The Milwaukee Brewers have been on a roll lately, winning nine of their last ten games to move to a 34-29 record, just half a game behind the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants for the third National League wild card spot. This surge is even more impressive considering the slew of injuries that have plagued their starting rotation. Despite the setbacks, the available pitchers have stepped up admirably. Rookie Chad Patrick has maintained a 2.97 ERA through 12 starts, and trade acquisition Quinn Priester has posted a 2.51 ERA over his last 32 1/3 innings. Recently, the rotation received a boost with the returns of Jose Quintana and Aaron Civale from the injured list.
At the forefront of the Brewers’ rotation is ace Freddy Peralta, who boasts a 2.92 ERA across 71 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .216 batting average. His dominant presence is a key factor in Milwaukee’s current success. But despite the team’s strong showing and Peralta’s elite performance, there have been whispers suggesting the Brewers might entertain trading him at the deadline. From the organization’s perspective, this seems unfathomable.
Robert Murray of FanSided recently listed Peralta as a potential trade candidate, citing the Brewers’ history of parting with pitchers ahead of contract expirations, such as Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams. Peralta has a team-friendly \$8 million option for 2026, but without an extension, he could leave in free agency shortly thereafter. Murray argues that Milwaukee could maximize Peralta’s trade value now rather than waiting until his contract nears expiration and his value declines.
Though this strategy has some logic, trading Peralta would send a clear signal that the Brewers are conceding the season. At this moment, they are surging, with their offense finding rhythm and the pitching staff managing despite injuries. They’ve stayed competitive without Nestor Cortes and Brandon Woodruff, and they’ve creatively managed the rotation by using a mix of Priester and DL Hall as a pseudo-fifth starter. Wednesday’s 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds demonstrated just how effective this approach can be, with Brewers pitchers allowing only one run on three hits in eight innings.
Still, none of Milwaukee’s current arms can replace what Peralta brings. He’s the only pitcher on the roster to make 30 starts in each of the past two seasons and has struck out 410 batters over that stretch. While Woodruff once had ace potential, his return remains uncertain due to a recent setback during rehab. Cortes is also not expected back until after the All-Star break.
Peralta represents stability, dominance, and leadership—a true cornerstone for a franchise still pushing for a division title. Trading him would undermine the very momentum they’ve built. Unless the Brewers suffer a dramatic collapse before the July 31 trade deadline, the notion of dealing Peralta is premature and counterproductive. As it stands, the Brewers should focus on competing, not dismantling their foundation.
