Braves Outbid by Brewers for $22M Cy Young-Caliber Pitcher

Atlanta missed out on signing Brandon Woodruff, a 2-time All-Star, as he accepted a qualifying offer to remain in Milwaukee.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Atlanta Braves were unable to land veteran starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff during the offseason, as he accepted a $22 million qualifying offer to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Braves had pursued Woodruff, a 2-time All-Star with Cy Young-caliber stuff, in an effort to bolster their starting rotation, but were ultimately outbid by the Brewers.

Why it matters

The Braves were hoping to add an impact arm to their starting rotation this offseason, but their inability to sign Woodruff leaves them with some uncertainty heading into the season, especially with injuries to key pitchers like Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep.

The details

The Braves explored several notable free agent pitchers this offseason, including Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, and Sonny Gray, but were unable to land any of them. Woodruff ultimately accepted a $22 million qualifying offer to remain with the Brewers, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to earn over $20 million in a single season.

  • The Braves pursued Woodruff during the 2022-23 offseason.
  • Woodruff accepted the Brewers' $22 million qualifying offer on March 2, 2026.

The players

Brandon Woodruff

A 2-time MLB All-Star pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who has Cy Young-caliber stuff.

Alex Anthopoulos

The general manager of the Atlanta Braves who was seeking to add an impact starting pitcher this offseason.

Spencer Schwellenbach

A Braves pitcher expected to begin the 2026 season on the injured list.

Hurston Waldrep

Another Braves pitcher expected to start the 2026 season on the injured list.

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What they’re saying

“We've explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that's a trade or signing. We'd like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game.”

— Alex Anthopoulos, General Manager, Atlanta Braves (Sporting News)

“Among the pitchers Atlanta attempted to acquire over the winter were Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta (which I already talked about) and Sonny Gray.”

— Lindsay Crosby, Braves Today (Sporting News)

“Woodruff accepted, and will be the first pitcher in Brewers history to earn north of $20 million for a single season.”

— Adam McCalvy, MLB.com (Sporting News)

What’s next

The Braves will have to rely on their current starting rotation options, which may include internal candidates, to begin the 2026 season as they look to return to the playoffs after missing out last year.

The takeaway

The Braves' inability to land an impact starting pitcher like Brandon Woodruff this offseason leaves them with some uncertainty in their rotation, especially with key injuries. This missed opportunity could prove costly if the Braves struggle to find reliable starting pitching options throughout the season.