SouthernWorldwide.com – The Detroit Tigers are currently struggling, holding the worst record in MLB alongside the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies. With their star left-hander, Tarik Skubal, set to become a free agent after this season, speculation about a potential trade is RIFE.
Amidst this situation, former MLB pitcher and current FOX Sports analyst Dontrelle Willis believes the Milwaukee Brewers would be the ideal destination for Skubal.
“I would love to see them [the Brewers] get Skubal because he has the big-game experience, and he can go on the road and shut the opposing team’s offense down, whether it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Atlanta Braves or anybody else, especially coming from the left side,” Willis stated on Monday.
He further elaborated, “This is a situation where, if you’re a Brewers fan, you want them to take the next step because they’ve been to the postseason, but they’ve had a lot of heartbreak, especially in recent memory, in some tough spots.” Willis drew a parallel to a significant past acquisition, noting, “You go out and get that [Skubal], it can feel like a CC Sabathia move, and you saw what that did.”
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Skubal is currently sidelined with an elbow injury, having not pitched in MLB for the past month. However, the general expectation is that he could return to the Tigers lineup in early July. FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal has reported that it is “trending” towards the Tigers trading Skubal before the August 3rd trade deadline in 2026.
This season, in his seven starts, Skubal has showcased impressive numbers. He holds a 2.70 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, with 45 strikeouts over 43 ⅓ innings pitched. His 156 ERA+ and 1.7 wins above replacement further highlight his dominance. Notably, Skubal has led American League starting pitchers in ERA and WAR for two consecutive seasons (2024 and 2025), maintained a WHIP below one for three consecutive seasons (2023-25), and averaged 234.5 strikeouts per year from 2024-25.
The potential fit with the Brewers appears strong, especially considering their recent performance. Milwaukee has been on a remarkable run over the last month, winning 18 of their last 23 games. This surge has propelled them to a 36-21 record, giving them a commanding five-and-a-half-game lead in the National League Central.
Adding Skubal would bolster an already formidable Brewers starting rotation. The team’s starting staff currently ranks among the best in MLB, tied for first in opponent batting average (.208), third in ERA (3.13), tied for third in WHIP (1.11), and tied for seventh in strikeouts (319). Their only slight weakness lies in innings pitched, where they rank 26th with 279.1.
Leading the Brewers’ pitching staff is Jacob Misiorowski, who is considered an early favorite for the NL Cy Young Award in his first full MLB season. This flame-throwing right-hander boasts an exceptional 1.65 ERA, a league-best 0.79 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts. His 249 ERA+ and three wins above replacement further underscore his impact.
Complementing Misiorowski is left-hander Kyle Harrison, who has also been outstanding. Harrison sports a 1.57 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts, with a 263 ERA+ and 2.4 wins above replacement. Their success comes after the Brewers traded away ace Freddy Peralta and fellow right-hander Tobias Myers to the New York Mets in the offseason.
The comparison made by Dontrelle Willis to CC Sabathia is a significant one. In 2008, the Brewers made a blockbuster trade for Cleveland’s ace CC Sabathia, a move that ultimately helped them secure a National League wild-card berth. During his 17 regular-season starts for Milwaukee, the Hall of Fame left-hander recorded an impressive combined 1.65 ERA and pitched seven complete games.
The Brewers are coming off a highly successful 2025 campaign, where they achieved the best regular-season record in MLB with 97 wins. However, their postseason journey ended abruptly when they were swept by the Dodgers in the NLCS. Despite making the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons, Milwaukee has only reached the NLCS twice during that span (2018 and 2025).
The franchise has never won a World Series, with their last appearance in the Fall Classic dating back to 1982. The potential addition of a pitcher like Tarik Skubal could be the piece that helps the Brewers finally break through and contend for a championship.
