If the Brewers believe the best path forward to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League this offseason is to load up on young talent, Milwaukee would have a willing trade partner in general manager Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.
Alexander Wilson of EmpireSportsMedia suggests the Yankees could look to aggressively add to the top of the rotation during this hot stove period, with sights set on Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.
Brewers collect top prospects from Yankees in proposed Freddy Peralta blockbuster
Aug 12, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
After toppling the archrival Chicago Cubs in the NLDS, but falling to the eventual World Champion Dodgers, the Brewers could look to reload ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Willis proposes the following deal:
Yankees acquire:
Freddy Peralta
Brewers acquire:
Luis Gil or Will Warren
Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez
Other prospects
“Once the lineup is secured, I expect Cashman to aggressively pivot to the rotation by targeting Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta,” Wilson writes, for Empire Sports. “… I anticipate the package will center around a young MLB-ready arm like Will Warren or potentially even Luis Gil. Along with a bundle of prospects (potentially including Spencer Jones/or even Jasson Dominguez) to replenish Milwaukee’s system.
“It is a steep price to pay, but for a Yankees team that is firmly in “win-now” mode, hoarding prospects while the championship window is open is malpractice. These two moves—locking in Bellinger and trading for Peralta—transform a quiet winter into a terrifying spring for the rest of the AL East.”
Acquiring Peralta makes a lot of sense for the Yankees, who could be prioritizing finding the missing piece for the pitching staff this offseason.
Aug 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts after giving up a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, the Brewers would be adding an ascending 27-year-old starter, in Gill, who posted a 3.32 ERA in New York last season, and a speedster on the basepaths, in Dominguez, who stole 23 bags in 2025, his third Major League season.
While parting with a homegrown ace like Peralta is a difficult pill to swallow, this type of ‘sell-high’ maneuver is exactly how Milwaukee maintains its competitive edge.
By converting one elite starter into a haul of high-ceiling, cost-controlled talent, especially if Milwaukee can turn those “other prospects” into top-20 players in New York’s farm system, the Brewers wouldn’t just be reloading for 2026 … they’d be building a roster with the depth and dynamism required to finally outlast the giants of the National League.