During the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers gave a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff. Despite having the opportunity to test free agency, the two-time All-Star accepted the $22 million qualifying offer and returned to the team. However, with Freddy Peralta being traded, the Brewers are now relying on him to be the ace of the rotation. This is quite a gamble, given that Woodruff’s last three seasons have been injury-plagued. The Brewers better hope that their gamble on Brandon Woodruff pays off or their starting rotation will be in trouble.

Brandon Woodruff Is Returning This Season Embed from Getty Images

After the season concluded, Brandon Woodruff declined his $20 million mutual option for 2026 and became a free agent. The Brewers would later extend him a $22 million qualifying offer. This meant that Woodruff could accept what is essentially a one-year, $22 million deal. However, he could also decline it and enter free agency, and if the 32-year-old signs with another team, the Brewers would get a draft pick. While he could’ve tested free agency, the longtime Brewer somewhat unsurprisingly accepted the qualifying offer and returned to the team for the 2026 season.

Brandon Woodruff Has Had An Injury Plagued Three Seasons Embed from Getty Images

Despite Woodruff returning, the Brewers traded fellow starter Freddy Peralta to the Mets for top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. With Peralta now gone, the only starting rotation locks besides Woodruff are Jacob Misiorowski and Quinn Priester. It is widely expected that the 32-year-old will be the ace of the staff. While the former All-Star has the experience and is a capable ace, there is a significant risk that comes with this decision.

Brandon Woodruff has had an injury-plagued three years. Just before the 2023 postseason, the two-time All-Star was forced to undergo shoulder surgery to repair his anterior capsule. This surgery not only forced him to miss the postseason, but it also cost him all of 2024 as well. In 2025, the longtime Brewers suffered various setbacks during rehab. This included suffering from right ankle tendonitis last May and taking a batted ball off his right elbow in June. The 32-year-old wouldn’t return until early July last season and made a total of 12 starts. However, late in the season, Woodruff suffered a lat injury and would be out for the rest of the year as well as the postseason. The longtime Brewer once again saw his season cut short due to injury.

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When healthy, Brandon Woodruff is an All-Star-caliber starting pitcher. In 12 starts last season, Woodruff went 7-2 with an ERA of 3.20, 83 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.912. However, his biggest problem is that he’s been unable to stay healthy for the last three years. This makes depending on him to be the ace risky. If Woodruff gets hurt again, this would put the team in a real bind. With Peralta now gone, this forces the Brewers to rely on Misiorowski and Priester to anchor the top of the rotation. Quinn Priester is a mid-rotation starter and while Jacob Misiorowski will one day be Milwaukee’s ace, he isn’t ready yet.

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While Brandon Woodruff is returning for another season, Freddy Peralta is now gone. This means that the 32-year-old will be the Brewers’ ace this coming season. When healthy, Woodruff is an All-Star-caliber pitcher; however, he hasn’t been for the last three seasons. If the former All-Star’s injury woes continue, this will put the Brewers in a precarious position, being forced to rely primarily on Jacob Misiorowski and Quinn Priester. Gambling on Brandon Woodruff’s health is something that the Milwaukee Brewers better pray works out this season.

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