The Brewers re-commit Brandon Woodruff, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. It will be a two-year deal for the McKinnis Sports client, although the financial elements of the pact are not yet publicly known.
Woodruff, 31, has spent his entire career with the Brewers, but it seemed like that relationship would eventually end. Not long ago, the Brewers had three key players, all of whom were on track to earn eight-figure draft salaries in 2024 before hitting free agency. Woodruff was one of them, along with other right-wingers Corbin Burnes and shortstop Willy Adames. Given the way the club operates, it was expected that at least one of this group would be traded in exchange for salary relief and replenishment of future talent.
But Woodruff struggled with shoulder problems throughout 2023 and required surgery in October, putting his 2024 season in jeopardy. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected the right-hander would receive a salary of $11.6 million, a hefty amount for a pitcher who may not throw at all this year, especially for a lower-budget club like the Brewers . They reportedly explored a few trade scenarios, but ultimately they simply non-tendered Woodruff and sent him into free agency.
That gave every club a chance to sign him, with the Mets having already expressed interest. Their new president of baseball operations, David Stearns, is very familiar with Woodruff, as his time with the Brewers began a year after the righty was drafted. But in the end, Woodruff will return to Milwaukee to continue his tenure as a Brewer.
A two-year deal was always the most likely scenario for Woodruff. Pitchers who face such extended layoffs, usually due to Tommy John surgery, often sign such contracts. This time frame allows the player to receive a paycheck while injured, while also giving the club a chance to potentially play a healthy full season at a relatively affordable price. Woodruff's situation is slightly different in that he is coming back from shoulder surgery rather than elbow surgery, but the logic is the same.
When healthy, Woodruff has been one of the better pitchers in the game. He has a career earned run average of 3.10, striking out 28.9% of batters faced, walking just 6.5% and keeping 42.8% of balls in play on the ground . Among pitchers with at least 650 pitches since the start of the 2017 season, that ERA ranks sixth in the majors.
But staying on the mound was a bit of a problem for him, as he never threw 180 innings in any major league season. He is on the injured list in his big league career due to a left oblique strain, a right ankle sprain and the aforementioned shoulder issues from last year.
Regardless, the Brewers are certainly excited to bring Woodruff back into the fold, as his results when he was able to get the ball were clearly outstanding. They subtracted Burnes from this year's rotation by trading him to the Orioles and leaving them Freddy Peralta as a de facto ace. They also acquired DL Hall in this Burnes deal, with the left-hander hoping to secure a rotation spot this year. They also signed again Wade Miley And Colin Rea when adding Jacob Junis And Joe Ross incorporated into the mix via free agency.
If Woodruff returns to health by the end of the year, he will enter the mix and help the club perform at its best. Looking ahead to 2025, Milwaukee's rotation isn't very certain. Peralta is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, although he has $8 million in club options for next year and the year after, with those representing a virtual lock that triggers as long as he is healthy. Miley and Junis have options together for the next year, but both sides almost never take them up. The club has a 25 option for Rea with a modest salary of $5.5 million and a buyout of $1 million, making it a net decision of $4.5 million, but it's not a lock, which they would trigger due to his inconsistent track record. Hall still hasn't established himself as a capable big league starter.
Taking all of that into account, there is very little that can be inked for next year's rotation. There are some prospects near the majors that could move up, such as Robert Gasser And Jacob Misiorowski, but it makes perfect sense to bring Woodruff back into the fold and hopefully get him back healthy and productive by then. If successful, he and Peralta would give the club two strong top spots next year, with three spots available for younger players or future additions.
The club's payroll is listed at $122 million on Roster Resource. Cot's Baseball Contracts lists last year's Opening Day payroll at $119 million, down from $132 million the year before. Woodruff's salary is not yet known, but will likely put her in the 2022 Opening Day range.