Brandon Woodruff isn’t going anywhere.
The Milwaukee Brewers extended Woodruff a $22 million qualifying offer, and on Tuesday, the big right-hander accepted it. He’ll be back with the Brewers in 2026.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the news Tuesday afternoon.
The $22.025 million Woodruff receives will make him the highest-paid pitcher in a single season in franchise history. That’s significant money for Milwaukee, but it also signals they’re serious about competing.
What makes this move particularly interesting is how it affects the Brewers’ thinking on Freddy Peralta. If Woodruff had walked in free agency, trading Peralta would’ve seemed reckless – you can’t lose both frontline starters.
But with Woodruff staying, a Peralta deal becomes more manageable if Milwaukee wants to cut payroll.
Of course, there’s another option: keep both guys and roll with a strong rotation. The Brewers led the National League in wins last season before falling to the Dodgers in the NLCS. They were that close.
Milwaukee’s always going to be behind the eight-ball financially compared to teams like the Dodgers and Mets. That reality might actually argue for keeping the stars they have and making another run rather than breaking things up.
The Brewers certainly got better with Woodruff’s decision. Now it’s a question of whether they stay at this level or subtract to keep costs down.
From where I’m sitting, Milwaukee fans have every right to expect another shot at upending the balance of power in MLB. They’ve got the pieces – it’s just a matter of keeping them together.
