Blue Jays starting pitcher helps Brewers' case for retaining Brandon Woodruff

Back in 2020, Brandon Woodruff and Shane Bieber were two of the best starting pitchers in the league, as the former led the league in starts during the pandemic season (13) and the latter won the AL Cy Young Award.

Fast-forward five years, and neither pitcher has retained their place atop the MLB pitching hierarchy. That's mostly due to injury -- Woodruff missed all of 2024 with a shoulder injury, while Bieber missed a year and a half following Tommy John surgery -- but both returned in 2025 and generally impressed, as the Milwaukee Brewers' starter accrued a 3.28 ERA over 64 2/3 innings and the Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher (after being acquired at the trade deadline) followed suit with a 3.57 ERA in 40 1/3 frames.

Something else Bieber and Woodruff have in common is that they're both due for free agency this year. Well, at least, they were, prior to Bieber shockingly picking up his $16 million player option for 2026. After making five appearances (four starts) in the postseason, most expected Bieber to head to free agency as seek a long-term contract.

That decision actually matters quite a bit to the Brewers, considering Woodruff exists in the same tier of formerly-elite-starter-with-injury-issues. If Bieber deemed his own value at $16 million for one season, doesn't it seem likely that Woodruff will accept the $22 million qualifying offer that Milwaukee extended to him?

Brandon Woodruff may have to accept qualifying offer after Shane Bieber's shocking contract decision

In a vacuum, Woodruff, even at 32 years old, is worth more than $22 million per year. However, having made just 23 starts since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, it may be hard for the veteran pitcher -- who missed the Brewers' playoff run with a lat strain -- to willingly turn down such a payday.

Remember, if a free agent-to-be declines the qualifying offer, they become attached to draft pick compensation. In other words, if Woodruff turns down the QO, any team that signs him would have to forfeit an early-round selection (and, potentially, international signing bonus money) just to be allowed to sign him to a contract.

That stipulation has hurt markets of many free agents in past years (see Pete Alonso's frigid market last offseason); Woodruff would likely be no exception.

If he does elect free agency, the veteran right-hander should find no shortage of suitors awaiting him. However, if Woodruff fears his injury history will hurt his earning potential in the wake of Bieber's decision, he could choose to run it back with the only franchise he's ever known.