Much has been made about the Milwaukee Brewers' decision to extend the $22.025 million qualifying offer to long-time fan favorite Brandon Woodruff. When Woodruff accepted the offer, speculation immediately began in regard to the health of the Brewers' growing payroll and whether or not their decision to give Woody the highest single-season salary of any pitcher in franchise history would lead to them trading away their ace, Freddy Peralta.
Not only did Woodruff's contract inevitably make the payroll situation tighter than it already was, but it also gives Matt Arnold and the Brewers' front office even more justification for trading Peralta, as their rotation would still be in a fine, albeit much less intimidating, place.