The Milwaukee Brewers are known for their careful spending. As the smallest market in Major League Baseball, they are not able to hand out long-term lucrative contracts that would lure big-name stars to their team. This is why, in recent season, they have traded All-Stars Josh Hader (to the San Diego Padres), Corbin Burnes (to the Baltimore Orioles), and Devin Williams (to the New York Yankees).
They also were unable to retain shortstop Willy Adames, though no one expected that they would, even before he lit up baseball with a slash line of .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 2024. He leveraged his high-level of run production to get a seven-year $182 million contract from the San Francisco Giants.
And now, some of predicting that Milwaukee may be moving on from another one of their homegrown stars either during or after the 2025 season.
Milwaukee Brewers Starter Brandon Woodruff Has Dealt with Serious Injuries for 2 Years
There is no question that, when healthy, Brandon Woodruff is one of the best pitchers, not only on the Brewers, but in all of baseball. In 2019, he made his first career All-Star team and finished the year 11-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.42 WHIP while striking out 143 batters in 121.2 innings pitched.
During the COVID-shorted 2020 season, he was 3-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while leading the Majors with 13 starts. He also struck out 91 batters in 73.5 innings.
2021 was arguably his best full season. He went 9-10 with a 2.56 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 30 starts. He struck out 211 batters in 179.1 innings. He made his second All-Star team and finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting.
2022 saw Woodruff go 13-4 with a 3.05 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 27 starts. He struck out 190 batters in 153.1 innings
While Burnes was having his own run of success with Milwaukee, it was apparent that Woodruff was just as good in many ways. Unfortunately, during the 2023 season, his career altered.
The Texas-native started the 2023 on fire. He could not be stopped. Unfortunately, his season was derailed by should injuries. He finished the year 5-1 in 11 starts with a 2.28 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, throwing a shutout in the process. Woodruff struck out 74 batters in 67.0 innings pitched.
His shoulder injuries led him to miss most of the 2023 season and the Brewers to non-tender him after that year ended. They did, however, bring him back on a two-year $17.5 million contract, even though they knew he would not be able to pitch at all in 2024.
The deal included a mutual option for 2026 worth $20 million with a $10 million buyout.
The Milwaukee Brewers Are Predicted to Move on From Brandon Woodruff After 2025
While Woodruff is expected to pitch for the Brewers in 2025, they are not sure he will be ready for Opening Day. He could return early in the season and eventually rejoin the rotation once his stamina is built up, but the fact of the matter is that no one knows how his surgically repaired shoulder will hold up.
He could very well return to All-Star form, but he could also struggle after having not pitched in almost two years.
For these reasons, and the fact that it would cost Milwaukee $20 million to bring him back in 2026, Brian Sampson of Fansided believes the Brewers may try to trade the two-time All-Star at the trade deadline if he shows that he is fully healthy.
“Woodruff’s injury history complicates his long-term value. Milwaukee is unlikely to commit $20 million to a 33-year-old pitcher with a repaired shoulder, especially given their small-market constraints. That makes a midseason trade the logical path forward,” Sampson wrote.
If Woodruff were to complete the season with Milwaukee and the Brewers were to turn down their part of the mutual option, they would still owe him $10 million. That alone makes a mid-season trade a possibility for the cost-conscious Milwaukee front office.
On the other hand, the Brewers needed 17 different starting pitchers to get through the season last year. If Woodruff is healthy and pitching the way he used to before he got hurt, and if Milwaukee is competing for a postseason spot like they are expected to be, trading him could derail the season.
In a perfect world, Woodruff would finish the year with the Brewers and then sign a new team-friendly contract.
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