Cubs' biggest rival's downward spiral continues with rumors they're shopping their ace

It is not a good time to be a Milwaukee Brewers fan.

Sure, they outlasted the Chicago Cubs in an epic five-game set in the NLDS. But, after getting embarrassed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a NLCS sweep - in which their offense registered historically bad outputs - a new rumor has shaken the Brewers to the core.

Peralta is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, and the unquestioned ace of the Brewers' pitching staff. He was at his best in 2025, logging a career-best 2.70 ERA in 176 2/3 innings while earning 3.6 fWAR.

He's also been a Cubs killer his entire career. In 22 appearances against the North Siders, the 29-year-old right-hander has a 9-3 record, 3.21 ERA, and 131 strikeouts. If he's traded, then good riddance.

Freddy Peralta trade rumors have significant Cubs consequences

Of course, there's larger consequences to this than just whatever the Brewers receive in a trade. Peralta's club option for 2026 is only worth $8 million, after which point he'll hit free agency.

Considering a trade of one of the best pitchers in the sport while he still has a year of cheap control remaining just to avoid having to negotiate a nine-figure contract with him is a problem that infects the entire sport at large. The Brewers know their reality as a small-budget team, but this kind of behavior by a franchise that just had the best record in baseball is precisely why the 2027 MLB lockout is going to drag on for a long time.

Narrowing our scope, if Peralta is traded, the powers of the NL Central could shift this offseason. The Cubs and their 92-win squad will remain mostly intact, though Kyle Tucker's looming departure via free agency could stunt their growth as well.

Of course, the Brewers have pulled this trick many times in previous years and escaped mostly unharmed. Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams, and Josh Hader have all been traded on the cusp of free agency over the past few seasons, and yet, Milwaukee has won four of the last five division titles.

Still, that level of talent attrition eventually catches up to you, especially on the pitching side. The Brewers deserve credit for keeping up the act for so long as a small-market club, but it's a little ridiculous that the only All-Star pitchers they haven't traded this decade are Brandon Woodruff, Trevor Megill, and rookie Jacob Misiorowski.

With the Pirates and Cardinals rebuilding and the Reds showcasing many flaws in their brief postseason appearance, the Cubs should have a path to winning the division in 2026... assuming they take advantage of this current window of contention.