'Everybody loves Woody': Brewers, Brandon Woodruff make two-year deal official

PHOENIX – Anyone who happened to be paying close attention in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse at American Family Fields on Saturday would have seen, at some point, Wade Miley making his way through wearing a “Big Woo” t-shirt.

Printed last season as an homage to team and fan favorite Brandon Woodruff, the shirts became a hit among Brewers players.

But to be wearing it then, with Woodruff having been non-tendered in November and no longer around, was it just happenstance? Or was Miley perhaps providing a bit of foreshadowing of the news that was to come only a couple days later?

“I just happened to have it in my locker and that’s the one that I grabbed,” Miley said with a wink on Monday, not long after reports had surfaced that the Brewers and Woodruff had agreed to terms on a deal to bring the right-hander back into the fold.

The news was made official on Wednesday, with Woodruff signing a two-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2026.

The Associated Press reported that the deal is for two years and $17.5 million, with Woodruff receiving $2.5 million this season and $5 million in 2025. There is also a $20 million mutual option for 2026 with a $10 million buyout.

The contract contains a full no-trade clause as well.

“I mean, I can't say enough good things about him as a human being, as a person,” Miley said. “I may have known a little bit before some people. It's cool. I don't even really have words. I'm so pumped up for him and excited to have Woo back here, and I know the organization is pumped to have him back.”

Woodruff, in a Zoom session with reporters, is just as pumped to be back.

"I'm super-happy to be back," he said. "This is an organization where I've grown up in. I'm very familiar with the situation I'm in with the medical staff, the front office, with the coaching, with the players and even the people in the city. I still get to live in the same house.

"You know, just a lot a lot of positives I can take from this and it made the decision pretty easy."

Woodruff, who underwent surgery on Oct. 13 to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder, spent the offseason in limbo as he went through the initial stages of healing and recovery, not knowing where he'd end up for the 2024 season -- if anywhere at all.

Early on he made it clear that his preference would be to return to Milwaukee, and the two sides intermittently remained in contact. But it wasn't until only recently that the possibility began to appear as though it could become reality -- and apparently after he'd already committed to another unnamed team.

"There was quite a few teams that were in it to the end," Woodruff said. "I was close to signing there at the end and then the Brewers came in right at the last second, is kind of how it happened."

Added manager Pat Murphy: "I'm not going to give you timetables. But from the time all this happened, it wasn't very long. Even his closest friends were shocked."

Woodruff, who just turned 31, was in Phoenix briefly earlier in the week finalizing the deal and is expected to return to Maryvale as camp progresses.

More: What to know about Woodruff and some instant reactions on his return

More: 4 observations about the new-look Brewers starting rotation for 2024

At some point during the season Woodruff's rehab will transfer back to Milwaukee, reversing the protocol the Brewers normally utilize for players who are out for the long term.

"One big thing that I communicated throughout this process was I want to be with the team and be available as much as I can," he said. "The rehab process is so tough, and if you feel like you're not in it, mentally you lose a little bit of that. It gets tough day in and day out. So, that was a big thing.

"I voiced that and the brewers are willing to let me rehab in Milwaukee. They added some extra help on the on the medical staff so I'll be able to rehab Milwaukee all summer, which was a huge plus."

All indications are that Woodruff is likely to miss the entire 2024 season. Asked

"I'll tell you like I've told every other team and every other person: I'm following Dr. (Keith) Meister's orders," he said. "He's the doctor performed my surgery. And whatever he says, goes. That's pretty plain and simple. So, I'm following his timeline regarding if I will pitch or not this year. That's up to him. I have full trust in Dr. Meister, and I think he's the best in the game.

"But I drew from some experiences from the sub-scap this past year (an injury that sent him to the IL for four months). Last year, I learned pretty quick that you can't get too far ahead of your schedule and look ahead. So, I'll take it day to day, week to week, month to month see where I'm at at the end of the year and if it makes sense, maybe.

"But if not, I'll be ready to go for '25."

Whatever time Woodruff is able to spend around the team will be a major bonus -- especially considering how many young pitchers are currently in camp and will be cycling through once the season starts.

"He's a veteran," Miley said. "He's went through the hard times, and he's learned how to like get through them. How to take care of his body, how to be a professional. And I mean, we're lacking that in the game today. Because I mean, there's so many young guys coming up, and it's not their fault -- it's just, you don't know how to be a pro.

"Like, this is a guy who who's done it the right way throughout his time here and guys who look up to him because of who he is. And that's huge."

Woodruff was the author of one of the biggest moments in franchise history when he homered off Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the NLCS in 2018, a two-time all-star and considered in general to be one of the best pitchers ever to pull on a Brewers uniform.

He also showed how much the game means to him when he broke down trying to describe the emotions of being scratched from his Game 2 start in the NL wild-card series in Milwaukee after being diagnosed with his injury.

The fact that he'll be able to move past that awful moment by 2025 at the latest is extremely meaningful for Woodruff.

"The last time I talked to you guys was in that media room and I couldn't hold it together because I wanted to pitch so bad but I knew I couldn't," he said. "I thought about this on the plane ride back home from the physical. The way things shook out for me, it made me realize that I wasn't supposed to go out with the Brewers, getting hurt, not being able to pitch and then getting non-tendered.

"Now that I'm signed back, it kind of just hit me like, 'Man, this is where I'm supposed to be, whether it's two more years or whatever it looks like. I've still got a lot of, I guess you could say, unfinished business in a Brewers uniform. That's the way I feel about it. And so that's why I'm so super-excited."

To make room for Woodruff on the 40-man roster, infielder Jahmai Jones was designated for assignment.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Brewers, Brandon Woodruff make two-year deal official