groundwork is being laid for what could end up being one of the more impactful deadlines in recent history.

The presence of reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal on the list of likely trade candidates all but ensures that fireworks are coming before Monday evening's deadline. Ready to throw in the towel after what has been a frustrating first four months of the 2026 season, the Detroit Tigers are prepared to part ways with their ace, Skubal, and are understandably asking for a king's ransom on the trade market.

Considering that high price, alongside several other World Series favorites, are the Milwaukee Brewers, who are reportedly set to be more aggressive at this year's trade deadline than they've been in recent years. The Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers are currently viewed as the two favorites to land Skubal before the deadline, with each possessing the necessary prospect capital to trade for the elite southpaw.

However, while much of the discussion to this point has been in regard to what prospects the Brewers should be willing to part ways with in order to land Skubal, the financials of a hypothetical trade have seldom been discussed. Skubal, who earned a record-breaking $32 million salary through the arbitration process this year, is still owed roughly $9.4 million after the trade deadline. That's by no means an insignificant sum of money for the small-market Brewers, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Milwaukee is prepared to absorb the entirety of Skubal's remaining salary to get a deal across the finish line.

Brewers prepared to pay remainder of Tarik Skubal's salary in potential deadline blockbuster

According to FanGraphs.com's payroll tracker, the Brewers currently have $136 million invested in their 2026 roster, which includes the new contracts that Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara have agreed to since the start of the season. The exact number changes depending on which expenses are all included, but what matters is the comparison to other seasons, and the Brewers' current payroll number trails only their 2022 squad as the most expensive team in franchise history. If the Brewers were to take on the remainder of Skubal's salary, it would mean the ownership group pushing the team's payroll to place it's never been before.

However, taking on the remainder of Skubal's 2026 salary should lead to a lower cost in terms of prospect capital from the acquiring team. The dominant left-hander is still going to command a massive haul of prospects, but Milwaukee's willingness to take on his salary prevents the Brewers from having to surrender a larger trade package than their competitors because they can't afford Skubal's remaining salary. In that regard, the Brewers' openness to testing their payroll limits does increase their chances of landing the top trade target.

Milwaukee's willingness to take on Skubal's contract isn't the only sign that the Brewers ownership group is ready to expand their payroll. Yesterday morning, a rumor surfaced that Milwaukee is interested in New York Mets' reliever Luke Weaver. Though Weaver's remaining $2.45 million on his 2026 salary is reasonable, the high-leverage right-hander is owed $11 million in 2027, which would tie Josh Hader's record for the largest single-season salary for a relief pitcher in franchise history.

By all accounts, the Brewers are prepared to be aggressive both with their prospect capital and their payroll ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. Owner Mark Attanasio has given the front office the green light to expand the payroll if it means landing one of the top names on the trade market. Paired with Milwaukee's top-ranked farm system, that type of support from the ownership group should lead to an exciting few days for Brewers fans leading up to this year's trade deadline.

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