Contract option decisions made for Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff

Watch Brandon Woodruff celebrate in the Brewers clubhouse after clinching the NLDS

Watch Brandon Woodruff celebrate in the clubhouse after the Brewers clinched the NLDS on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee.

The first of the Milwaukee Brewers’ off-season roster maneuvers have arrived. 

The most notable of the series of contract and roster decisions announcements made by the team Nov. 3 involve picking up right-hander Freddy Peralta’s $8 million club option for 2026 while right-hander Brandon Woodruff declined his end of a $20 million mutual option.

The Brewers also declined Danny Jansen’s mutual option for $12 million, making the catcher a free agent, and added right-hander Coleman Crow to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft in December. 

The decision with Peralta was a no-brainer for the Brewers after he went 17-6 with a 2.70 earned run average in 33 starts in 2025. What happens next, however, is not. Do the Brewers trade him with one year left before free agency or hang onto him? 

For Woodruff, declining his end of the option was an easy decision, as well. The $20 million price tag for 2026 would likely rival anything he would get for next year on the open market, but it also comes with a $10 million buyout. Woodruff, who had a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts in his return from shoulder surgery this year, expects to be fully healthy for next season and will easily make up that $10 million difference. 

Now, the next decision involving Woodruff is in the Brewers’ hands. They have until Nov. 6 to extend a qualifying offer of one year and $22.02 million to Woodruff. If Woodruff declines and signs elsewhere, the Brewers will earn a compensation pick in the draft next summer. 

More: What you need to know about the Milwaukee Brewers’ offseason, free agents, contracts, potential roster moves and more

Technically, the Brewers had until Nov. 18 to add Crow (and other Rule 5-eligible players) to the 40-man roster but wasted no time in making the move with the 24-year-old right-hander. Acquired from the New York Mets in return for Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser after the 2023 season, Crow has battled injuries much of his time in the minors and was rehabbing Tommy John surgery at the time of the deal. He’s pitched only 12 games in the minors for the Brewers but has showcased enough potential with his low-slot, riding fastball and wipeout curveball to merit protection in the Rule 5 draft, where the Brewers infamously lost Shane Smith to the Chicago White Sox a year ago. It’s quite likely Crow will be the only player the Brewers protect from the Rule 5 draft.  

The team has yet to announce decisions on the options of Rhys Hoskins, José Quintana and William Contreras, though it’s likely all three will get declined. That would make Hoskins and Quintana free agents, while Contreras, who is still arbitration-eligible, would remain with the team but have to go through the arbitration process. Milwaukee holds a $12 million team option for 2026 but can decline if it feels Contreras is set to make less in arbitration.