MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers entered the MLB trade deadline with the best record in baseball for the second straight season and left with three new arms — but not the big bat many fans were hoping for in Tarik Skubal, who was dealt to the Dodgers.
The Brewers made two trades in the final 90 minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline, adding right-handed starter Dustin May, right-handed starter Antonio Senzatela and relief pitcher JoJo Romero in exchange for four prospects.
"I think, especially this time of year, you can never have enough pitching, and I think the guys that we got are pretty battle-tested, experienced guys," General Manager Matt Arnold said. "Talk about, you know, Dustin May and JoJo Romero and Tony Senzatela, like these guys have pitched in some big games, and they're tough, and they're experienced, and so I think they're going to fit in really well."
The headline deal brought May over from division rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. May is on a one-year deal and carries a 4.48 ERA. He previously spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before joining the Boston Red Sox at last year's trade deadline. May is familiar with Milwaukee — he threw a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Brewers on May 27, striking out 15 consecutive batters.
To acquire May and Romero, the Brewers sent away outfielder Alexander Frias, their No. 11 prospect, and outfielder Josiah Ragsdale, their No. 13 prospect.
Watch: Brewers GM defends trade deadline moves as club pushes for postseason
Shortly after, Milwaukee added Senzatela from the Colorado Rockies, dealing left-handed pitcher Mark Manfredi and shortstop Juan Martinez in return.
Arnold did not commit to any starting roles or expanded rotations for the growing pitching roster. He said they are still "working through" what roles the new teammates will take on.
"Ultimately, I think we were able to accomplish a lot over the last 48 hours to get some stuff done to really help the team," Arnold said.
The Brewers were not able to land Detroit Tigers outfielder Tarik Skubal, who went to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Pat Murphy addressed the team's pursuit of Skubal.
"The initial reaction that it was kind of like us against the Dodgers for Skubal, I don't believe that for one minute. Meaning, I'm not saying we weren't. I know we went after trying to get that player. I don't know exactly the details of it all, but I know this: it isn't as simple as that's a better package. It's not as simple as that. You know, there's a lot more, a lot more layers to it. I don't understand it fully, but I think this is a bigger situation rather than, well, that was a better package, and to say that the Brewers didn't try is simply incorrect," Murphy said.
Arnold noted that the Dodgers getting Skubal doesn't change anything for his team.
"They're already really good. We know that, and we've got to go through them to get where we want to be," he said.
Arnold said the new teammates could arrive in Milwaukee as soon as Monday night or Tuesday.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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