Brewers rumors: Milwaukee cited as good fit for 3 realistic starting pitcher trade candidates

Last week, MLB insider Jeff Passan published his rankings of the top 100 trade candidates for MLB's midseason trade deadline in 2026. Though the deadline, which falls on August 3 this year, is still more than one month away, conversations between front offices have undoubtedly already begun, and it's by no means abnormal to see a trade executed before July 1.

That said, in general, selling teams will wait until they are officially out of contention to move on from their soon-to-be departing veterans who could help contending teams with their postseason push. As has come to be the expectation in the Cream City, the Milwaukee Brewers once again fall into the latter category. Comfortably perched atop the NL Central as play begins on June 23, the Brewers will once again look to make key additions to their roster at the midseason trade deadline.

Passan, and many other MLB insiders, are pushing for the Brewers to be aggressive at the trade deadline, despite that not being Milwaukee's style. The Brewers, owners of the top-farm system in baseball, which is a direct result of their calculated approach at past trade deadlines, have generally made improvements around the margins of their roster but largely avoided a deal that could be considered going "all-in" since they acquired CC Sabathia back in 2008.

Included in Passan's rankings, which are free to read over at ESPN.com and linked below for your convenience, are possible landing spots for each of his top trade candidates. The MLB insider incorporates both aggressive and more realistic options for the Brewers as they look to return to the World Series for the first time since 1982.

Jeff Passan's early 2026 MLB trade deadline preview

Brewers would build a World Series-caliber rotation by adding one of Jeff Passan's three proposed starting pitcher trade targets

Supporting the argument that the Brewers shouldn't make any moves in the immediate future is the fact that Milwaukee's deadline needs have changed throughout the season. Early on, it appeared obvious that the Brewers would trade for a left-side infielder, but the promotion of Cooper Pratt and recent emergence of David Hamilton have quieted those rumors. It then seemed obvious that the Brewers would need another starting pitcher, but Brandon Woodruff's stellar return last night has left fans wondering if another top-tier starter is truly worth it. While Woody's incredible performance last night seemingly lessens the need for another starter, contending teams could always use another lights-out starting pitcher, and the Brewers, especially given Woodruff's injury history, are no exception.

It's no secret as to who the top starter available at this year's deadline will be: reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. The Detroit Tigers' ace is set to become a free agent at season's end and would immediately elevate any contending team's starting rotation to one of the best in baseball. In his article, Passan does specifically list Skubal as a potential option for the Brewers, falling in line with many in the media who look at Milwaukee as having a unique position to go out and get a guy like Skubal, given their horde of high-end prospects within the organization.

However, Passan also acknowledges Milwaukee's recent trade deadline strategy and includes three more realistic, though still impactful and costly, starting pitchers they could target at the deadline.

RHP Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins

Sandy Alcantara has seemingly been a trade candidate ever since he won the Cy Young in 2022. However, his performance in the years since has been rocky at best. He took a step back in 2023, posting a 7-12 record, with a 4.14 ERA, and was ultimately shut down for the final month of the season after a UCL tear forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2024 campaign.

In 2025, the first half of the season was disastrous for Alcantara, before he ultimately returned to form after the All-Star break. Though it won't necessarily show up on the back of his baseball card, as he did finish with an 11-12 record and a 5.36 ERA, his second half was enough to give some hope and once again begin trade speculation for 2026.

This season has been considerably better than the last two in which he played, and while no one would currently confuse him for a Cy Young candidate, he could be a solid addition to a team who excels in getting the most out of starting pitchers. His arsenal remains electric and with the right pitch mix and sequencing, it's fair to assume he could once again be a dominant starting pitcher.

RHP Sonny Gray - Boston Red Sox

Farther down Passan's list is a name that Brewers fans have plenty of familiarity with: Sonny Gray. Now with the Boston Red Sox, Gray has pitched in the NL Central with both the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, and has great success against Milwaukee throughout his career. Much like last season, when the Brewers grabbed José Quintana in free agency, Milwaukee has an opportunity to snag a former "Brewers killer" and see if he can bolster their rotation.

Gray, like Alcantara, won't blow you out of the water with any one single metric, but he's solid across the board and would offer more veteran presence to the Brewers' inexperienced rotation. He currently sports an 8-1 record, with a 3.12 ERA, and 55 strikeouts across 69.1 innings. At 36 years old Gray's six-pitch mix is still generating impressive results, but his pricey contract and significant buyout for a 2027 mutual option may ultimately steer the Brewers elsewhere.

RHP Casey Mize - Detroit Tigers

Just below Gray on Passan's rankings is Casey Mize, who pitches alongside Skubal in Detroit. From both a results and underlying metrics standpoint, Mize, who is 2-4 with a 2.58 ERA and 52 strikeouts, with a strong five-pitch arsenal to back it up, is performing at a high level on a bad team. However, the primary concern with Mize is his health for the remainder of the season.

Mize has endured a pair of IL stints due to a pesky groin strain, and while he has only missed the minimum during those stretches, that pattern of minor injuries is certainly something that could make trade suitors steer clear. That said, Mize is still just 29 years old, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, and certainly has the potential to be a dominant force in the Brewers' rotation for the rest of the season. Pair that with the fact that he will be much cheaper than his Cy Young-winning teammate, and Mize might look very enticing to a Brewers' front office that likes to operate under the radar.

By no means is it a guarantee that the Brewers will pursue a front-end starter at this year's trade deadline -- the front office may instead demonstrate confidence in their young arms like Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat. However, if Milwaukee does want to form a formidable starting staff heading into the postseason, and Skubal's price gets out of control, Alcantara, Gray, and Mize offer intriguing alternatives at the deadline.

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