4 Milwaukee Brewers Most Likely to be Non-Tendered by Friday's Deadline

3. RHP Brandon Woodruff ($11.6MM projected)

In an ideal world, the Brewers don't even get to the point of having to make this non-tender decision on Friday. But if they do, the unfortunate reality is that a non-tender might be in the best interests of the team.

If you're not familiar with the situation by now, starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff is likely to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery shortly after the 2023 season ended. Even if he does return, it will be for such a small portion of the season that whatever raise he ends up getting would be hard to stomach for a player who will miss so much time.

If the Brewers want to retain Woodruff but avoid paying him a large salary for season in which he may not even pitch, signing him to a backloaded two-year contract would be a much more team friendly option. If that's the direction they want to go, though, they have less than a week to get something done.

4. UTIL Abraham Toro ($1.3MM projected)

Like Taylor, the price to keep utility man Abraham Toro isn't particularly high. But the 26-year-old is out of minor league options following the 2023 season, meaning if the Brewers retain him it would have to be as a member of the 26-man active roster in 2024.

Toro spent nearly the entire 2023 season at Triple-A Nashville and put up good numbers, batting .291 with an .845 OPS. But even that wasn't good enough to draw much MLB playing time as he only saw playing time in nine games for Milwaukee this season. And it wasn't as if the Brewers didn't have a need for a utility infielder at points during 2023.

It's possible that the Brewers tender Toro a contract because even if they still decide to move on later, it would be at little cost. But unless they have more faith in him than they showed by his playing time this season, his days on the roster may be numbered.