The Milwaukee Brewers cut ties with ace Brandon Woodruff earlier this off-season. He is on the verge of entering his final year of team control, but unfortunately underwent shoulder surgery earlier this winter and could miss all of the 2024 season as a result. This led to the Brew Crew non-tendering him and making him a free agent.
Prior to the tough decision of the Brewers non-tendering him a contract for 2024 there was a rumor that Milwaukee was looking to sign him to a two year contract extension. A deal like that would have provided him security to rehab next season and an opportunity to hopefully pitch at full strength in 2025.
It’s possible that he still secures a two year deal in free agency. Early on in November his agent reported that he was receiving phone calls from multiple teams regarding interest in Brandon Woodruffs’ services. Unfortunately the free agent starting pitching market has been slow this winter, but according to one report that market could be heating up soon.
Interest in former Milwaukee Brewers ace Brandon Woodruff is reportedly heating up.
In a recent report from MLB Insider Jon Heyman he indicated that the second tier of pitchers should start heating up in the next seven to 10 days. He also expects there to be some signings. Brandon Woodruff was one of the names mentioned in the second tier of available free agent starting pitchers.
That second tier pitching market, after (Blake) Snell and (Jordan) Montgomery, again (Hyun-Jin) Ryu, (James) Paxton, I’ll throw (Brandon) Woodruff in there even though he is an ace when healthy, (Michael) Lorenzen. I’ll say that market will start to be active within the next seven to 10 days and we will see some signings.”
What teams may be interested in acquiring any of the above mentioned starting pitchers? Jon Heyman also listed six organizations who may be willing to financially pull the trigger on signing some of these free agents.
“(San Diego) Padres, (Baltimore) Orioles, (Pittsburgh) Pirates, (Boston) Red Sox, (Washington) Nationals, and (Seattle) Mariners. Those are the teams looking at the second tier pitching market.”
Specifically regarding Brandon Woodruff, if any team is going to sign him a two year deal would make the most sense. He is expected to make a full recovery after surgery, but the question is if a team will be willing to pay him while rehabbing. It’s possible that he remains unsigned entering the 2024 season and that contract talks don’t come to fruition until able to pitch again and showcase his skills in front of organizations.
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