The Milwaukee Brewers may not be dealing with much roster churn at the moment, but Jake Woodford has created a decision point they can’t ignore.
According to MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams, the right-handed reliever is exercising an opt-out clause in his contract with Milwaukee. That leaves the Brewers with a simple choice: bring him up from the minors or let him go.
Woodford’s numbers haven’t helped his case. In 16 games with the Brewers, he went 1-0 with a 6.94 ERA and a 1.757 WHIP across 23.1 innings. His time with Triple-A Nashville hasn’t gone much better, either, as he posted a 0-0 record with a 9.95 ERA and a 2.211 WHIP in 6.1 innings.
If Milwaukee grants the release, Woodford would be free to sign with any of the other 29 teams. There’s also the possibility the Brewers try to get something back for him instead of simply losing him, with the article noting a low-level prospect could be in play if they decide not to call him up.
Milwaukee originally acquired Woodford ahead of the regular season in a trade that sent RHP K.C. Hunt and cash the other way.
The bullpen context matters here, too. Milwaukee’s relief corps has been one of the best in baseball, sitting sixth with a 3.61 reliever ERA.
Woodford’s struggles have been easy to track pitch by pitch. Per his Baseball Savant page, hitters have done the most damage against his cutter, going 13-for-36 (.361) with two homers and four strikeouts against the pitch.
This isn’t the first time the Brewers have had to sort through Woodford’s status. He was designated for assignment at the start of June, then chose free agency after going unclaimed on waivers.
He wound up back with the organization almost immediately on a minor league deal. After allowing eight runs, seven earned, in 6 1/3 innings, he’s once again at a crossroads: stay with Milwaukee and get a shot in the majors, or move on.
‘Medium Woo’ going forward.
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