An excellent starting pitcher just hit the free-agent market.

In this series, we look at free agents who the Jays could be interested in as free agency continues. We’ve already covered 12 players, which you can find at the bottom of this article. Let’s take a look at Brandon Woodruff, who was recently non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff has been nontendered, sources tell ESPN. The two-time All-Star, who underwent shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the 2024 season, was scheduled to make around $11 million in arbitration. He will be a free agent.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1725681038163058980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Brandon Woodruff’s 2023:</h2>
Milwaukee produces a ton of excellent starting pitchers, the most notable being ace Corbin Burnes. However, Woodruff has also been a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the team over the past few seasons, as he was an All-Star in 2019 and 2021. 
The 30-year-old missed much of the 2023 season because of injury but looked great when healthy. He posted a 2.28 ERA and a 3.60 FIP in 67 innings pitched, along with a 29.2 K% and a 5.9 BB%. Unfortunately, the righty was limited to just 11 starts. Early in the season, he hit the Injured List with left shoulder inflammation until August. Before the start of the playoffs, Woodruff again went on the IL, this time for surgery. 
Pitchers coming off arm surgery are risky, but Woodruff has been great throughout his career. He has a career 3.10 ERA and a 3.19 FIP in 680.1 innings pitched. His K% sits at 28.9%, while his career BB% is at 6.5%.
<h2>Brandon Woodruff’s contract:</h2>
Per MLB Trade Rumors, Woodruff was set to make around $11.6 million in his final season of arbitration. He’ll make significantly less as he will miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season while rehabbing his shoulder injury.
If the Jays or any other team were to sign Woodruff, it’d be via a multi-year deal. It could be structured in numerous ways, sort of like how Chad Green’s contract was, but it could also be a two-year, $12 million deal with the majority of that money coming in 2025.
It’s hard to predict a contract for a pitcher who’ll likely miss all of the 2024 season, but the one thing I know for certain is that he’ll need to have a “show-me” deal in 2025.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
One way or another, then, a non-tender seemed almost inevitable for Brandon Woodruff.
But who could be interested in his services knowing that Woodruff might not throw a single pitch next season?<a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> has more ⤵️<a href="https://t.co/mYygPDsaXD">https://t.co/mYygPDsaXD</a> <a href="https://t.co/5BLPoSvaTr">pic.twitter.com/5BLPoSvaTr</a>
&mdash; The Athletic (@TheAthletic) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1726254293026738267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Is Brandon Woodruff a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The ideal spot for Woodruff is a team that could use a starter down the stretch in 2024, much like Hyun Jin Ryu was for the Blue Jays this year, while also being able to wait until 2025 if things don&#8217;t go smoothly. Yusei Kikuchi is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, so Woodruff could be a built-in replacement with zero need to rush back. 
That said, you never really know what a pitcher will do when returning from a major surgery on his pitching arm. Even if he signs the hypothetical two-year, $12 million deal, what if he has a setback? What if he isn’t the same? There’s a lot of risk for a team signing the righty.
With that being said, the Jays have taken that risk before, signing Green to a deal with a whole lot of options and electing one of those options to have him in the 2024 bullpen. Could the same kind of contract happen with Woodruff?
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D. 
<hr />
<h2>Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png 727w, https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1-300x167.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />

An excellent starting pitcher just hit the free-agent market.



In this series, we look at free agents who the Jays could be interested in as free agency continues. We’ve already covered 12 players, which you can find at the bottom of this article. Let’s take a look at Brandon Woodruff, who was recently non-tendered by the Milwaukee Brewers. 

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1725681038163058980
<h2>Brandon Woodruff’s 2023:</h2>
Milwaukee produces a ton of excellent starting pitchers, the most notable being ace Corbin Burnes. However, Woodruff has also been a top-of-the-rotation pitcher for the team over the past few seasons, as he was an All-Star in 2019 and 2021. 

The 30-year-old missed much of the 2023 season because of injury but looked great when healthy. He posted a 2.28 ERA and a 3.60 FIP in 67 innings pitched, along with a 29.2 K% and a 5.9 BB%. Unfortunately, the righty was limited to just 11 starts. Early in the season, he hit the Injured List with left shoulder inflammation until August. Before the start of the playoffs, Woodruff again went on the IL, this time for surgery. 

Pitchers coming off arm surgery are risky, but Woodruff has been great throughout his career. He has a career 3.10 ERA and a 3.19 FIP in 680.1 innings pitched. His K% sits at 28.9%, while his career BB% is at 6.5%.
<h2>Brandon Woodruff’s contract:</h2>
Per MLB Trade Rumors, Woodruff was set to make around $11.6 million in his final season of arbitration. He’ll make significantly less as he will miss most, if not all, of the 2024 season while rehabbing his shoulder injury.

If the Jays or any other team were to sign Woodruff, it’d be via a multi-year deal. It could be structured in numerous ways, sort of like how Chad Green’s contract was, but it could also be a two-year, $12 million deal with the majority of that money coming in 2025.

It’s hard to predict a contract for a pitcher who’ll likely miss all of the 2024 season, but the one thing I know for certain is that he’ll need to have a “show-me” deal in 2025.

https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1726254293026738267
<h2>Is Brandon Woodruff a fit for the Blue Jays:</h2>
The ideal spot for Woodruff is a team that could use a starter down the stretch in 2024, much like Hyun Jin Ryu was for the Blue Jays this year, while also being able to wait until 2025 if things don't go smoothly. Yusei Kikuchi is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, so Woodruff could be a built-in replacement with zero need to rush back. 

That said, you never really know what a pitcher will do when returning from a major surgery on his pitching arm. Even if he signs the hypothetical two-year, $12 million deal, what if he has a setback? What if he isn’t the same? There’s a lot of risk for a team signing the righty.

With that being said, the Jays have taken that risk before, signing Green to a deal with a whole lot of options and electing one of those options to have him in the 2024 bullpen. Could the same kind of contract happen with Woodruff?

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @Brennan_L_D. 

<hr />

<h2>Previously…</h2>
<ul class="mb-5 list-disc pl-8">
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-shohei-ohtani-is-this-winters-top-free-agent-despite-off-season-elbow-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Shohei Ohtani is this winter’s top free agent despite off-season elbow surgery</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-pursued-cody-bellinger-last-winter-and-likely-will-again-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays pursued Cody Bellinger last winter and likely will again this year</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-yoshinobu-yamamoto-finished-his-npb-career-with-one-of-the-best-starts-in-japan-series-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished his NPB career with one of the best starts in Japan Series history</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-two-time-all-star-tim-anderson-is-on-the-open-market-after-the-white-sox-declined-his-option" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Two-time All-Star Tim Anderson is on the open market after the White Sox declined his option</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-teoscar-hernandez-said-before-the-trade-deadline-that-hed-be-open-to-a-return-to-the-blue-jays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Teoscar Hernández said before the trade deadline that he’d be open to a return to the Blue Jays</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-lourdes-gurriel-jr-is-on-the-open-market-following-his-first-all-star-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is on the open market following his first All-Star season</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-the-blue-jays-are-apparently-interested-in-outfielder-michael-a-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: The Blue Jays are apparently interested in outfielder Michael A. Taylor</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-jorge-soler-could-give-the-blue-jays-some-much-needed-pop-in-their-lineup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Slugger Jorge Soler could give the Blue Jays some much-needed pop in their lineup</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-a-joey-votto-homecoming-is-a-possibility-this-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: A Joey Votto homecoming is a possibility this winter</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-bryce-harper-moving-to-first-base-means-rhys-hoskins-time-with-the-phillies-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Bryce Harper moving to first base means Rhys Hoskins’ time with the Phillies is over</a></li>
 	<li class=""><a class="text-accent" href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-jeimer-candelario-is-among-the-blue-jays-replacement-options-if-matt-chapman-doesnt-re-sign" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Agent Profile: Jeimer Candelario is among the Blue Jays’ replacement options if Matt Chapman doesn’t re-sign</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/free-agent-profile-slugger-j-d-martinez-is-back-on-the-market-after-a-rebound-year-with-the-dodgers">Free Agent Profile: Slugger J.D. Martinez is back on the market after a rebound year with the Dodgers</a></li>
</ul>

<hr />

<h2 class="mb-5 text-2xl font-bold" style="text-align: center"><a class="text-accent" href="https://gml-grp.com/C.ashx?btag=a_24038b_2065c_&amp;affid=7966&amp;siteid=24038&amp;adid=2065&amp;c=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer external nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO</a></h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61491" src="https://publish.bluejaysnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/Betano_ON_Base_727x404-1.png" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

Free Agent Profile: Brandon Woodruff is a high-upside pitcher for a team willing to wait as he returns from surgery

Blue Jays: Addison Barger’s regular season hot streak began in Seattle

Blue Jays: 2025 Arizona Fall League Game 4 recap

Blue Jays GDB – ALCS Game 3: Toronto looks to avoid going down 3-0 in series

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) reacts after striking out the side against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during game five of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park.

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News