Brewers need to respond to rival Cardinals, Dodgers big additions in three team trade

The Milwaukee Brewers need to respond. In the battle for the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals, the closest threat to the Brewers position atop the division, just swung a massive three team trade.

The Cardinals brought in both Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham in one fell swoop, only shipping out Tommy Edman in the three team trade involving the White Sox and Dodgers. The Dodgers acquired Edman in the deal along with Michael Kopech.

Fedde was a commonly rumored trade target for the Brewers. They now miss out on Fedde and he ends up going to their biggest rival. The Brewers still have a major need in the starting rotation. An answer is required.

Brewers need to strike as the Trade Deadline looms

This is largely the first big domino to fall in the starting pitching market with Fedde going off the board. Earlier today, Michael Lorenzen went to the Royals, which took another name out.

As the dominos fall, the Brewers could find themselves on the outside looking in. They're in conversations on a lot of players, to be sure, but nothing has gotten across the finish line with the starting rotation since Aaron Civale a few weeks ago.

The Brewers have their bullpen solidified with the addition of Nick Mears and the return of Devin Williams this weekend. Now the focus must be on adding to the rotation and also potentially adding to the offense.

Of late, the Brewers haven't been playing great baseball and they are in clear need of reinforcements. The Cardinals just got their reinforcements and are making a push to catch the Brewers. In order to keep them at bay, Milwaukee needs to answer with additions of their own.

While GM Matt Arnold may not necessarily look at another team's moves and change his own plans because of them, he's well aware of the need this team faces. This three team trade may add some increased urgency to get something done.

The Dodgers also got better and the Brewers are chasing them in a bid for the two seed in the NL playoffs. They're just two games back of the Dodgers in that race. Avoiding that Wild Card round and advancing to the NLDS would be huge for the Brewers' postseason chances and lining up their pitching staff.

A lot is going to happen in very short order as the Trade Deadline is just about 24 hours away. The Brewers rivals have made their move. Now it's Milwaukee's turn.