QO deadline today 3PM CT .. Woodruff may impact Cardinals

[ramfandan]

3 1/2 hours away from players receiving the QO to decide 'take it' or go FA .
The Brewers put the QO ($22.025 M) on starting P Brandon Woodruff. Woody came back last year from previous elbow surgery a couple years ago.
He pitched quite well in 2025 though had a different injury (Lat issue) that knocked him later in year and both playoff series.
Woodruff had mutual option year for $20M that he declined after the season ..calling for him to still receive half ($10M as the buyout ).
Then Brewer POBO put the QO on Woodruff. Brewers say they would like to have him back , Some say Arnold put the QO to assure that if Woodruff declines the QO that Arnold will get the extra draft pick in compensation.

So if Woody stays Brewers pitching staff better but if Woody leaves , Brewers improve their draft stock. Last year , they got added pick when Adames went to Giants.
Another thing out there today is that if Woodruff is hopeful of getting a multi-year deal .(more years and added total $$$) that the Braves may try to snatch him.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/atlanta-br ... om-brewers

Atlanta needs a starter big time. . That could impact the Cardinals possibly as Sonny Gray in some speculation has Gray a fit with Atlanta.
Braves would not likely go for Gray if Woodruff goes there. So Bloom could possibly lose a logical suitor for Sonny Gray if Woody goes FA.

So interesting scenario to watch where Woodruff ends up .Guess we will know soon. That POPO Matt Arnold has made some shrewd decisions on Brewer players in the last couple years.. Corbin Burnes , WIlly Adames, now Woodruff ? Arnold was named NL Esecutive of the Year this season .. his 2nd in a row !

[2ninr]

Nice post. Makes sense.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

[WaltsSuccessor]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

[ramfandan]

Now that Woodruff took the QO offer from the Brewers , will the Brewers go into 2026 with Peralta still there too ?
Though it sounded like Brewers at GM meetings were not 'shopping' Peralta , the fact that Wooodruff has inked the one year QO , they could pivot from Peralta too.
I never put anything past Matt Arnold . He is a pretty shrew POBO in his wheeling-dealing .

From Cardinals standpoint, I am pleased Woody is staying as that is one less high draft compensation pick for the Brewers. Secondly , it means Woodruff is not in the running to go to the Braves , which makes it better odds that Sonny Gray could be wanted there now.
So for me , I am pleased that Brandon Woodruff stayed with the Brewers.

[The Nard]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

But each one is a competitive team that may make the playoffs again next season. That would mean a lot, imo.

[renostl]

Now that Woodruff took the QO offer from the Brewers , will the Brewers go into 2026 with Peralta still there too ?
Though it sounded like Brewers at GM meetings were not 'shopping' Peralta , the fact that Wooodruff has inked the one year QO , they could pivot from Peralta too.
I never put anything past Matt Arnold . He is a pretty shrew POBO in his wheeling-dealing .

From Cardinals standpoint, I am pleased Woody is staying as that is one less high draft compensation pick for the Brewers. Secondly , it means Woodruff is not in the running to go to the Braves , which makes it better odds that Sonny Gray could be wanted there now.
So for me , I am pleased that Brandon Woodruff stayed with the Brewers.

Woodruff has the high upside.
But man he's had a difficult time staying on the field. Now they can't QO him again.

[Ozziesfan41]

Now that Woodruff took the QO offer from the Brewers , will the Brewers go into 2026 with Peralta still there too ?
Though it sounded like Brewers at GM meetings were not 'shopping' Peralta , the fact that Wooodruff has inked the one year QO , they could pivot from Peralta too.
I never put anything past Matt Arnold . He is a pretty shrew POBO in his wheeling-dealing .

From Cardinals standpoint, I am pleased Woody is staying as that is one less high draft compensation pick for the Brewers. Secondly , it means Woodruff is not in the running to go to the Braves , which makes it better odds that Sonny Gray could be wanted there now.
So for me , I am pleased that Brandon Woodruff stayed with the Brewers.

Woodruff has the high upside.
But man he's had a difficult time staying on the field. Now they can't QO him again.

It was better than losing him for nothing. When he accepts it they may turn around and trade him this off season or at the deadline for prospects

[greyhawk]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

[WaltsSuccessor]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

Probably onto something. Saw a tweet that only 14 of the previous 144 players accepted the QO before this year (10%).

This year, 4 of the 13 did (30%).

[Ozziesfan41]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

Probably onto something. Saw a tweet that only 14 of the previous 144 players accepted the QO before this year (10%).

This year, 4 of the 13 did (30%).

Could be that and also they may think there might be a floor put into the next CBA which would force teams to spend money and open up more bidders

[ramfandan]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

Probably onto something. Saw a tweet that only 14 of the previous 144 players accepted the QO before this year (10%).

This year, 4 of the 13 did (30%).

Could be that and also they may think there might be a floor put into the next CBA which would force teams to spend money and open up more bidders

Might very well be , good point ! The Brewers were quite generous to Woodruff when he got hurt the year he could have left them to sign a 2 yr. deal during his rehab for TJ surgery. So they took a gamble he would recover to his old self. Woodruff ended up getting $10M buyout by declining the option on the 2nd year (making him a FA ) . then Brewers put the QO on him . So in essence Woody is making $30 M for next year . Pretty sweet.
He came up thru the Brewer system . I Know money talks but think the Brewers were loyal to him and now he was loyal back by returning to them .
What the heck .. if he has a good 2026 , he can go free agent after that too. So to me , he can't lose on staying put this year despite the lockout coming up for 2027. If he continues his good ERA like last year, he could be in high demand next go round PLUS even if the Brewers put a QO on him a 2nd time , there is NO draft pick compensation lost by the signing team after next year. So you get a top free agent and lose NADA !

[rockondlouie]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

Bingo!

[Carp4Cy]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

I wonder if the $22M QO threshold will be lowered in the next CBA to give owners more opportunity to leverage FA's for compensating picks? Back in the day there used to be 20 or more compensation picks in the early rounds and they were quite valuable.

[renostl]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

IF that's the case why not attempt to get money that covers an off year?
A 2 year at $18 would be an improved amount of income and if a short off season happens
these players will be in scramble mode. It would be nice to not be in that chaos of not
knowing where you'll be.

It's possible it is saying the opposite.

[greyhawk]

Brandon Woodruff is accepting the one-year, $22.025MM qualifying offer from the Brewers, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

As is Imanaga (Cubs), Gleyber Torres (Tigers), and Grisham (Yankees). Pretty unusual to have 4 players accept. Probably takes a decent chunk out of the Brewers and Cubs offseason budgets, which is nice.

Makes me wonder if the player agents think there won't be any long term contracts or not many bidders with the pending lockdown --- take what you can get this year and see how things shake out. A big storm is looming for mlb i am afraid....the fans again will be the losers.

IF that's the case why not attempt to get money that covers an off year?
A 2 year at $18 would be an improved amount of income and if a short off season happens
these players will be in scramble mode. It would be nice to not be in that chaos of not
knowing where you'll be.

It's possible it is saying the opposite.

that is possible but i don't think the teams are going to want to give 2 yr contracts this off season, if there is no 2027 season they won't want to be paying anyone for not playing.