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Brandon Woodruff has been a cornerstone of the Milwaukee Brewers organization since being drafted in the 11th round in 2014. Now, with free agency upon him after the 2026 season, the Brewers must decide if they can afford to keep him.
In 2026, Woodruff earned just over $22 million on a qualifying offer and made nine regular-season starts before being shut down, seemingly for the year. However, he made a triumphant return in the World Series, delivering a magical moment to complete an improbable comeback. He entered the offseason healthy and demonstrated elite form with a 2.98 ERA in those nine starts.
Spotrac projects his market value at just over $11.8 million over one year. If Woodruff commanded that salary, he would become the third-highest-paid player on the Brewers, trailing only Christian Yelich and William Contreras. The Brewers must weigh whether that figure is too steep given his recent injury history—he has made only 32 regular-season appearances since the start of the 2023 season.
Key Analysis
Woodruff is a franchise hero and a pillar of the team's recent turnaround, much like Yelich. However, after his substantial 2026 contract, it might not be unreasonable for the Brewers to consider a lower base salary, especially if a second year is added. A two-year deal worth around $20 million—averaging $10 million annually—would compensate him fairly for his talent and leadership while mitigating risk for a club that typically avoids massive contracts. Anything beyond that could complicate matters for Milwaukee. Woodruff should return in 2027, but the Brewers must avoid breaking the bank.