Brewers 'toyed' with wild trade idea for 0.74 ERA closer after missing on Tarik Skubal

The Milwaukee Brewers were likely the No. 2 team in the Tarik Skubal trade sweepstakes this summer, just missing out due to their four-player untouchable list.

After missing out on Skubal, the Brewers went out and added Dustin May, who had a good debut for Milwaukee, and Jojo Romero, a fun left-handed reliever.

However, the Brewers had considered a much bolder move after missing out on Skubal, as ESPN's Jeff Passan reports Milwaukee's front office "toyed" with the idea of a blockbuster trade for San Diego Padres 0.74 ERA closer Mason Miller.

Brewers 'toyed' with trade idea for Mason Miller

"While Milwaukee toyed with the idea of paying an obscene price to get the best closer in the world, Mason Miller, from San Diego, it wound up a very Brewers-like deadline," Passan writes.

After missing out on Skubal, who went to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Brewers considered shifting gears to try to pry Miller from the Padres.

It would've cost them a fortune, maybe even more than it'd take to acquire Skubal from the Tigers. But Miller is under control through 2029, and would be a lot more palatable a player to splurge for in a blockbuster deal.

The 27-year-old flame-throwing closer has a 0.74 ERA this season with 2.9 bWAR, 28 saves, and 90 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched.

MORE: How Cubs inadvertently helped Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal

There's no denying that Miller would've been an awesome addition to this Brewers team. The only issue? His price tag was ridiculously high.

The Padres ended up buying at the deadline anyway, so trading for Miller might not have even been an option on the table for the Brewers.

But, Passan is still reporting the Brewers toyed with such a wild idea, though their final haul of May and Romero is much more in line with what the Brewers typically do at trade deadlines. Still, Miller came up as an option this summer, albeit only briefly.

More MLB news:

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• What did Mets get for Freddy Peralta? Rays send three prospects for 4.99 ERA SP
• Tigers receive lousy grade for Tarik Skubal trade to Dodgers from ESPN
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