In a surprising move, the Milwaukee Brewers decided to non-tender Brandon Woodruff, a two-time All-Star and one of the game’s best starting pitchers. Woodruff, who has been a crucial part of the Brewers’ success in recent years, is now a free agent. This decision has raised many eyebrows as Woodruff’s performance and contributions to the team have been outstanding.
Aside from Woodruff, there were several other notable players who were non-tendered before the Friday deadline. Among them were power-hitting first baseman Daniel Vogelbach, who had a remarkable 30-home run season in 2019, and veteran catchers Austin Nola and Jacob Stallings. Another surprising move was made by the St. Louis Cardinals, who non-tendered their starting pitcher Dakota Hudson. These moves have left fans and experts curious about the reasoning behind such decisions.
The Brewers’ Decision and the Impact on the Team
The Brewers’ decision to non-tender Woodruff has undoubtedly raised concerns among fans and analysts alike. Woodruff, along with Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta, formed a dynamic starting rotation that played a significant role in the Brewers’ success, leading them to the postseason multiple times. Woodruff’s fifth-place finish in the National League Cy Young Award voting last year and his strong performance in 2022 demonstrated his immense value to the team.
However, injuries have plagued Woodruff, causing him to miss a substantial portion of the 2023 season. He suffered a subcapular strain in his throwing shoulder, which led to a four-month absence from the team. He made a remarkable comeback, posting an impressive 2.59 ERA in nine starts. Unfortunately, on the eve of the Brewers’ wild-card series in early October, Woodruff learned that he had suffered another shoulder injury, requiring surgery to repair the anterior capsule.
The uncertainty surrounding Woodruff’s availability for the 2024 season, coupled with his impending free agency, likely factored into the Brewers’ decision. Tendering Woodruff a contract worth approximately $12 million in his last year of arbitration would have been a significant financial risk for the team, given his injury history. The Brewers’ general manager, Matt Arnold, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and expressed the team’s openness to Woodruff returning to Milwaukee in the future.
Implications of the Non-Tender Deadline
The non-tender deadline often serves as a trigger for trade activities among teams seeking to acquire non-tender candidates before they become available in the free-agent market. One such example is the Kansas City Royals’ trade with the Atlanta Braves, where they acquired Kyle Wright, a promising starting pitcher who will miss the entire 2024 season due to shoulder surgery. The Royals will have two years of club control over Wright following his recovery.
Similarly, the Seattle Mariners made a move to acquire Luis Urias, a former promising middle infielder from the Boston Red Sox. The Cleveland Guardians also engaged in a trade with the San Diego Padres, obtaining late-inning reliever Scott Barlow, who has an impressive track record of performance over the last three years. These trade activities highlight the strategic moves made by teams to secure talent that becomes available through non-tendering.
For non-tendered players like Woodruff, Vogelbach, Nola, and Stallings, their future in the MLB remains uncertain. While they become free agents and can explore opportunities with other teams, the market may not be as favorable as they had hoped. Injuries, recent performance, and market dynamics will all influence the offers they receive and the teams’ willingness to sign them.
Nonetheless, the potential for a fresh start and new opportunities awaits these players. They have the chance to showcase their skills and contribute to another team’s success. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see where these non-tendered players end up and how they perform in their new environments.
The non-tender deadline in MLB brings both excitement and uncertainty. The surprising decision of the Brewers to non-tender Brandon Woodruff, the outstanding performances of other non-tendered players, and the subsequent trade activities by teams looking to acquire such talents all contribute to the intrigue surrounding this annual event. As the offseason progresses, fans and analysts eagerly await the resolution of these players’ futures and the impact they will have on their new teams.
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