The Milwaukee Brewers probably didn’t want to see a pitcher the caliber of Brandan Woodruff, even with his history of injuries, get away as a free agent. Of course, the Brewers have eyes toward returning to the National League playoffs next season, too.

With qualifying offers going out to MLB players on Tuesday, Woodruff joined four other MLB players in staying with their teams.

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The right-hander accepted the Brewers’ $22.025 million, one-year qualifying offer and will stay as part of the Brew Crew.

Brewers fans and followers know that Woodruff, 32, chose free agency in October after declining half of a $20 million mutual option for 2026 and taking a buyout worth $10 million.

But Milwaukee extended him a qualifying offer. If Woodruff had declined, then the Brewers would have put Draft-related penalties on any team signing Woodruff in free agency.

It was a risk for Brewers management to do this, but it ended up keeping Woodruff in the fold.

Now, Woodruff comes on back to join other starting pitchers for the Brewers such as Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson and Freddy Peralta.

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Woodruff becomes the first pitcher in Milwaukee Brewers history to pocket more than $20 million in a single season. Woodruff is 53-28 with a 3.10 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Brewers dating back to his debut in 2017. He made two National League All-Star teams, including in 2021, when he had a 2.56 ERA and set career highs for starts (30), innings (179 1/3) and strikeouts (211).

Injuries, though, have plagued Woodruff. He underwent major shoulder surgery in October 2023. He missed the entire 2024 MLB season and the first three months of 2025. When Woodruff came back in July, he ended up going 7-3 with a 3.20 ERA. But a right lat injury put Woodruff out of the Brewers’ late-season push to the NL playoffs.

He’s due to be back and ready to roll into Spring Training ahead of the 2026 regular season.

For the Brewers, having a pitcher with some experience like Woodruff coming back will be an asset for Brewers manager Pat Murphy.