This Milwaukee Brewers trade rumor should scare Chicago Cubs fans

The Milwaukee Brewers have been one of the surprises of the 2024 Major League Baseball season despite the Chicago Cubs luring Craig Counsell away this past offseason.

It would seem that the Brewers haven't missed a beat this season in Counsell's absence, and Corbin Burnes now pitching with the Baltimore Orioles. The Brewers took three-of-four games against the Cubs last week and entering play on Wednesday, Milwaukee is in first place in the National League Central with a six-game lead over the Cubs.

With the calendar now officially on month of June, now is the time that teams begin to establish themselves as either buyers or sellers.

ESPN's Jeff Passan issued an early primer on the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline (Subscription Required) and it should be no surprise that he has the Brewers listed as likely adders. What is problematic for the Cubs is the type of moves that Passan speculates the Brewers will be in the market for.

"Garrett Crochet certainly fits and is what they hope DL Hall -- whom they got in a deal for Corbin Burnes, the sort of ace they really could use now -- can be: a lefty with obscene stuff who can head a rotation. Same goes for Jesus Luzardo. Milwaukee has the system to land one of them."

ESPN

For a Cubs' team that struggles to hit the Brewers' pitching, the idea of Milwaukee adding another top-of-the-rotation arm should be concerning. Even more concerning is that if it is Garrett Crochet or Jesus Luzardo, both pitchers are under team control beyond this season.

The Cubs currently have the advantage over the Brewers with their pitching staff. The Cubs' starting rotation is strong enough that it should be able to carry the team back into the National League Central race. But a retooled Brewers' team only getting better at the deadline would only make the climb that much lengthier for the North Siders.