MLB's contending small-market clubs faced criticism at the August trade deadline after the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a trade for two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The assumption was those other clubs didn't do enough to outbid the Dodgers. They were hoarding prospects to stay competitive longer rather than pushing their chips in for a title right now.
One of those teams was the Milwaukee Brewers, who were locked in a virtual dead heat with the Dodgers atop the National League standings. Sure, they were having a great regular season, but there was no way they'd beat the juggernaut Dodgers in a playoff series now.
Well... about that. Two months later, the top-seeded Brewers are one game from sweeping Skubal and the Dodgers in the NLCS
after their Game 3 win Wednesday night. Maybe they didn't need the flame-throwing lefty.
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Of course, Milwaukee's failure at the deadline wasn't for a lack of attempt. In fact, some believe the Brewers actually offered the Detroit Tigers a better package than the Dodgers. At the very least, they matched LA's offer of three prospects and at least two ranked in the top 100, according to MLB.com.
At the time, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the Skubal trade wasn't simply a Dodgers-versus-Brewers thing:
"I don’t believe that for one minute. I’m not saying -- 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. There’s a lot more layers to it. I don’t understand it fully. But I think this is a bigger situation than, ‘Well, that was a better package.’ And to say that the Brewers didn’t try is simply incorrect."
Whatever went into Skubal landing in LA, it's worked in Milwaukee's favor. The Brewers kept their prospects, and barring a monumental meltdown, they'll beat the team that did land Skubal on the way to a World Series they'll be favored to win no matter who advances from the AL. It would be the franchise's first pennant since 1982 and first-ever title.
If the Brewers had won the trade, they'd likely still be in this same spot, just as dominant as they are today. But it has to feel sweeter to fall short, absorb the backlash and get the last laugh over all the people who wrote you off. They kept their cake and they get to eat it too.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Brewers are getting last laugh in failed Tarik Skubal trade
