Why The Brewers Should Assemble A ‘Super Six’ Rotation In 2026

[Harold Hutchison]

Reports that the Brewers will listen to offers for Freddy Peralta are already circulating, as he is in the final year of his contract. These reports also hint that Brandon Woodruff may be on the way out due to a mutual option.

That said, a big question mark hangs over MLB, and that is a potential lockout after the 2026 season. For that reason, it may make sense for the Brewers to load up and go for broke – make an all-in play for the World Series and a jackpot of post-season cash in 2026.

For starters, let’s look at perhaps the best way to bolster the rotation: Picking up Woodruff’s mutual option. The $20 million salary is a bit misleading. It would seem logical for the Brewers to pass on their end. But this wasn’t an ordinary mutual option.

Brandon Woodruff was given a $10 million buyout for 2026 —an abnormally high ratio to his salary that year —according to Baseball Reference. By contrast, Rhys Hoskins will get a $4 million buyout for a projected $18 million salary, Danny Jansen will get $500,000 for a projected $12 million salary, and Jose Quintana is due $2 million against a projected $15 million.

Because of that, the Crew already has a substantial commitment to Woodruff, representing $10 million of the $55 million in guaranteed money already committed for that season, per Baseball Reference. But it also means that Brewers owner Mark Attanasio doesn’t need to commit $20 million to Woodruff—he only needs to commit another $10 million.

Woodruff came back with a solid performance in 2025 but missed time in September and October with a strained lat, and he could use the 2026 season with Milwaukee to demonstrate what he can do for a full season. Picking up the mutual option is a win-win for both Milwaukee and Woodruff.

Picking up Peralta’s $8 million for 2026 is just as easy a call for the team to make, given his performance in 2025. Peralta and Woodruff should help lock down two spots in the rotation. That leaves three more for a five-man rotation, or four more if the Crew decides to go with six.

While a five-man rotation is the typical approach in Major League Baseball, the Brewers have the depth and talent to do things differently. This may be the prudent approach, given how the team seemed to run out of gas late in the season, and it allows them to be cautious with some of their young arms – specifically, Logan Henderson, Jacob Misiorowski, and Robert Gasser.

Henderson, Misiorowski, and Gasser are all coming off injuries. While Misiorowski performed well in the playoffs, he did spend time on the injured list, while Henderson (flexor strain) and Gasser (Tommy John surgery recovery) dealt with arm issues in 2025. Milwaukee may want to use an option year on Gasser and let him build up in Triple-A (they have the pitching depth for it), but he is still a solid choice for the rotation. But Misiorowski and Henderson will probably claim spots in the rotation.

For the fifth and sixth spots in that rotation, the Crew has a wealth of options: Quinn Priester had a dominant run. Tobias Myers showed in 2024 that he could put up top-of-the-rotation numbers. Chad Patrick was no slouch early in 2025, making the Brewers the clear winner of the Abraham Toro trade with Oakland. Carlos Rodriguez put up excellent numbers for Triple-A Nashville in 2025. DL Hall and Aaron Ashby have performed well as multi-inning relievers in Milwaukee and could be worth a look.

The 2025 season showed the Brewers have the talent to win. In 2026, a “super six” rotation could give the Crew a massive edge in the playoffs with fresher arms.

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[SF70]

Woodruff is as good as gone. Mutual options are almost always rejected by the player and in this case it will be as well.

The $10M buyout is dead-money and is immaterial to what takes place with Woody’s future, which will be quite robust, with many teams bidding for Woody’s services.

The shoulder is healthy, the lat will be healed up shortly, allowing Woody to enter ST 100% healthy. The baseball world saw a #2-type starter with a completely new arsenal. Teams also know it’s likely he gains a tick or 2 of velo back with more time past his surgery. Woody is getting paid big money by someone and that someone isn’t going to be MKE. We will give him a QO, he will reject it and we will get a top 35 pick for our elite amateur draft-department.

Peralta likely returns unless the team gets an offer they can’t refuse, and his durability and innings will be important in leading next years rotation.

Between him, Miz, Priester and Chad Patrick, who showed the baseball world he’s a force and a #2-3 type starter, with some good health they should be able to get 175 innings minimum and mid-rotation or better performance from all 4 of them.

Henderson is talented but he needs his innings built up so he’s not a full-time starter option for the team next season, imo. Same with Gasser, who I think gets an innings limit.

I believe Ashby returns to starting if he’s healthy. Hall is a wild card, with his constant injury issues giving him diminished stuff.  Myers probably returns to starting and likely gets stashed in AAA for depth.

That’s a decent amount of rotation depth entering the offseason with the team likely to add a veteran starter and a starter or 2 on minor-league deals. They also have depth arm potential stashed in the uppers, but most not really solid options until later in the season.

[rafa]

SF70, I almost couldn't agree more, well said!

Woodruff is indeed gone as much as I and others would like him to stay.  Peralta ONLY gets traded if we get an unbelievable offer.  Then, yes, it's MIz and Patrick along with Priester.  

My only change is Gasser for Ashby though Ashby starting over him would not surprise because of the exact reason you pointed out, Gasser needing to build himself up again.  Regardless, you need a lefty in the rotation.

Henderson has fantastic upside and is a clear starter in the future, even 2026 but again, has to build up his innings.  He pitched 102 last year, the most ever in his career.  contract to Patrick who pitched 124 innings in 2023, 136 in 2024 and 160 here in 2025. Henderson is next years Patrick, starting at AAA and with the Brewers.

 

However, if all the pitchers did indeed show that they are ready to start, a 6 man rotation would be interesting with: Peralta, Miz, Patrick, Priester, Gasser and Henderson. No, I do NOT expect that at all but it's interesting as I said. 

[Thurston Fluff]

A six man rotation would make a lot of sense if Woody and/or Peralta are gone. It would ease the workload of the younger starters and keep everyone fresh for the playoffs.

[eddiemathews]

One thing that the pending lock-out might mean is that the Brewers could be very conservative in spending additional money or signing any contracts over one year. Of course, they wouldn't be the only team to think that way, so there could be some bargains available. I guess what I'm saying is that I have no idea what the team will do; at least now I accept that and am comfortable with it.

[folly412]

We should plan on a nine man rotation, knowing at least four will always be injured.  If we ever have the luxury of six starters, that would be quite the day.

[Ro Mueller]

Misiorowski. Priester. Henderson. Gasser. Myers. Patrick.

That’s already 6 locked in.

Rodriguez. Crow. Pannone. As current depth.

Pitching didn’t hold us back from the World Series, so I’m not sure we’ll invest much more there. We’ll see.

[eddiemathews]

50 minutes ago, Ro Mueller said:

Misiorowski. Priester. Henderson. Gasser. Myers. Patrick.

That’s already 6 locked in.

Rodriguez. Crow. Pannone. As current depth.

Pitching didn’t hold us back from the World Series, so I’m not sure we’ll invest much more there. We’ll see.

Pitching did hold the Brewers back...of course, it was Dodger pitching...

[Samurai Bucky]

Would Jordan Montgomery be willing to accept a "prove-it" deal?  That would be a veteran presence, but the Crew wouldn't know what they would be getting for sure.

[Ben Lepak]

six starters leaves one less reliver in the pen,  All the above mentioned starters will be lucky to pitch 5-6 IP consistently.   This is a recipe to burn out the bullpen even faster than they already do, can't see it happening for any period of time