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One of the biggest needs for the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline is starting pitching. With all of the injuries for the team on the mound, addressing this need seems paramount for the front office over the next few weeks. There are some names floating around who could address this need, but there is one that a major outlet is suggesting that makes a lot of sense.
Let’s take a closer look at who it is and why the Brewers could make the decision to target him.
Clay Holmes could be a trade target for the Milwaukee Brewers
The Athletic’s MLB Trade Deadline Big Board gives an idea of how likely a player is to be traded before Aug. 3. The quartet of Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr, Chad Jennings, and Eno Sarris contributed to it and have the best fits for each player potentially on the trade block. For Milwaukee, one of their targets is starting pitcher and the New York Mets’ Clay Holmes is an option.
The right-handed starter is recovering from a broken leg, but has been progressing to return soon. While a deal could happen, below is what the Big Board says about Holmes heading into the trade deadline:
“First, he has to get healthy. After a line drive broke his leg, Holmes is targeting a return sometime in August. If he returns on the earlier end, he represents a safe ground-ball, mid-rotation type who can help this year and then is on a reasonable player option for next year at $12 million. A more cost-conscious team with needs all over their rotation might jump at the chance – but the leg has to heal.”
The Mets are no stranger to making deals with the Brewers, as the Mets’ president of baseball operations is David Stearns, someone with deep ties in Milwaukee’s organization. The two sides have also made trades before, so they are familiar with each other’s farm systems. Holmes is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list a few days before the trade deadline, giving teams an idea of how far he is from a return to the mound.
The two-time All-Star pitcher was looking sharp to begin the 2026 season before a comebacker put him on the injured list. In nine starts, he is 404 with a 2.39 ERA and a 1.101 WHIP across 52.2 innings. With the injuries plaguing Milwaukee’s pitching staff, this would be a strong addition if Holmes looks back to his early-season self when he returns from the injury.
With the Mets looking to hit the reset button and the Brewers having a deep minor league system, there could be a deal that happens between the two franchises. Milwaukee needs help with their pitching staff, but are going to have competition to land Holmes via a trade. Holmes may not be a rental, as he has a $12 million player option for the 2027 season, so pairing him with Jacob Misiorowski for a full season may be the thought process if they agree to a trade.
Having a ground-ball pitcher like Holmes would certainly help the defense going forward statiscally and keep the ball in the park. It will be intriguing to see if the Brew Crew are interested and if they are able to send a strong enough package to trade for him, as starting pitching is a premium at this time of the season.
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