MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – The Milwaukee Brewers are bringing back right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff on a two-year deal, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Woodruff, 31, has spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Brewers. The team faced the prospect of losing key players, including Woodruff, due to their high arbitration salaries. However, a shoulder injury that required surgery in October put his 2024 season in jeopardy, leading the Brewers to non-tender him, making him a free agent.
Despite interest from other teams, Woodruff will return to Milwaukee. The two-year deal is a common scenario for pitchers facing lengthy layoffs, giving the player time to recover from injury while providing the club with the potential of a healthy full season at a discounted rate. Woodruff’s career performance as a pitcher has been impressive, with a 3.10 earned run average and a high strikeout rate.
The Brewers’ decision to retain Woodruff is a strategic move, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the team’s pitching rotation beyond the current season. The team has made several moves to strengthen its pitching staff for the upcoming season, but Woodruff’s potential return from injury could significantly impact their prospects for the future.
With the financial implications of Woodruff’s new deal, the Brewers’ payroll is expected to rise to levels similar to previous seasons. This move could prove to be crucial for the team’s stability and competitiveness in the coming years, with their pitching rotation in need of reliable options. Woodruff’s return could provide much-needed stability and depth to the Brewers’ pitching staff, potentially impacting their performance in the seasons to come.