Brandon Woodruff addressed several topics during an interview on Foul Territory, including his hopes of returning from shoulder surgery before the 2024 season is over. The possibility certainly exists that Woodruff’s anterior capsule procedure might sideline him for the entire year, but the Brewers right-hander acknowledged that he is far too early in the recovery process to set any timelines. However, Woodruff said that “from talking with multiple doctors, there is a possibility to be open to me throwing at some point this summer….As an athlete, you have to set goals and [have] something to look forward to.”
Woodruff is under arbitration control for one remaining season and was initially seen as a possible trade candidate this winter given his rising arb price tag. His shoulder surgery ended any chance of a trade, but it create some chance that the Brewers could non-tender Woodruff altogether. That said, the Brew Crew might also look to sign Woodruff to some type of lower-cost two-year contract, allowing him time to recover and then hopefully be ready for a full season in 2025. The two-time All-Star hasn’t yet spoken with the team about any kind of contract or his injury situation in general, but since “the season isn’t over yet,” he figures those conversations will eventually come. Woodruff’s preference is definitely to stay put, as “I’ve been so lucky to be with one organization and basically one coaching staff my whole career….I fit in so well with that city and this organization that my hope is that I will be a Brewer for a long time. That’s what I want.”
More from around the NL Central….
- Injuries and inconsistency hampered the Cubs’ bullpen late in the season, contributing to the team’s subsequent fall out of the playoff race in September. Relief pitching figures to be a target area for Chicago this winter, but Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic don’t believe this season’s outcome will change the front office’s aversion to heavy investments in the bullpen, given how relievers can run so hot or cold from year to year. Some more experienced arms will be sought out, but with “an emphasis on finding veteran relievers who have had some success in the past — or flashed the potential to put it all together — but haven’t done it consistently or recently enough to command a multiyear contract.”
- The Rangers’ Mike Maddux and the Diamondbacks’ Brent Strom are the opposing pitching coaches for the World Series, and Jeff Jones of the Bellville News-Democrat notes the bittersweet nature of this matchup for the Cardinals, considering that both coaches used to be employed in the St. Louis organization. Maddux was the team’s pitching coach from 2018-22 before joining the Rangers last winter, and Strom worked for St. Louis from 2007-13, including a stint as the Cards’ minor league pitching coordinator. Considering that the Cardinals’ pitching faltered in 2023 and they’re now planning to overhaul their rotation this winter, Jones observes that “whatever changes come in the staffing of player and pitching development will likely take the form of attempting to re-capture some of what was already in house and departed.”
Cardinals fans have to love the two pitching coaches were both let go by their organization.
I’m sure the success Maddox has had in Texas has nothing to do with Scherzer, Eovaldi or DeGrom. Just like Strom’s success has nothing to do with Gallen or Kelly. There’s not a pitcher in the Cardinals rotation that has the level of talent that even comes close to any of those guys.
Exactly what success has deGrom had in Texas? Please tell of his contributions from May until now.
DeGrom in May is better than any Cardinals pitcher this year. I’m sorry you fail to realize that.
I’m not sure how “talented” you think Eovaldi is and to a lesser extent Kelly is but it seems way too high. The Cardinals have multiple pitchers as talented as them. Talent does always equal production.
Cards front office all need to be fired
Not to mention Zac Gallen and Adolis Garcia going up against one another tonight
And Jordan Montgomery.
Maddux wasn’t let go, he chose to leave to get closer to home
This is right, but if the cards were racking up wins I don’t think he jets to Texas.
Gee a front office who wants veteran relievers with a track record. Interesting concept.
I seem to remember someone banging that drum last offseason concerning their team and it didn’t happen. Neither did the playoffs.
I think the Phillies proved what a good bullpen can do.
along with montgomery.? Maddux was a long time ranger pitching coach than a Cardinal.
Exactly. I think it’s cool that their former pitching coach CAME BACK and they won a pennant.
Keep up the good work Jeff Jones!
It’s not just players who succeed far more when they leave cesspool east missouri, coached thrive elsewhere too.
How’s Iowa’s professional baseball team doing? oh wait…
Say what you want about “eastern MO” but no one cares about Iowa, like no one anywhere, ever. I hope you get cell reception in your cornfield so you can read this.
Where did an Iowan touch you?
Only Cubs points that matter right now.
1. They need to keep Anthony Kastrovince at all costs
2. They need to forget about Juan( I’m all hype Soto)
3. I wouldn’t trade Morel alone for 1 year of Juan( I’m all hype) Soto, Much less add more. And I wouldn’t even with an extension.
4. If they’re going to spend big money they need it to be on a SP
You really don’t like Juan Soto… whatever.
Cubs aren’t trading for one year of Soto, who will eventually cost a pretty penny. I don’t see them trading the farm, not when they just finished replenishing it.
Oh I have zero doubt they’d be stupid enough to do it. They need another OF like I need another wife. If they’re going to something stupid like that at least let them do it for Alonso or something actually need. But money should be spent on Pitching. You can always trade extra. Let me see, Great OF’s Washington drafted that lived up to their hype…………….Thinking…………..Still thinking…………….squinting………….ahhh. Sorry got nothing
Soto’s final year of arbitration is going to be expensive, 30 million if I remember the estimate correctly from a week back on article here. It’s not likely I think. You’re not a fan of him, but I sure wouldn’t mind him in a Cubs uniform
Does the name Bryce Harper ring a bell?
Aren’t you dead and Bryce who?
Kidding about the Bryce part.
Anyhoo, Soto isn’t needed as much as someone who can play third base, first base, start, and relieve, so hopefully the team focuses on that and not Soto.
Soto is a beast but unless he can play first base what’s the point?
I know the Nationals won a World Series without Harper but I think the worst decision they ever made was not re-signing him and opting to extend Strasburg and his injury history the next year.
Had the Nata kept Harper, they would probably still be Playoff contenders (assuming keeping Harper would have also meant keeping Soto and never would have led to Turner and Scherzer being traded).
The Cubs have to pray PCA can turn into Corbin Carrol.
I’m at a loss on the Cubs really, last offseason, the plan was pretty clear cut (for me anyways):
sign Bellinger (I actually wanted the Cubs to just trade a no one to the Dodgers for him.
Sign either Martinez or Turner (neither happened)
Add a high leverage reliever
Leave the rotation alone.
Grab Hosmer to bridge Mervis
The Cubs followed a lot of that game plan but made bone headed signings of Boxberger (who wasn’t bad but the second year was dumb), Mancini (for the life of me I have no idea what the heck they saw in him AND gave him two years to boot) and Smyly (again, just a horrible decision).
They also should have heeded my advice and traded Mancini plus a low ranked prospect to Cleveland for Bell.
drasco036
Yes I agree the Mancini signing was asinine, especially tacking on two years to it. The Barnhart signing made more sense. Not signing a lefty relief pitcher last offseason didn’t help either.
I definitely would have preferred to see Chaffin back in our bullpen over Fulmer.
I wanted:
Cubs to sign Bellinger- accomplished
Wanted no part of Hosmer. I actually thought Mancini was a professional bat and platoon piece with Mervis. I agree the extra year was dumb.
Wanted the Cubs to sign Senga. They opted for Taillon( Which I was OK with)’ Then for some stupid reason tried to change him when what he was doing was working just fine.
Liked Fullmer
Disliked Boxberger but he was only 1 million I thought
Was appalled at the Happ extension
Was sent puking when I heard it was a NTC ( A Jed Specialty)
Wanted more young guys brought up and way sooner than it happened
Wanted a Closer ( Didn’t get one)
This off season:
Want a stud SP
Want Stroman to opt out since Hendricks is gonna be here I guess
Pick up Gomes option
Trade Smyly if possible, That’s a reach
Let more young pitching move up the chain and MLB
Based on what I’m hearing I’m not getting any of that.
I never mind having a reclamation piece as a fourth starter the way Smyly was in 2022, which is why I wanted to see the Cubs grab Clevinger in free agency. I hated seeing us re-sign Smyly, when you gamble and win at a reclamation, walk away.
I would have loved to see the Cubs land an Ace and still will but I feel it’s a long shot.
I agree, I would have liked to see one of the kids actually given a shot to earn the starting job in 2024. Ross’s handling of the rookies should have cost him his job.
I was fine with Happs extension but I also hate no trade clauses.
I’d like to see the Cubs re-work Gomes deal, maybe add an additional year player option at around three million dollars.
It’s just my own personal opinion but 1.) never pay for a fifth starter 2.) hunt for deals on your fourth starter/reclamation piece. If you do that, it really keeps your payroll in check. Depth pieces are cheap at the deadline.
My biggest complaint about all the extensions/contracts Hoyer gave out last year is this, Happ, Suzuki, Hoerner, Taillon are all free agents the same year. Happ and Suzuki have no trade clauses so you cannot trade one in hopes to stagger free agency. Did the Cubs learn absolutely nothing in 2020 and 21? Stagger your deals!
Smyly (while over paid) could actually be useful if strictly used out of the bullpen. His spilt stats indicate he is good in that role. Mostly agree with all of your takes though. Go Cubs
He could be good as a reliever/swingman but you don’t pay 10 million dollars to a reliever/swingman unless he’s a lights high leverage reliever.
The biggest issue with Smyly is his value doesn’t match his contract and the Cubs are tight on money.
A lot of people think the Cubs have money to spend, not if the pick up Hendricks, Gomes and Stroman opt in, that’s actually pretty much all their money. Hayward and Bellingers money was all just reallocated to Happ, Hoerner and arbitration raises.
I agree, Smyly is vastly overpaid but they are stuck with him. May as well use him the most beneficial way.
It isn’t that Rickets is unwilling to spend, but Hoyer\Hawkins have spent poorly in some ways… Happ, Smyly, Mancini, Barnhart for a combined $40 M (verdict still out on Suzuki I guess). Now they are in a tough spot.
It’s easy for us to say “spend” because it’s not our money, but I agree they should have spent a little more than they did. Another $10 M could have gotten a nice bullpen arm and still been under the luxury tax.
I don’t necessarily call Rockets cheap because he has a near $200 M payroll for the Cubs, but the GM has spent poorly in many ways.
All their money? How the hell do you know? Are the the team accountant? They have more money to spend than any other team.
Cue the “but Ricketts is cheap” song.
If they had spent an extra 10 million they’d have absolutely nothing to spend on deadline acquisitions without going over the limit, so you’re wrong.
Good point, thanks!
All their money,,,, all the space they are under the luxury tax.
I may not be the team accountant but I can do basic math.
I guess Drascoo you could explain to that other guy all the sites that are available that show team finances and Luxury Tax finances, But I figure you wouled just be wasting your time. Or the yearly draft implications of having to drop down 1o picks if you violate them. But yeah, Waste of time.
Yeah in regards to the Brewers, I thought it more than likely they’d flip at least one of Woodryff, Burnes or Adames this offseason but now it seems like they’ll have to hang on to Burnes to keep that 2 headed beast of Burnes and Peralta going.
My question to Brewers fans is this: What do you feel the odds of MIL non-tendering Woodruff are this winter?
He’s non-tendered for sure. But I also think they’ll try to bring him back on a “heal deal”
And Burnes is gone too. No way they carry his arb salary and forfeit the prospect package he’ll bring back
If there is any chance he returns in 2024 there is no chance that they non-tender him.
Dude, if he happens to heal quickly enough to pitch in 2024, it’s going to be off a bullpen mound at about 40% max effort. There is virtually 0% chance he heals and has time to rehab properly and ramp up to strength. If he even thinks of trying he’s an idiot.
The problem with that though is how cost-conscious the Brewers are. The type of injury Woodruff suffered and the type of surgery he’s having, IF he pitchers at all in 2024, it’ll be in mid-September, MAYBE early September, if we’re incredibly lucky, late August. He’s projected to make $11.6 million in arbitration. The Brewers are NOT going to pay him $11.6 million in the hopes that he can pitch in the last couple weeks of the season. They can put that money to so many other uses.
Considering how cost conscious the Brewers have been the past few years, I’d personally be shocked if they didn’t non-tender him. As someone else said, I’d expect if they do bring him back, it’ll be a 2 year deal where they let him heal. But a non-tender also frees up a projected $11.6 million which can offset keeping Adames and Burnes. Like I said earlier, they had the 3 headed monster of Burnes-Woodruff-Peralta heading into 2024 and it’s been rumored that one of Burnes, Adames or Woodruff would be traded to clear up some payroll, leaving that 3 headed monster with two heads. Trading Burnes while Woodruff is out for the year would leave Peralta as the only surefire bet for the 2024 rotation among a slew of question marks. They do have a $10 million mutual option on Wade Miley with a $1 million buyout, and he did pitch well this season, but his peripherals weren’t the best and he’s turning 37 in a few weeks, wouldn’t be shocked to see them cut bait and use that $9 million elsewhere. There reasonable internal options outside of that are Aaron Ashby, who almost all the season due to injury, and Adrian Houser, who didn’t pitch the best but is a warm body.. I think they need Burnes. I think Burnes, Peralta and Houser are the top of the rotation and they sign some depth guys, maybe bring Julio Teheran back in on a cheap deal and try their luck. They’ll also save some money by declining their options on Justin Wilson and Andrew Chafin which should save them almost $9 million. They need more offense too but this comment is already long enough.
TL;DR I believe they will absolutely non-tender Woodruff and I believe they will absolutely keep Burnes.
I have to agree. $11.6M for a lost season followed by free agency. If they don’t then sign him to like a 3-year deal that is backloaded, someone else like the Dodgers will – that’s what they do, but they also need rotation help now.
The Cardinals are a mess and that’s an understatement,
Thanks to a god-like-wannabe POS PBO.
Oh yeah Harper. The one guy who wasn’t hype that they let walk so they could keep Strasburg. Who’s idea was that? Oh yeah, The guy they just gave an extension to. Well played.
The Cubs signed Taillon instead of going after Senga, strike one. The bullpen had injuries and got burned out from overuse of the same 3 guys every game, Hoyer can and should get blame but the manager can’t keep calling the same guys every day, strike two. David Ross is a by the book organizational manager that never trust his gut. He’s a terrible strategic and tactical manager who didn’t help them win a single game after writing out the lineup card. He talks fast spewing out baseball jargon so he sounds like he knows what he’s talking about but he’s not a good manager, strike three. And it will be strike three for as long as Dave is in that dugout.
The plan was to sign Bellinger and trade him at the deadline but the team was in contention for the wildcard so they couldn’t do that and now he’ll walk away. At this point it looks like they will take a step backwards in 2024.
Seeing that Cubs line, just makes my heart sink. So once again, another season, another, of “let’s find scrap parts of bullpen relievers from other organizations that are now bums, attempt to renovate them, while paying them a dirt 1-year deal, throw in some MacGyver duct tape & bubble gum, and hope the bullpen holds together.” There’s the translation. Why? Because it worked ONCE with Pedro Strop years ago. Un*******believable! They collapsed last season in September BECAUSE OF THIS EXACT STRATEGY! One of the richest teams in baseball. Sell the team Ricketts.
Excellent take. I agree with that 100%
What a surprise.
Adolis Garcia?? Ha!!! The Cards have Hamburger Burleson and Fruit Noot. I wish Mo & Co would feel the pain, but they’re too busy counting their millions and reminding themselves how great they are.