On the final day of Spring Training for both clubs, the Brewers and Rays finalized a trade Tuesday that sent right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford to Milwaukee in exchange for Minor League righty K.C. Hunt and cash.
The Brewers transferred outfielder Akil Baddoo to the 60-day injured list to open up a spot for Woodford on their 40-man roster.
Woodford, 29, has plenty of experience in the NL Central as he spent the first four seasons of his MLB career -- 2020-23 -- with the Cardinals, pitching to a 4.29 ERA over 80 appearances. He also spent part of '24 in the Pirates organization. Last year, Woodford spent a few weeks in the Cubs’ system before getting released in July and picked up by the D-backs, with whom he pitched to a 6.44 ERA across 22 relief appearances.
The Rays signed Woodford as a non-roster invitee last November, and he was effective in his seven Spring Training appearances, allowing one run on four hits over 7 1/3 innings.
Hunt, 25, was picked up by the Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2023 following his collegiate career at Mississippi State. He was named the Brewers Co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in ‘24 after logging a 2.03 ERA and striking out 139 batters in 102 innings across three levels. Hunt spent all of last season at Double-A Biloxi, where he pitched 121 1/3 innings and had a 4.45 ERA through 26 appearances out of the bullpen.