Brewers Face a Costly Decision on Brandon Woodruff

Brandon Woodruff is a free agent after pitching the 2026 season for the Milwaukee Brewers on a qualifying offer worth just over $22 million. The right-hander made nine regular-season starts before being shut down, then returned during the World Series.

In those nine starts, Woodruff posted a 2.98 ERA. He entered the offseason healthy, and his performance suggested he can still pitch at an elite level. But his recent availability is a concern: he has made only 32 regular-season appearances since the start of 2023.

Spotrac estimates Woodruff’s market value at slightly more than $11.8 million for one year. A deal at that level would make him Milwaukee’s third-highest-paid player, behind Christian Yelich and William Contreras.

The Brewers could instead consider a two-year contract worth about $20 million in total, which would lower his annual average while giving him a second season. Woodruff has been a central figure in the franchise, and a departure would be surprising, but the club must balance his importance and ability against his limited recent workload and the cost of keeping him.

The question for Milwaukee is whether to bring him back for 2027 without committing beyond what the team considers manageable. The report argues the Brewers should retain Woodruff, but avoid paying more than necessary.