Part 8/12:
Turning to free agency, the landscape is marked by surprises and strategic moves. One such example is the Milwaukee Brewers offering a qualifying offer to Brandon Woodruff—a surprising decision given their typical cautious spending approach, especially considering his injury history.
At $22 million, this offer is above what the Brewers usually allocate for pitchers of Woodruff’s profile, raising questions about their intentions. Some speculate they are protecting themselves in case other teams sign him, thus securing a draft pick. The move also complicates Woodruff’s free agency, as the attached qualifying offer could deter some teams from pursuing multi-year deals or could lead to him accepting the one-year term.