Brewers Make Deal With Cardinals at MLB Trade Deadline

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Brewers Make Deal With Cardinals at MLB Trade Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tate Mosher | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 4:13 PM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers are once again in the driver’s seat for the National League Central. Entering Monday, they own a 69-42 record. That has them first place in the division and six and a half games up on the second-place Chicago Cubs.

However, with about two months still to go in the regular season, the Brewers know they have to keep their foot on the gas. In fact, the Cubs just made a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire starter Kevin Gausman on Sunday night.

Now on Monday afternoon the Brewers also acquired a right-handed starter. It was reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic shortly after 3 p.m. ET that they traded for St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Dustin May and JoJo Romero.

Brewers acquiring RHP Dustin May and LH reliever Jo Jo Romero from Cardinals, source tells me and @WillSammon
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 3, 2026

The return package consists of minor league outfielders Alexander Frias (A) and Josiah Ragsdale (AA). Both are ranked in the Brewers' top 30 prospects. For Milwaukee, they are getting two major league pitchers that will help to fill out their bullpen and starting rotation for their playoff run.

May is a 28-year-old right-handed starting pitcher. This season, he has made 21 starts, throwing 109 innings. He is 5-7 with a 4.38 ERA, striking out 106 and walking 35.

While not quite a headline-grabbing get for the club, you have to think that Milwaukee’s infamous pitching lab will be able to do some good work with May. He is under contract through the end of this season.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (3)Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The other trade piece, left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, is 29 years old and has been a Cardinal since 2022. This season, he has appeared in 44 games, throwing 43 innings. He has a 3.35 ERA, striking out 43 batters and walking 16.

If the Brewers needed anything at the deadline pitching-wise, it was a lefty reliever. Before Romero, they only roster two, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall. Romero will fit right into their bullpen before he becomes a free agent at year’s end.

Milwaukee will next host a four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Monday at 7:40 p.m. ET. It will be Brandon Sproat for the Brewers (3-6, 5.05 ERA) and Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) for the Pirates.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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