Brandon Woodruff, the Milwaukee Brewers pitcher the club drafted in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, is now a free agent after nine big-league seasons with the organization, and MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy has called him the “most likely” Milwaukee free agent to return — if the sides can agree on terms for a pitcher who carries significant injury risk, MLB.com reported.
Woodruff has been with the Brewers since 2014 and is the longest-tenured arm in the organization, but his availability on the open market marks a new phase for a pitcher whose durability has become the central question in any negotiation. The Brewers are built to contend again and Woodruff would fit that roster, but the club is not expected to spend like the league’s biggest markets.
Woodruff’s road from 11th-round pick to free agency
The Brewers selected Woodruff in the 11th round of the 2014 draft, and he has remained in the organization ever since, appearing in nine major-league seasons. His path to the open market comes after a stretch defined as much by absence as by performance: he missed the entire 2024 campaign and pitched in only 21 regular-season games across the last two seasons.
The injury concerns that shape any contract
When Woodruff has been on the mound, the results have been solid. He posted a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts in 2025, and his durability remains the variable that will set his price. Even with the injury history, si.com argued the Brewers should pursue a deal, putting the ceiling at two years with an average annual value of $10 million — a figure the outlet noted could still be viewed as too high for a pitcher who has not stayed healthy.
McCalvy: Woodruff is the “most likely” to return
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy gave Brewers fans a measure of hope by identifying Woodruff as the free agent most likely to re-sign with Milwaukee. “Could any of the others return? Woodruff would be the most likely candidate if the sides can agree on terms for a player who means so much to the franchise, but he carries significant injury risk,” McCalvy wrote. Nothing has been signed, and until a deal is finalized, any team could pursue him.
Questions Brewers fans still have about Woodruff
How many games has Woodruff pitched recently? He made 12 starts in 2025 and missed the entire 2024 season, pitching in 21 regular-season games across the two years.
"I'm excited to help the team win in any capacity" Ahead of Game 2, Brandon Woodruff talks his return to the roster and other World Series topics with @SophiaMinnaert pic.twitter.com/aL8W84Ck8V
What did he do when healthy in 2025? Woodruff recorded a 3.20 ERA in his 12 starts, showing he can still get hitters out when available.
What kind of contract is Milwaukee expected to offer? si.com framed two years at $10 million per year as the ceiling of what the Brewers should pay, citing the club’s more restrained spending approach compared with high-market teams.
Woodruff’s 3.20 ERA in 2025 stands against a body of work that includes just 21 starts over two seasons — the central tension the Brewers must resolve before deciding whether to bring back the pitcher they drafted 11 years ago.
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