Brandon Woodruff - Heyman: Woody accepts qualifying offer 1 yr/ $22million

[BrewerFan]

On 10/29/2025 at 8:33 PM, long ball said:

Woodruff has always been my favorite of that crop of pitchers who debuted at about the same time (burnes, Peralta, and Hader the others)

Same here. I think the relationship was... a little irrationally harmed with Burnes during the Covid thing, but Woody has just seemed like a team 1st guy and I liked all of them, but Woody was my favorite. 

He was also somehow underrated. Burnes was "the ace" but I trusted Woodruff as much as him. 

 

I'd definitely extend the QO and he'll probably turn it down, he'll probably leave, but I think there's a small chance they work something out. I don't think this is an Adames situation where we love him, he wants to be here, we want him here, we just know it's not feasible(I actually believe most players when they say that... most people would rather stay in the same city with their teammates IF all things are equal).

 

I think we're in a good spot either way, but I think Woodruff is going to put together a really good year next year and continue to regain some velo. I don't think he'll be able to sit in that 98 range, but I think he'll be able to get back to where he can sit 94-96 and touch 98 every once in a while. 

[BrewerFan]

On 10/26/2025 at 8:28 AM, RobertCrawley said:

There are some elements of loyalty, but in the end, people have almost always gone where they are paid more money. They should go where they are paid more money because they've earned it.

It's always easy to turn down money on someone else's behalf! 

IF... I was blessed with the talent to throw a ball like Woodruff or hit one well enough that I was in demand, even as a diehard Brewers fan, I'm not passing up generational money to be loyal. 

Now I wouldn't be like Counsell. If I was locked into making 5.5 for pretty much the next decade or so(basically as long as I wanted to keep managing) I think I'd have turned down that money. 

But if you're talking about a limited amount of time to make money... like an athlete, I'm not taking 1/20 when 3/75 is on the table. 
I'm not that loyal to people I don't know!

[RobertCrawley]

1 hour ago, BrewerFan said:

It's always easy to turn down money on someone else's behalf! 

IF... I was blessed with the talent to throw a ball like Woodruff or hit one well enough that I was in demand, even as a diehard Brewers fan, I'm not passing up generational money to be loyal. 

Now I wouldn't be like Counsell. If I was locked into making 5.5 for pretty much the next decade or so(basically as long as I wanted to keep managing) I think I'd have turned down that money. 

But if you're talking about a limited amount of time to make money... like an athlete, I'm not taking 1/20 when 3/75 is on the table. 
I'm not that loyal to people I don't know!

I would have had more respect for Greg if he just said he wanted to make more money, instead of the nonsense he was throwing out and expecting us to believe.

Loyalty is a little bit of a thing, but it goes both ways. We can't have loyalty to players who don't perform well if we intend to win. We may have contract obligations though.

[BrewerFan]

21 minutes ago, RobertCrawley said:

I would have had more respect for Greg if he just said he wanted to make more money.

Loyalty is a little bit of a thing, but it goes both ways. We can't have loyalty to players who don't perform well if we intend to win. We may have contract obligations though.

I mean... it depends on the context. 

Your loyalty should be to your Family and those who depend on your first and foremost.

Loyalty as a player, I think Adames and Woodruff and those guys, they have shown "loyalty." But... it's always a balance. 

As for Counsell... I don't even know that it was about the money. If it was, he'd have given the Brewers the opportunity to match. That was how they left it.... and he didn't. So he may have thought it'd be easier to win with another 100M in payroll. Which is funny since the Cubs aren't run as well and this was their big move. Kyle Tucker... and they could EASILY afford to pay him... and they won't. 

So whatever his reasons, I don't care... I'll take Murph!

 

(I am a bit leery about Weeks taking over, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there). 

[RobertCrawley]

11 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I mean... it depends on the context. 

Your loyalty should be to your Family and those who depend on your first and foremost.

Loyalty as a player, I think Adames and Woodruff and those guys, they have shown "loyalty." But... it's always a balance. 

As for Counsell... I don't even know that it was about the money. If it was, he'd have given the Brewers the opportunity to match. That was how they left it.... and he didn't. So he may have thought it'd be easier to win with another 100M in payroll. Which is funny since the Cubs aren't run as well and this was their big move. Kyle Tucker... and they could EASILY afford to pay him... and they won't. 

So whatever his reasons, I don't care... I'll take Murph!

 

(I am a bit leery about Weeks taking over, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there). 

I thought we were talking about baseball. I hope people don’t take a transactional approach to family members. 

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, RobertCrawley said:

I thought we were talking about baseball. I hope people don’t take a transactional approach to family members. 

 

What? No. Nobody said your loyalty to your family should be transactional... but no, we're talking about more than Baseball. 

We're talking about players signing contracts. Adames "loyalty" should be to... his family. He SHOULD be taking the largest contract on the table(or at least within reason) to take care of his family for generations. 

 

I don't know how we came away with a transactional approach to Family from that. 

 

[RobertCrawley]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

 

What? No. Nobody said your loyalty to your family should be transactional... but no, we're talking about more than Baseball. 

We're talking about players signing contracts. Adames "loyalty" should be to... his family. He SHOULD be taking the largest contract on the table(or at least within reason) to take care of his family for generations. 

 

I don't know how we came away with a transactional approach to Family from that. 

 

I have no problems with Willy signing for more cash. I’m still a fan, unless he’s playing against us. 

[Madhawk23]

Since Woody has already been through FA a couple of years ago when he had the shoulder surgery (and when we locked him up for this current 2-year deal), I'm assuming that means we won't get the Comp round draft pick if he declines the QO, right?  

[sveumrules]

32 minutes ago, Madhawk23 said:

Since Woody has already been through FA a couple of years ago when he had the shoulder surgery (and when we locked him up for this current 2-year deal), I'm assuming that means we won't get the Comp round draft pick if he declines the QO, right?  

Brewers still would get the comp pick since there was no QO attached on Woody's first foray into FA.

If he signs for over $50M the pick would be between the first round and Comp Round A. If he sign for less than $50M it would be after Comp Round B.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

I have no problems with Willy signing for more cash. I’m still a fan, unless he’s playing against us. 

... I don't think anyone does. 

 

[RobertCrawley]

6 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

... I don't think anyone does. 

 

You did not read all the posts about this. 

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

You did not read all the posts about this. 

Ok, I don't know where this went sideways... it seems like it was back somewhere in the "transactional family," part, but we're suddenly... kinda talking past each other. When someone says, "nobody thinks that," I don't think they literally mean not one single person. 

"Nobody wants a nuclear war." Well... I mean, I'm sure there are in fact SOME people that do... or at least will say they do. Some outliers. 

I haven't seen anyone say "Willy should have stayed here," especially without knowing what we even offered, but I suppose you're right. I did not read every post about this and someone could have. 

 

He only came up because I said your first loyalty should be to your family, and Woodruff and Adames were two guys who I think were pretty loyal, but there's a balance. Your Family has to be your priority. 

I would say if you think Adames was "disloyal," you're... pretty clueless and I'd guess a hypocrite as I'm guessing you(royal you... not literally you as an individual) would likely take the extra ~70 million dollars. 

 

Likewise, if Woodruff hits Free Agency and is offered 3/75 and we're only offering the QO or 3/45, then I will hold zero ill-will and I would expect most of the fanbase to feel the same. 

[RobertCrawley]

7 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

Ok, I don't know where this went sideways... it seems like it was back somewhere in the "transactional family," part, but we're suddenly... kinda talking past each other. When someone says, "nobody thinks that," I don't think they literally mean not one single person. 

"Nobody wants a nuclear war." Well... I mean, I'm sure there are in fact SOME people that do... or at least will say they do. Some outliers. 

I haven't seen anyone say "Willy should have stayed here," especially without knowing what we even offered, but I suppose you're right. I did not read every post about this and someone could have. 

 

He only came up because I said your first loyalty should be to your family, and Woodruff and Adames were two guys who I think were pretty loyal, but there's a balance. Your Family has to be your priority. 

I would say if you think Adames was "disloyal," you're... pretty clueless and I'd guess a hypocrite as I'm guessing you(royal you... not literally you as an individual) would likely take the extra ~70 million dollars. 

 

Likewise, if Woodruff hits Free Agency and is offered 3/75 and we're only offering the QO or 3/45, then I will hold zero ill-will and I would expect most of the fanbase to feel the same. 

You sound like one of those argue to argue internet bros, so I’ll just leave it there. 

[KCBrewerfan34]

I will be VERY surprised if Woody gets a 3 year guarantee, maybe that 3rd year is a club option. 

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

You sound like one of those argue to argue internet bros, so I’ll just leave it there. 

LOL... I'm honestly confused when this became an argument... 

[sveumrules]

Ben Clemens at FanGraphs predicts 2/34 for Woodruff, while the crowd was split between two and three years for Brandon (2.59 average) with a $22M AAV.

[tmwiese55]

If that's all it takes I think most here would be on board.   I'm just an idiot, but I think he does better than that on the market.   However, if thats all there is or not much better I could see the logic in him taking another 2 year here (2nd being player option again) to try and get a full healthy year under his belt and then become FA next year hoping for the 5/110 type deal from someone.   

We'll see, with how expensive starting pitching is and what mediocre guys still get I think he'll do better than prediction though.

[Jopal78]

55 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

If that's all it takes I think most here would be on board.   I'm just an idiot, but I think he does better than that on the market.   However, if thats all there is or not much better I could see the logic in him taking another 2 year here (2nd being player option again) to try and get a full healthy year under his belt and then become FA next year hoping for the 5/110 type deal from someone.   

We'll see, with how expensive starting pitching is and what mediocre guys still get I think he'll do better than prediction though.

The Cubs declined a 3 year/57 million dollar option on Imanaga. Kind of similar pitchers: Woodruff more of a track record, but marginally older and greater history of major injury. 
 

my guess would be if the Cubs are unwilling to go 3/57 with Imanaga they probably aren’t many teams that are going to go 3/60 with Woodruff. 
 

Perhaps Woodruff‘s availability is a problem for the Brewers. If not, they have nothing to really lose by offering him a one-year at the QO price with the club option for the following year in the same neighborhood with a small buyout attached. 
 

Woodruff performs well in 2026 declines the player option he would’ve done better than just the QO and re-enters free agency. If he is injured or pitches poorly they have a bad contract on their books for one season. When 40-year-olds like Verlander and Charlie Morton are getting $15-$16 16 million a year. There’s not a whole lot of downside to keeping quality starting pitcher around if you can.

[Brian]

On 10/31/2025 at 3:05 PM, RobertCrawley said:

I have no problems with Willy signing for more cash. I’m still a fan, unless he’s playing against us. 

He would probably throw his first no hitter if he were pitching against us. 

[sveumrules]

20 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

The Cubs declined a 3 year/57 million dollar option on Imanaga. Kind of similar pitchers: Woodruff more of a track record, but marginally older and greater history of major injury. 

Woody is six months older and obviously is coming off injury, but their ability as pitchers is pretty far apart.

2019-23 Woody (595 IP)
69 ERA- | 72 FIP- | 86 AVG+
130 K+ | 72 BB+ | 81 HR+

2024 Imanaga (173 IP)
72 ERA- | 93 FIP- | 92 AVG+
112 K+ | 49 BB+ | 125 HR+

At their best both pitchers run prevention ended up in the same neighborhood, but Shota's peripherals (especially that elevated HR rate) portended likely regression.

2025 Woody (64 IP)
77 ERA- | 77 FIP- | 77 AVG+
147 K+ | 65 BB+ | 108 HR+

2025 Imanaga (144 IP)
90 ERA- | 119 FIP- | 89 AVG+
94 K+ | 55 BB+ | 167 HR+ 
 
Even coming off injury with diminished stuff 2025 Woodruff was on a whole other level than 2025 Imanaga. Small sample, but Brandon somehow managed to improve his K and BB rates coming back form the shoulder with only an elevated HR rate causing his FIP to backtrack slightly from his 2019-23 mark. Meanwhile Shota's HR rate exploded while his K rate cratered in his second MLB season.

I'd rather roll the dice on Woodruff staying healthy over Imanaga figuring out how to keep the ball in the yard, but I guess we'll see how MLB front offices view the two of them soon enough.

[Jopal78]

 I think you need to take Woodruff‘s metrics with a grain of salt. The Brewers nursed him through 2025.
 

Woodruff was babied through the 2025 season receiving  a full five days rest between nearly every start, sometimes more. When he was pitching, the Brewers rarely pushed him past 85 pitches. In the 4 starts they did, he had an ERA over 6.00. In the starts where he threw 90 or more pitches he had an era over 9.00. 

Then, despite being eased back into action with kid gloves he suffered additional injuries in May, and again in September (not to mention getting hit by a line drive on the elbow). People also forget Woodruff missed a huge chunk of the ‘23 season with a different shoulder injury before tearing the capsule and rotator cuff and has made it to 30 starts just once in his career. 

So one guy gave up too many homers at Wrigley in ‘25, the other’s medical file and durability are huge red flags. But I think you’re right time will tell soon enough. 

[owbc]

I have a hunch that Woody will be back with us on a 2-year deal unless somebody like the Mets offers him a lucrative 3 year deal.

If he signs a 2-year deal with someone else I think that will signal that we don't think he will return to being a front end starter. 

[RobertCrawley]

28 minutes ago, owbc said:

I have a hunch that Woody will be back with us on a 2-year deal unless somebody like the Mets offers him a lucrative 3 year deal.

If he signs a 2-year deal with someone else I think that will signal that we don't think he will return to being a front end starter. 

I hope so, but I think someone else will offer him a might hefty raise to throw the baseball for them.

[Outlander]

Will be interesting to see if the Brewers give Woodruff a qualifying offer by the deadline today.

[MrTPlush]

1 hour ago, Outlander said:

Will be interesting to see if the Brewers give Woodruff a qualifying offer by the deadline today.

If they don’t I am going to assume there was a handshake agreement to not do so when he signed that deal.