Shocking Brewers trade deadline report confirms what fans already knew about possible Blue Jays target

With the midseason MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the hope from Milwaukee Brewers fans is that their front office will add another experienced, top-tier starting pitcher to form a dominant trio with Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison.

Though making a splash at the trade deadline is not generally how the Brewers do business, adding to the possibility that they stray from their usual strategy is the fact that there are a number of impactful starting pitchers who should be available at the deadline. Detroit Tigers' ace and reigning back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is certainly the most notable name who could be available on the market, but other names like Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, Trevor Rogers of the Baltimore Orioles, and Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels, all serve as viable options should Skubal's price be too high.

The availability of the four names listed above, and the others who weren't listed will become clearer over the next two weeks as teams decide whether or not they will sell at the deadline. Teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, the reigning American League champions who currently sit 6.5 games back of a Wild Card spot, will most likely end up selling at the trade deadline, but their play over the next two weeks will solidify their position.

However, whether or not the Blue Jays do end up selling at the deadline, Kevin Gausman, their All-Star starting pitcher, who certainly fits the mold that the Brewers are looking for, won't be traded to Milwaukee. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Gausman included the Brewers on his eight-team no-trade list earlier today. That said, even if Gausman was available, it's highly unlikely the Brewers would have swung a deal for the expensive right-hander.

Milwaukee likely wouldn't have traded for Kevin Gausman, who included the Brewers on his no-trade list, anyways

According to the stat sheet, Gausman actually makes a lot of sense for the Brewers. He's a veteran, reliable starting pitcher with plenty of postseason experience who any team would feel comfortable starting in a playoff game. Though his surface-level numbers have taken a hit this year, Gausman continues to have serviceable underlying metrics that indicate he could be an impactful deadline addition for any contender.

However, for as much as the move might initially make sense for the Brewers, there's one hold-up when it comes to Gausman: his salary. The 35-year-old right-hander is in the final year of a 5-year, $110 million contract and is set to make roughly $8.5 million after the trade deadline. It's not a ton of money in the grand scheme of things, but it is a lot for a veteran at the tail-end of his career. The Brewers would likely ask for cash from the Blue Jays to cover some of the remaining 2026 salary, which would mean Milwaukee would have to increase the prospect capital they are giving up -- something they generally try to avoid.

It's nevertheless surprising, whether or not the Brewers actually would have traded for Gausman, that the veteran right-hander doesn't want to pitch in Milwaukee. Not only do the Brewers have one of the best managers in baseball leading their squad and an excellent roster of dedicated players, but they are also a haven for pitchers. The Brewers consistently find the ways to get the most out of their pitchers and for a veteran arm like Gausman, who is in the final year of his contract and likely wants to earn one more deal before he hangs up his spikes, the fit seems perfect.

For whatever reason, however, Gausman included the Brewers on his no-trade list, so fans can officially cross one name off their list of deadline targets -- though his name may have already been crossed out by most.

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