Brewers' Brandon Woodruff Accepts Qualifying Offer, Returns for 2026 Season

Brandon Woodruff accepted the Milwaukee Brewers' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer on November 18, 2025, becoming one of a record four players to do so. His decision fueled speculation about a potential Freddy Peralta trade, which the Brewers' front office quickly denied, emphasizing "independent decisions." Woodruff's acceptance provides certainty after an injury-riddled 2025 season where he struggled to regain fastball velocity following a serious shoulder injury. Opting for the guaranteed deal over testing a free-agent market potentially skeptical of his health and the draft-pick compensation requirement, Woodruff will return to Milwaukee for 2026.