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

[wiguy94]

5 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

It isn't a question of $32 million. 

The question to ask yourself is would you rather pay $22 million for Woodruff to pitch for the Brewers or $10 million for him to pitch for someone else. 

They likely made the QO for that exact reason. $10 million for a guy to play somewhere else is just an awful use of resources for the Brewers. And it doesn't screw them over long term. It is an easy question for me because they won't get a better SP to sign for one year and $22 million. Hypothetically if they did, it would still be at a cost of $32 million as they'd still pay Woodruff.

The Brewers just structured Woodruff’s contract that way to push a chunk of the 2025 money to the offseason not in season. They basically spread out his $17.5M cap hit to pitch in 2025 across the 2024 and 2025 seasons and the 2025 offseason.

McCalvy I believe already said the Brewers internally consider that $10M to be 2025 money not 2026 money. 

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, Roderick said:

I suspect if Woody takes the QO, the Brewers will be much more inclined to trade Peralta.   

Man, with Woodruff's injury history, that would be a risky game to play.  You could be right, but I'd rather have them both, and anything Woodruff offers is just gravy!

[tmwiese55]

I of course see the argument on trading Peralta if this gets accepted.  However, there is just as much logic the other way and I'd be more inclined to fall on the side that with this spent it makes more sense to keep him.  Peralta being so cheap balances out with how expensive Woodruff is.   And generally speaking, you know if Peralta leaves they'd look for a Quintan/Junis etc type cheap innings covered guy. But that guy is gonna cost 5-8 mil, so might as well keep Freddy at the same money(unless its a godfather offer).     

Essentially, looking at pure financially if Woodruff accepts this and they want that to happen it shows they're 'going for it' as much as MKE can.  So might as well keep one of the best valued contracts in the league for that year.  If they had the attitude of 'we can only pay one' you'd rather keep Peralta and have the remaining 15 mil to spend elsewhere. 

ETA: Side question, if the player accepts this can the team trade him just like any other play under contract? Did some googling and can't find anything that says you can't.   Thus, in the scenario discussed here if you can only afford one wouldn't they be looking to trade Woodruff. I know it would be unlikely since they could've just signed for 1/25 to beat the QO, but there are scenarios where it could happen. Or say MKE didn't expect him to accept, then they could just look to clear the money for a couple flyer prospects.  The other team keeps their pick instead

[endaround]

7 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Woody put up 1.5 rWAR | 1.8 fWAR last year with the team going 10 W - 2 L in his 12 games started.

What kind of production would he have needed to put up to break even on that $17M (spread out over multiple years and payments to reduce the actual value) in your eyes? 

So he worth less than 2 wins due to missing so much time. At $9 million per win, 1.8 WAR is worth $16.2 million. Add in the risk taken on and the medical expenses paid for, yeah it 's hard to say it worked well.

[LouisEly]

Reminder that if he doesn't take the QO and goes into the free market and finds the market isn't what he and his agent thought it would be (or fails the physical with the new team and the contract is voided), he can't go back and accept the QO.

There is a world in which he fails the physical with someone else and ends up getting less than the QO.

[rickh150]

Let’s give oft injured guy a 1/6th of the payroll…he didn’t finish the last 3 years, but who cares about that apparently.  And to top it off, I truly believe they let him throw an extra month or so in the minors since their rotation was throwing better than what he could add.  
And several times he mentioned that 2025 was just about him getting healthy.  Sorry, we are looking to go deep in playoffs and the idea of shelling out major coin for a guy looking to get healthy first is not what I want in 2026 when he failed at that in 2025.  

Unless they are sure he has offers elsewhere and this is all about the pick…then kudos.

[Scooterfletcher]

3 hours ago, endaround said:

So he worth less than 2 wins due to missing so much time. At $9 million per win, 1.8 WAR is worth $16.2 million. Add in the risk taken on and the medical expenses paid for, yeah it 's hard to say it worked well.

I think the Brewers got their moneys worth from Brandon Woodruff, regardless of how you want to centralize a moment or two.   They banked compared to what they have paid him,

[Underachiever]

12 hours ago, DR28 said:

Agreed.... Peralta, Woody, Miz, Priester and Patrick.... Really like that rotation!

I think 2025 taught me that five starters isn't nearly enough if you want them to have something left in October.

[SF70]

7 hours ago, Underachiever said:

I think 2025 taught me that five starters isn't nearly enough if you want them to have something left in October.

Woody-Peralta-Miz-Patrick-Priester-Gasser-Henderson-Ashby-Myers-Hall.

Probably the best 10 deep the team has ever had.

[Jopal78]

12 hours ago, rickh150 said:

Let’s give oft injured guy a 1/6th of the payroll…he didn’t finish the last 3 years, but who cares about that apparently.  And to top it off, I truly believe they let him throw an extra month or so in the minors since their rotation was throwing better than what he could add.  
And several times he mentioned that 2025 was just about him getting healthy.  Sorry, we are looking to go deep in playoffs and the idea of shelling out major coin for a guy looking to get healthy first is not what I want in 2026 when he failed at that in 2025.  

Unless they are sure he has offers elsewhere and this is all about the pick…then kudos.

I think you’re hitting the point. To keep the pipeline of talent flowing to the major league roster in Milwaukee you don’t let star players walk away for nothing; you either trade them for young talent or offer them the QO to get the extra pick in the first part of the draft if they leave.
 

Just like trading a player away for young players, there’s risk that those young players won’t turn out. There’s a risk that Woodruff accepts the QO.
 

It’s hard to handicap what will happen. Woodruff could accept the QO and try free agency again in 2026,  or he could play it safe and take a multiyear deal somewhere else likely for less AAV but larger overall guarantee than 22 million. 

[Trail]

The Brewers did the only thing they could do.  They had to make the QO. The $10M doesn't really enter into the equation....its a fixed cost...its gone.  Woody for a full season...or even 75% of a season is worth it in today's market.  We saw how effective he can be even with reduced velo...what will he be like if he gets a mile or two back?  And, remember, this will be his first "normal" off-season in 3 years.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of pitcher shows up in the spring.  

Moreover, you have to trade Freddy if he isn't signed by the winter meetings.  His market value is just too high...way higher than Willie A.  I hate it, but that's just how it is.  That makes Woody all the more important to the Brewers.  I don't think they keep both...that takes innings away from their youngsters.  

BTW...I know I'm in the minority, but the compensatory pick doesn't impress me all that much.  The Brewers draft well, but the odds of any pick making the big club and having an impact are way below 50%(more like 15%??)  I realize that more bites at the apple is a good thing, but in the case of a player like Woodruff its not meaningful compensation...at least to me.  Better than nothing, however.  

[RobertCrawley]

16 minutes ago, Trail said:

The Brewers did the only thing they could do.  They had to make the QO. The $10M doesn't really enter into the equation....its a fixed cost...its gone.  Woody for a full season...or even 75% of a season is worth it in today's market.  We saw how effective he can be even with reduced velo...what will he be like if he gets a mile or two back?  And, remember, this will be his first "normal" off-season in 3 years.  It'll be interesting to see what kind of pitcher shows up in the spring.  

Moreover, you have to trade Freddy if he isn't signed by the winter meetings.  His market value is just too high...way higher than Willie A.  I hate it, but that's just how it is.  That makes Woody all the more important to the Brewers.  I don't think they keep both...that takes innings away from their youngsters.  

BTW...I know I'm in the minority, but the compensatory pick doesn't impress me all that much.  The Brewers draft well, but the odds of any pick making the big club and having an impact are way below 50%(more like 15%??)  I realize that more bites at the apple are good, but in the case of a player like Woodruff its not meaningful compensation...at least to me.  Better than nothing, however.  

Totally agree about the compensatory pick. It’s a crapshoot what do you get somebody you can use. 

[Outlander]

Woodruff making 1/6 of team salary isn't that big of a deal to this team, especially since it is a one year deal. Most of the team is young making near minimum or early arbitration. Their best pitcher in year 9 making $8 million. The Brewers have much more flexibility this season than people realize. However, as a small market they can't get in long term bidding wars with huge salary accounted for in future years. They can sign multiple Woodruff type 1 year deals if they were out there.

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, RobertCrawley said:

Totally agree about the compensatory pick. It’s a crapshoot what do you get somebody you can use. 

Being a crapshoot depends on the team doing the drafting. If there’s one organization that excels at identifying amateurs who may have a floor as being an average major leaguer it’s the Brewers. Moreover, the Brewers have a decent track record of finding players in the 2nd round or later: Misiorowski, Woodruff, Burnes, Williams, Tyrone Taylor etc.

Yes, typically those late comp picks don’t amount to much but the Brewers are one of the few teams that have shown proficiency in finding players in those areas of the draft

[KCBrewerfan34]

They can trade the comp pick can’t they? 

[Bulldogboy]

Not a fan of this decision. Paying Woodruff 20 million is insane unless this is part of an overall payroll increase.  I don’t want to run it back with Ortiz because they spent money on Woodruff and nobody else

[AKCheesehead]

1 hour ago, Bulldogboy said:

Not a fan of this decision. Paying Woodruff 20 million is insane unless this is part of an overall payroll increase.  I don’t want to run it back with Ortiz because they spent money on Woodruff and nobody else

I do.  I think he'll improve quite a bit.  

[BrewerFan]

On 11/7/2025 at 7:31 AM, Jopal78 said:

For sure there will be teams looking for an everyday center fielder or to add power and speed to their lineup and he’s coming off a big time season. So you might think he’s trash but the demand will likely be there .

I am skeptical teams will view him as a CFer and... I believe teams will want him. I just think it'll be closer to half that 90M. 

[BrewerFan]

On 11/7/2025 at 1:29 PM, tmwiese55 said:

I of course see the argument on trading Peralta if this gets accepted.  However, there is just as much logic the other way and I'd be more inclined to fall on the side that with this spent it makes more sense to keep him.  Peralta being so cheap balances out with how expensive Woodruff is.   And generally speaking, you know if Peralta leaves they'd look for a Quintan/Junis etc type cheap innings covered guy. But that guy is gonna cost 5-8 mil, so might as well keep Freddy at the same money(unless its a godfather offer).     

 

Of course. It'd be silly to turn around and trade Peralta now because you have Woodruff back. You're paying more for less of a sure thing.

I am kinda curious if the Brewers think or expected he'd decline or maybe they will trade him. 

Could be they have an idea of a player or package they can get for Peralta and Woodruff is stepping in just in that role. He's a veteran leader, good pitcher. Another year removed from the shoulder, so... hopefully healthy. But then you're not trading due to finances. You're trading entirely due to team building. 

On 11/8/2025 at 7:31 AM, Trail said:

Moreover, you have to trade Freddy if he isn't signed by the winter meetings.  His market value is just too high...way higher than Willie A.  I hate it, but that's just how it is.  That makes Woody all the more important to the Brewers.  I don't think they keep both...that takes innings away from their youngsters.  

BTW...I know I'm in the minority, but the compensatory pick doesn't impress me all that much.  The Brewers draft well, but the odds of any pick making the big club and having an impact are way below 50%(more like 15%??)  I realize that more bites at the apple is a good thing, but in the case of a player like Woodruff its not meaningful compensation...at least to me.  Better than nothing, however.  

I'm not sure what you mean by you "have to trade Freddy if he isn't signed by the winter meetings." 

Are we talking about an extension or... Woodruff if he declines the QO? Either way, I'm... not seeing the upside in trading Peralta. I don't actually think he had a lot more value than Adames did. An elite fielding SS with power vs a... really good but not quite ace type starter? The value is a toss up. 

 

I also do not think they throw Woody 1 inning in the minors next year because he's blocking young pitchers. They're not going to waste however many bullets he has on AA just for the helluva it. 

Go through the innings we have to cover. Then look at the pitchers we have. Peralta should give you ~6 a start, Preister 6-7 a starter and... who else? Especially among the younger starters. You're not keeping Woodruff down so they can get innings. They can work on their stuff at AAA. We also have a lot of pitchers who could be really good and are probably not great candidates to go through an order a 3rd time. Henderson, Ashby, Hall(don't think he'll be a starter, but... lets say he is). 

 

-Comp picks.
That's... a BIG part of how the Brewers build. It's also not just the pick. You can't get too hung up on who is used on THAT exact pick. It's the pool money. That pick may allow you to sign 3 more High School prospects like Adamczewski in Rds 11-20. That's enormous. Bishop Letson... or maybe they'll be nobodies. 

The Brewers best prospect seldom line up in the same order they were drafted(even immediately following the draft). 

But that pick, between 1 and 2 or 2 and 3, they're both... VERY valuable. 

[BrewerFan]

4 hours ago, Bulldogboy said:

Not a fan of this decision. Paying Woodruff 20 million is insane unless this is part of an overall payroll increase.  I don’t want to run it back with Ortiz because they spent money on Woodruff and nobody else

Ortiz has played 2 years in Milwaukee.

He was solid his first year. 
This year his BB% dropped in half and his BABIP was .260 despite having very good speed.

More importantly, they weren't going to sign Bichette, so... who was this money going to go to?

They have Pratt in AA. He'll be in AAA to start next year. Made in AA. Those are the SS replacements if we're in need of one.

What FA do you think would have cost 22M over a year that would have been worth it....

[jay87shot]

8 hours ago, KCBrewerfan34 said:

They can trade the comp pick can’t they? 

Yes

[harrydalton]

They're offering $12 million more than they're already obligated to pay.  I think it's a good deal if he takes it or they get the comp pick. They can also trade him any time if he takes the offer if somebody thinks he's worth it at that time and the Brewers decide he can be replaced by somebody they have or they're not contending.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, harrydalton said:

They're offering $12 million more than they're already obligated to pay.  I think it's a good deal if he takes it or they get the comp pick. They can also trade him any time if he takes the offer if somebody thinks he's worth it at that time and the Brewers decide he can be replaced by somebody they have or they're not contending.

They're obligated to pay the 10M either way. That was really salary from this year. 

So technically, he'll get 32M. 5M in Jan and 5M in August or... whatever it is. And then 22M in his paycheck. 

I still think it's 50/50 he accepts. 

On 11/7/2025 at 4:58 PM, LouisEly said:

Reminder that if he doesn't take the QO and goes into the free market and finds the market isn't what he and his agent thought it would be (or fails the physical with the new team and the contract is voided), he can't go back and accept the QO.

There is a world in which he fails the physical with someone else and ends up getting less than the QO.

This has happened with quite a few guys. It seems like some end up settling for what is close to the QO on a 1 year deal somewhere they didn't want to go. But there was one year where Craig Kimbrel and... someone else, they both waited to sign due to the QO. 

We'll find out in 10 days if he accepts. 

 

The Brewes sure lucked out and got Kyle Lohse because nobody wanted to pay the pick attached to that QO on him!

[BrewerFan]

If Woodruff declines, Cody Ponce is intriguing to me. 

Longshot, bringing a guy we gave up on back in , but if he gets 3/21, we could use him out of the pen as a long man, or splits innings with Ashby. Ashby goes 4, Ponce goes 3, FB plays up, 97-99 in shorter outings.

He could be a very interesting.

I wonder if he may be wiling to come back to the team that drafted him. Fedde type deal, but he has better stuff.

And I still like Caleb Ferguson. You could get Ponce and Ferguson for the price of Woodruff, but it'd also limit the flexibility you'd have on your 40 man. 

Not to say I'd prefer one of the other, but Ponce 3/21 and Ferguson at 2/12 and potentially a comp pick. Just the type of thing we could do if Woodruff thought he'd get more and declined.

[MrTPlush]

First off - Offering him the QO is a total no brainer move. Has zero effect on long term payroll and arguably nothing for next year either. I doubt it would strongly stop them from making any other type of move. Name a single player that would be likely to sign here on a one year deal and have anywhere near the potential of Woodruff. No one. 

Second - There is certainly a chance he could accept, but I’m guessing he won’t based on his comments when the injury happened. It sure sounded like he didn’t really expect to be back. Which tells me he knew he’d decline his mutual option and would decline the likely QO offer. 
 

I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up with a multi-year deal that ends up a lower average salary, but includes an opt out. The biggest argument for accepting the QO is the fact a strong and healthy year would line him up for $100mil+. He could still get long term insurance while still keeping the door open for a big payday.

His best offer may be 3/$60m, but he may take 3/$40mil with an opt-out after year one. 

$8mil

$16mil

$16mil