Brandon Woodruff became an unrestricted free agent this offseason when the Milwaukee Brewers non-tendered him. It was undoubtedly not a move that many had anticipated before the 2023 season began. After all, Woodruff finished seventh in the 2021 Cy Young Award voting and went 13-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 2022. In fact, a lot of people believed that the Brewers would have to deal him, much like they did when they dealt Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles.
However, as negotiations between the Brewers and Burnes worsened, many began to suspect that Milwaukee could be able to extend Woodruff rather than trade him. After all, if they want to be truly competitive, they should have Woodruff and Freddy Peralta at the top of the rotation.
Obviously, that did not happen. Woodruff was restricted to just 11 starts in 2023 due to a series of shoulder issues. The second injury cost him the postseason, as well as a year of arbitration. It appeared like Woodruff’s tenure with Milwaukee had come to an end.
But it isn’t. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Brewers will bring Woodruff back.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Brandon Woodruff Agree to a 2-Year Contract
On Monday morning, Heyman announced on X (previously Twitter) that Woodruff and the Brewers have agreed on a two-year contract:
Due to the shoulder injury, Woodruff will most likely not pitch for the Brewers in 2024. However, he may be ready by September, just in time for a postseason push.
The monetary terms of the two-year agreement have not yet been published.
The Two-Year Deal with Brandon Woodruff Is Perfect for the Milwaukee Brewers
One has to presume that whatever the pay numbers are, they are not excessively high. Milwaukee, for better or worse, is exceedingly frugal with their money. Woodruff’s two-year contract must indicate that they are optimistic that he will fully recover. If he is able to return in September, he will provide valuable leadership to a young squad, having made numerous postseason pushes with the Brewers over the course of his career.
Even though he cannot pitch until 2025, having him for that season is equivalent to signing a free agency starter without having to sign one. Of course, if the injury forces him to transfer to the bullpen, he will become one of the top bullpen arms on the team, which is saying something considering how talented Milwaukee’s relief pitchers are.
Furthermore, the agreement allows Woodruff to remain several more years with Milwaukee. Like many other players, he has stated in the past that he intends to play for the Brewers for the rest of his career. Unlike others, he seems to mean it.
