Brandon Woodruff's Record Salary Not Linked to Freddy Peralta Trade for Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio clarified that Brandon Woodruff's acceptance of the qualifying offer is not a precursor to trading fellow pitcher Freddy Peralta. Attanasio stated that decisions regarding the rotation are independent, expressing excitement about the current pitching staff. Woodruff's $22.025 million salary for 2026 will mark the highest ever for a pitcher in Brewers team history. While Peralta, 29, is a year away from free agency—a typical timeframe for Milwaukee to trade key players—the team has shown flexibility in the past, as seen with Willy Adames. Peralta is currently ranked among the offseason's top trade candidates, but Woodruff's situation is not directly tied to his potential departure.