The Brewers have made a strategic move by acquiring right-hander Jake Woodford from the Rays. This trade comes after Woodford activated the upward mobility clause in his minor league contract, prompting the Rays to either trade him or add him to their roster.
In exchange, the Rays receive right-hander K.C. Hunt.
To make room for Woodford on their 40-man roster, Milwaukee placed outfielder Akil Baddoo on the 60-day injured list.
Woodford, 29, had previously signed with the Rays in November. His best performances came during his time with the Cardinals in 2021 and 2022, where he pitched 116 innings with a solid 3.26 ERA. While his strikeout rate was a modest 15.4%, he excelled in inducing ground balls and limiting walks.
The past few years have been challenging for Woodford, with his ERA climbing above 6.00. Despite this, his recent spring training performance showed promise, with a slight uptick in velocity, reaching 94 mph. The Brewers are banking on this potential, hoping to unlock a new level of performance.
Milwaukee is known for its ability to refine pitchers, and Woodford could benefit from this expertise. He is out of minor league options, meaning he will start on the active roster. If he performs well, the Brewers could retain him through arbitration next season.
On the other side of the trade, K.C. Hunt, 25, has shown potential as a Double-A starter.
Last year, he posted a 4.45 ERA with a 23.8% strikeout rate over 121 1/3 innings. While not projected as a future star, Hunt adds depth to the Rays' system.
Meanwhile, Akil Baddoo, who joined the Brewers on a major league deal, is sidelined with a left quad strain and will be out until at least late May. This opens up opportunities for Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell in the outfield, with Christian Yelich rotating in as needed. Blake Perkins remains an option at Triple-A, ready to step up if necessary.
The Brewers' move to acquire Woodford highlights their commitment to bolstering their pitching staff, while the Rays gain a promising prospect in Hunt. Both teams are making calculated bets on potential and performance as the season unfolds.