The Milwaukee Brewers made the difficult choice in November to not tender starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff just turned 31 years old, but he had shoulder surgery earlier this winter, which could cost him to miss most or all of the 2024 season. 2024 also occurred to be his final year of team control, thus Milwaukee chose to part ways with him rather than pay him an anticipated $11.6 million.
Brandon Woodruff has agreed to a back loaded deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Woodruff’s new contract with the Brewers will last at least two years, with a mutual option for a third. He’ll earn $2.5 million in 2024, $5 million in 2025, and $20 million in 2026 (or a $10 million buyout). This means he’s guaranteed $17.5 million over the next two seasons, with a maximum of $27.5 million.
This arrangement appears to be very financially beneficial to the team. If Woodruff and the Brewers did not activate his third option year, he would have earned an average annual salary of $8.75 million. If he pitches for the Crew in 2026 under the same contract, his average annual compensation will grow to $9.16 million.
There is no assurance that Woodruff will pitch in 2024 or even return to pre-injury form, but if he does, the Brewers will sign him for a bargain. In addition, signing this contract allows him to continue rehabilitating with Milwaukee, remain around his teammates, and have financial stability.
Brandon Woodruff has unfinished business in a Brewers uniform.
“The way things turned out for me made me believe that I wasn’t intended to leave the Brewers the way I did, by getting hurt, being unable to pitch, and being non-tendered. Now that I’m signed back in, it’s like, man, this is where I’m supposed to be, whether it’s for another two years or whatever. I still have a lot of unfinished business in the Brewers uniform. That is how I feel about it.
-Brandon Woodruff
Per reports Brandon Woodruff nearly signed with a different organization.
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Brandon Woodruff was close to accepting a contract with another organization. He also stated that the Brewers made one more pitch to him, which made re-signing with them even simpler.
“I’ve grown up in this organization, and I’m extremely familiar with the circumstances I’m about to face with the medical staff, the front office, the coaching staff, and even individuals in the community. There are so many positives that I can take away from this, and it made the decision much easier.”
