The Milwaukee Brewers have effectively established themselves as the division leader this season, despite the persistent doubt around the league. Even without many power hitters or recognizable veteran pitchers, the Brewers continue to win because they have consistently developed young players with a high floor. With their incredible depth and overall resilience, Milwaukee has positioned itself as an attractive buyer once again at the trade deadline.

The last time the Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays linked up for a major trade was back in 2021, when the Jays sent first baseman and designated hitter Rowdy Tellez for pitchers Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis. These two teams haven’t traded with each other since then because they found better trading partners to complement their needs. But this time, two teams may be able to find common ground as the Blue Jays continue to slip in the standings.

The Blue Jays are in a tricky spot because they aren’t able to go on a full fire-sale mode as a team that committed to contending with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s blockbuster extension. That doesn’t mean the team will necessarily remain conservative at the deadline. Outside of the star first baseman or more valuable players – think Dylan Cease, Louis Varland and Trey Yesavage – with years left on their contracts, the Blue Jays will most likely listen to any trade offers for virtually everyone on their team. At the same time, they’ll have to thread the needle creatively to net the best returns from their trades so they can meaningfully compete next year and beyond.

The Brewers are an oddly good fit for the Blue Jays on paper this year because Toronto has what the Brewers are looking for: underrated power hitters and pitching depth.

Milwaukee is known for its excellent player retooling, especially on the pitching front. One of the most recent examples of this redemption arc is former Red Sox pitcher Kyle Harrison. He may be on the injured list at the moment, but he has become one of the more dependable starters in the Brewers’ rotation this season since the trade. To fortify their rotation further with a slew of pitching injuries, they have also acquired Lance McCullers Jr.

No team can have enough pitching, even a team with robust pitching like the Brewers. Should the Brewers consider trading for more pitching depth, the Blue Jays can offer Shane Bieber, who can easily support as one of the back-end starters.

On the hitting side, the Blue Jays have sneaky power hitters like George Springer and Daulton Varsho to offer. While both hitters have struggled at the plate this season, their power potential remains intact. That can be appealing enough for the Brewers to consider using one of these hitters for a platoon split.

From the Blue Jays’ perspective, trading with the Brewers should provide them with more depth in the system. The Brewers’ strength has been their pitching development; the Blue Jays could ask for middle-of-the-pack pitchers in Milwaukee’s prospect rankings to replenish their pitching depth. The Brewers also have some position player depth on the infield, which isn’t the best match for the Blue Jays, who are managing a glut of infielders on the current roster.

The likelihood of a trade between the Brewers and Blue Jays doesn’t rank high because the Brewers will have better trade options. Yet, they could settle for a low-risk trade with the Blue Jays if they prefer to keep their better prospects in the system.

Taking a chance on one of the Blue Jays’ hitters or pitchers as rentals could be a more pragmatic choice for the Brewers, who are capitalizing on their playoff chances without sacrificing their future.

Don’t be surprised if there’s a trade news notification about trades involving these two teams. They aren’t the perfect partners, but they may have just what they need from each other.