Big Woo and his 'easy decision' to run it back in Milwaukee

This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy’s Brewers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MILWAUKEE -- Longtime Brewers righty Brandon Woodruff went through the emotional wringer over the past two months. There was the abrupt end to his inspired comeback from right shoulder surgery when a right lat strain sidelined him for the end of the regular season and the postseason. There was the high while watching the Brewers beat the Cubs in the NLDS to end Milwaukee’s long postseason losing streak, then the low of seeing the Brewers swept away by the Dodgers in the NLCS. There was a brief taste of free agency when he declined his half of a mutual option, then a hitch when the Brewers extended a qualifying offer.

Now, there’s finally the peace and calm that comes with closure.

Woodruff, 32, the only player remaining from the 2017 Brewers team which emerged from a mini-rebuild to begin the longest stretch of regular-season success in franchise history, is staying put after accepting the team’s $22.025 million contract for 2026.

“It was a matter of receiving the qualifying offer and then having 12 days to really try to break down the market and see what was out there,” said Woodruff, who is represented by longtime agent Bo McKinnis. “It’s a unique position, because a lot of teams don’t typically fire up their offseasons for another couple of weeks where they’re trying to make offers, you know? And guys who received a qualifying offer are trying to get this in [during] the span of 12 days to make a tough decision.

“For me, it became clear pretty early on. It was an easy decision to take the qualifying offer, which I was extremely happy to do, and come back to somewhere I’m extremely comfortable. I’m pumped up.”

Had he declined the qualifying offer, Woodruff would have been a free agent with some strings attached, since any team that signed him would have had to forfeit a Draft pick or two depending on where they sit on baseball’s economic spectrum. Milwaukee, in that scenario, would have received an additional premium Draft pick.

But just as Woodruff said he was happy to accept the offer to return for one more year, Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said the team was “thrilled” to have Woodruff back for what will be his age-33 season.

“Come on, that’s a large [salary] number and it’s a place where I’m comfortable and I love,” Woodruff said. “Also, I took it as they really wanted me here. I know the ramifications of offering one year and $22 [million] to a pitcher in the Brewers organization. That has never happened, so I don’t take that lightly.

“So when they extended that to me, I took it as a signal that, yes, they were serious about winning and wanting to move forward with me and had confidence in my abilities. That was all I needed to see from them. … Ultimately, it was a pretty easy decision when we broke everything down.”

Obviously, both sides are optimistic about Woodruff’s health. In the month since the Brewers’ extended season ended, Woodruff has had another follow-up with his shoulder surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, and has begun his usual offseason workout regimen. His body feels great, he said. He’s not yet thrown off a mound, but that’s normal for any pitcher at this time of year.

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“I’m two years post-surgery, and the surgery isn’t really a thought,” Woodruff said. “I’m able to go through my program and have a good workout and feel good. I haven’t had that in a couple of years. That’s going to be massive for me going forward. I’m just currently in the middle of my workouts and ramping up to start throwing here in a week or a couple of weeks here.”

After delivering a 3.20 ERA in his 12 Major League starts despite diminished velocity, Woodruff is eager to see what 2026 brings. That starts with good health.

“As a player, you dream of getting to free agency,” Woodruff said. “And let me tell you what -- free agency is just a fancy word for saying you don’t have a job. It’s not the same for everybody. I’m lucky and blessed to be able to come back to Milwaukee. I think that frees me up to just go play baseball.”