The 2024 offseason has been quite a frustrating one for the Brewers! They lost Willy Adames in free agency and also traded Devin Williams to the New York Yankees. Now, there is a significant void in their lineup, which might even show up in the team’s results and performance.
Being a small-market team, they often miss on signing or retaining big players. Naturally, they were unwilling to pay Adames in the 2025 offseason, which led him to ultimately leave the team. The consequence?
As predicted by MLB analyst Ben Verlander, this trade loss could create a blow in their back.
During the NL Central Review podcast on Spotify, he pointed out, “I don’t think they did enough to replace Willy Adames in the middle of their lineup. Not impressed by the rotation that will have Freddy Peralta at the top, Tobias Myers, Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, and Jose Quintana; uh, I just don’t think the depth in their lineup or the rotation that’s going to be good enough.”
It’s true! Adames posted .251/.331/.462 slash line, hitting 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and.794 OPS. After that, he became a free agent, until getting signed by the San Francisco Giants for a seven-year, $182 million contract.
Losing the $182 million shortstop was a major blow for the Milwaukee Brewers. They were left with a critical gap in the shortstop position, which weakened their lineup considerably.
In such a situation, Ben Verlander mentioned that Brandon Woodruff, currently undergoing rehab, may make a big comeback, which will be good for the Brewers. Even Jose Quintana could be quite beneficial at the bottom of the rotation. However, they didn’t do anything significant to replace Adames, and seems like, they are going to miss his productivity.
But as of now, there’s good news: Woodruff! Expectedly, he will start on Saturday for the Brewers.
Brewers expecting quite a lot from Brandon Woodruff this season
With the Milwaukee Brewers heading into the 2025 season and aiming to defend their National League Central title for the second time, there’s some good news for them. Brandon Woodruff, one of their mainstays since 2017 and one of the most consistent elite arms, has shown good signs of recovery in the practice sessions.
Before the 2023 season, Woodruff got a shoulder injury and Corbin Burnes was traded. This pushed the Brewers to look for pitchers, ultimately getting Freddy Peralta.
However, now that Woodruff has displayed his skills with a start against the Padres’ minor leaguers, hope is building strong inside the club. He threw 27 pitches and even struck out a batter, while consistently hitting fastballs around 94 mph.
Reportedly, his recovery is commendable, and Woodruff is expected to appear in the Cactus League this weekend. He has been getting into the swing quite nicely and moving along the way, his arms and shoulders are responding. Definitely a good sign for the Milwaukee Brewers. Isn’t it?
Do you think Brandon Woodruff will be able to make a difference for his team? Don’t hold back on sharing your thoughts.
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