Why Brewers and Rays have leg-up on Dodgers in Tarik Skubal sweepstakes

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Why Brewers and Rays have leg-up on Dodgers in Tarik Skubal sweepstakes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to be trade deadline buyers this season, and the team is eyeing help for the starting rotation and bullpen this summer, among other lineup issues.

Amid the team's rotation need, all eyes naturally fall on Tarik Skubal, the Cy Young winner from the Detroit Tigers, who might actually be on the move at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. But could the Brewers actually land him in a blockbuster deal?

According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Brewers aren't simply a landing spot; they are, along with the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the pack as a Skubal landing spot this summer for a few different reasons.

Why Brewers, Rays are leaders of the pack for Tarik Skubal sweepstakes​

"The immediate reaction is always to say the Dodgers are the biggest threat, but in this case, I don't think they are," Feinsand writes. "I would put the Brewers and Rays ahead of the rest of the pack, as Milwaukee and Tampa Bay have deep farm systems and a real opportunity to make some noise in October with the addition of the two-time Cy Young winner."

The Brewers and Rays, aside from being budget-conscious teams in need of starting pitching, both have a fantastic farm system that can go head-to-head with any team in baseball.

Out in Los Angeles, the Dodgers' farm system is also one of the best in baseball. But the Brewers and Rays, with their more pressing rotation needs than the Dodgers, alongside their strong farm system, have the edge in a Skubal trade.

While the Dodgers, and maybe even teams like the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies, might be suitors for Skubal, the Brewers' top competition might be the Rays.

MORE: Tigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without him

The Rays tried trading Junior Caminero for Shohei Ohtani in 2023, and could very well be star-hunting this summer as well. Skubal is the best player who has a realistic chance of being traded, as Mason Miller isn't likely to be dealt this summer.

If Milwaukee believes they have a good enough roster to win it all, which appears they do, adding Skubal to the rotation alongside Jacob Misiorowski would be the kind of difference-making move worth spending a fortune on.

Feinsand believes the Brewers and Rays are the leaders in the clubhouse to win the Skubal sweepstakes, and either team winning it would make sense. Brewers fans should tune in for the deadline on Monday, August 3, as a big move could be in the works.

More MLB news:​

• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani injury update essentially ends Cy Young chances
• Yankees are ‘leading candidate’ to trade for Twins’ Ryan Jeffers
• Red Sox ‘would love’ to trade for Angels’ Zach Neto or Astros’ Jeremy Pena
• Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest update
• Mets ‘desperate’ to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure

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