Did Brandon Woodruff Accepting the Qualifying Offer Increase the Chances of a Freddy Peralta Trade?

[Jake McKibbin]

Image courtesy of © Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers have another veteran inked in for 2026, with the return of Brandon Woodruff on a one-year, $22.05-million deal. The club will now gamble that Woodruff might be able to remain healthy and perhaps take a step toward regaining his former velocity, while guaranteeing themselves a veteran presence in their rotation for next season. There are durability risks, but the upside play from this is quite large—and as the adage goes, there's no such thing as a bad one-year deal.

Cast your minds back to July 6, when Woodruff made his return from the IL in Miami. Despite reduced fastball velocity and an overall drop in raw stuff, Woodruff's precision and competitiveness won the day. He didn't back down. The interesting follow-up to that was how it affected the rest of the rotation, namely Jacob Misiorowski.

Misiorowski commented in awe about that start and the aggressiveness Woodruff showed. Intriguingly, we saw similar results in his next start. Facing the Dodgers' fearsome lineup, Misiorowski began to follow Woodruff's example, pounding the strike zone with first pitches and eliciting chases after that. He threw 82.6% first-pitch strikes against the Dodgers (including 69% of his four-seam fastballs inside the strike zone) and 71.4% against the Mariners in his next start, both of which were the high points for Misiorowski in 2025.

For all of Freddy Peralta's strengths, that direct, attacking style eludes him. It's something Woodruff can impart that Peralta can't, particularly to rookies: trust your pitches both in and out of the strike zone, especially early in counts. Woodruff did give up a long home run to Heriberto Hernandez in that Miami start and didn't change his approach one iota, continuing to command the zone. For all that these players have done developmentally to reach the big leagues, sometimes it takes a veteran to lead by example.

Among other reasons, this is why the Crew are intent on having at least one veteran pitcher on their roster in 2026. Peralta has led the rotation since Corbin Burnes's departure and done an admirable job, continuing to be effective throughout with a 3.19 ERA and 3.90 FIP and taking the ball every sixth day. He has looked shaky at times, including in the playoffs, but then, one could argue that he has at least been available in the playoffs.

With one veteran shored up, the question is whether the Brewers will be more open to trading Peralta. Entering the last year of his contract, and due just $8 million, Peralta is unquestionably a bargain. Yet, prior success is no guarantee of future performance, and one elbow injury sends that value down the drain from an on-field standpoint. The same goes for Woodruff, with his injury history. There's no guarantee both of these pitchers can reach 100 innings (let alone 150 each) in 2026.

Strength in depth has been the Brewers' calling card in the rotation in recent seasons, and that should continue in 2026. If Tyson Hardin and Bishop Letson were established Triple-A arms banging on the door, this is a different conversation, but they're not at that stage just yet. The Brewers have no immediate pressure to make room in their rotation, and have plenty of optionable arms that they can use to retain that depth, with Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick and more all able to be cycled through.

Now, though, they might have to trade one of their erstwhile aces. With Woodruff taking up over $22 million, their payroll has little room for other upgrades, and if they're going to use trades to make those improvements, it's likely to come in the form of trading either Peralta or Woodruff. The latter, now, would have to give his permission to be traded until June 15. Peralta has greater trade value, too, because of his greater durability; lower salary; and the fact that an acquiring team could still extend him a qualifying offer next winter. His value to the Brewers inside the clubhouse exceeds the value most MLB teams put on that character, and that hasn't changed just because Woodruff signed on for next season. Still, a trade of Peralta feels much more likely in the wake of Woodruff's return.

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What do you think of the Woodruff signing? Do you think it's now more likely that Freddy Peralta gets moved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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[eddiemathews]

My guess is that the Brewers have trades that they would make for Peralta and Big Woo's return don't alter what they would need in return. Again, there is the trade deadline available to deal either or both if the season craps out.

[Moojuce]

Why would they trade Peralta for anything short of an amazing return? His cheap contract should cement him coming back to chase a championship. 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

21 minutes ago, Moojuce said:

Why would they trade Peralta for anything short of an amazing return? His cheap contract should cement him coming back to chase a championship. 

Welcome to Brewer Fanatic!

[patrickgpe]

The brewers SP depth is like 9-10 wide. They need a bat. They don't have money to compete with the big market teams for said bat. There is no help coming from Nashville in 2026, except for maybe Pratt. I don't think this increases or decreases the odds of the eventual Peralta trade. 

[long ball]

13 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

The brewers SP depth is like 9-10 wide. They need a bat. They don't have money to compete with the big market teams for said bat. There is no help coming from Nashville in 2026, except for maybe Pratt. I don't think this increases or decreases the odds of the eventual Peralta trade. 

Is it really 9-10? This is how I see it  

in the rotation when healthy: (4 guys)

freddy, woody, Misiorowski, and Priester 

Other rotation options (3 guys)

henderson, Patrick, and gasser

Guys who might just be relievers? (3 guys)

Ashby, Myers, and hall

deep depth/spot start only (2 guys)

Crow and CRod

 

so to me it’s more 7-8 guys. (Myers is the 8th guy for me right now). This is good depth and I really like our options. It’s not so deep that I want to trade away from it though. 
 

I totally understand the rationale for trading Freddy if they decide to do it, but I think our rotation depth might be a tad overstated. 

[patrickgpe]

1 hour ago, long ball said:

Is it really 9-10? This is how I see it  

in the rotation when healthy: (4 guys)

freddy, woody, Misiorowski, and Priester 

Other rotation options (3 guys)

henderson, Patrick, and gasser

Guys who might just be relievers? (3 guys)

Ashby, Myers, and hall

deep depth/spot start only (2 guys)

Crow and CRod

 

so to me it’s more 7-8 guys. (Myers is the 8th guy for me right now). This is good depth and I really like our options. It’s not so deep that I want to trade away from it though. 
 

I totally understand the rationale for trading Freddy if they decide to do it, but I think our rotation depth might be a tad overstated. 

i stated that because I think Ashby, Hall and Myers COULD be starters if needed. With all of the depth in the rotation in 2025, their own ability to contribute was out of the pen. Myers was one of our better starters in 2024. I give you that Ashby or Hall are just lefty relievers its not a terrible thing, but they have started in the past and acquired or drafted as starters. 

[sveumrules]

Professional Innings Totals for Ashby...

2018: 57 IP
2019: 126 IP
202: N/A
2021: 95 IP
2022: 107 IP
2023: 7 IP
2024: 112 IP
2025: 74 IP

(Guess they could try to squeeze 140 IP or so out of him in more of a starter's role, but he's been so good as a reliever I'd probably just leave him out there.)

Professional Innings Totals for DL Hall...

2017: 10 IP
2018: 94 IP
2019: 80 IP
2020: N/A
2021: 31 IP
2022: 98 IP
2023: 71 IP
2024: 84 IP
2025: 59 IP

(Think the ship has probably sailed on DL Hall as a starter. Hope he can stay healthy enough for 50 to 60 decent IP out of the bullpen at this point.)

[Trail]

You have to trade  him.  You just do.  I've posted before...I hate it, but that's how the system is set up and the Brewers have done a good job working with it as best they can.  His market value will never be higher...and yes, we need a big bat.  Probably left field.  Honestly, a really productive left fielder (30-40 hr and .250+ BA) might be more valuable to this team than Freddie.  Those don't grow on trees, but the Brewers have a lot of capitol to work with.  I'd package Blake Perkins with Freddie and a nice prospect.  Blake deserves to start somewhere anyway.  If by some miracle we can extend Freddie before the winter meetings, then great!  I'm not holding my breath.  

[BarremlensTSSC]

21 hours ago, Moojuce said:

Why would they trade Peralta for anything short of an amazing return? His cheap contract should cement him coming back to chase a championship. 

 

Have to say I agree.  It would have to be a massive haul for it to make any sense prior to the all-star break.

[Jake McKibbin]

5 hours ago, Trail said:

You have to trade  him.  You just do.  I've posted before...I hate it, but that's how the system is set up and the Brewers have done a good job working with it as best they can.  His market value will never be higher...and yes, we need a big bat.  Probably left field.  Honestly, a really productive left fielder (30-40 hr and .250+ BA) might be more valuable to this team than Freddie.  Those don't grow on trees, but the Brewers have a lot of capitol to work with.  I'd package Blake Perkins with Freddie and a nice prospect.  Blake deserves to start somewhere anyway.  If by some miracle we can extend Freddie before the winter meetings, then great!  I'm not holding my breath.  

Depending on control, that sounds like  James wood and that'll cost a heck of a lot more than Freddy, so who would you package for him? Pratt, Peña, Peralta?