The Milwaukee Brewers entered the offseason with more than a few holes that fans felt they needed to fill. Most notably, fans wanted the team to go out and get a power-hitter, regardless of position, and find a better offensive short stop after Joey Ortiz struggled at the plate last season.
As is typically the case, though, Milwaukee did none of those things. Instead, the Brewers added multiple pitchers who are capable of starting at the Major League level by trading away already established talent.
While many fans were left scratching their heads following the Caleb Durbin trade, manager Pat Murphy‘s recent comments about Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester may shed some light on why Milwaukee was so adamant about adding pitching this off-season.
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is being cautious with Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester
According to Todd Rosiak, the Brewers manager had the following to say about Woodruff, who came back last season from a shoulder injury that cost him nearly two full years:
Murphy says Brandon Woodruff “is in a good spot” physically and that he’s been throwing bullpens, but his ramp-up will be monitored closely.
“This is a time of year that people are very vulnerable, so you have to be mindful of that. A guy with an injury history even more so.”
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) February 11, 2026
Woodruff also suffered a lat strain after he came back last season, an injury that did not allow him to pitch in the postseason.
Without Freddy Peralta on the team, many expect Woodruff to be the staff ace in Milwaukee. Murphy is hoping, obviously, to get him through Spring Training without any injuries.
And of Priester, Murphy said:
Quinn Priester is recovered from the wrist issue that he dealt with late last year, but he’ll be slow to get going as well.
“He’s had a couple things that have kept him from progressing, but he’s thrown bullpens. Nothing shutting him down or anything like that.”
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) February 11, 2026
Fans may recall that Priester was dealing with a wrist issue down the stretch last year. And while Murphy would not get into specifics, it appears that Priester was dealing with some other injury stuff this off-season.
While both are ready to participate in Spring Training, it is clear that the Brewers stacked up on starting pitching this off-season just in case they needed it. One may recall that, last year, they lost virtually their entire Opening Day starting rotation to injury after their first series of season.
They do not want to be in a position where they have to scramble for pitchers again.
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