The Brewers don’t have a crowded offseason to-do list, but one decision could shape the whole winter: what to do with Brandon Woodruff.
Woodruff, a two-time All-Star, played this season on the one-year qualifying offer he received last offseason and is headed for free agency. When he was healthy enough to pitch in 2026, he was excellent. In 45 1/3 innings, the right-hander posted a 2.98 ERA with a 47-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The problem, of course, is availability. Woodruff suffered a shoulder injury that was initially believed to require surgery, and at one point it looked like his 2026 season - and possibly even 2027 - might be wiped out. Surgery turned out not to be necessary, though, and he has been throwing recently.
That still doesn’t mean a return this season is guaranteed. If Woodruff does get back on the mound for Milwaukee before the year ends, it likely would take a deep playoff run to make it happen. The bigger question is what comes next.
His recent history makes the choice complicated. Woodruff missed the entire 2024 season and has logged just 21 total games across the 2025 and 2026 campaigns.
He also carried a hefty price tag, ranking as the Brewers’ second-highest salary at just over $22 million. Only Woodruff and Christian Yelich topped $10 million in salary in 2026, not counting trade deadline additions.
Still, there’s a case for bringing him back if the price is right. When Woodruff is on the mound, he still looks like an elite starter. And beyond the performance, there’s the human side of it too: he’s a homegrown Brewer who has spent his entire big league career in Milwaukee, and he’s well-liked in the clubhouse and around the city.
Free agency will come down to the numbers, and Milwaukee almost certainly won’t be looking to match what Woodruff made in 2026 after he missed so much time. But if a cheaper prove-it deal is on the table, it’s the kind of move the Brewers should seriously weigh.
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