Veteran right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford is on the move once again, ending his brief return to the Milwaukee Brewers organization after agreeing to a one-year major league contract with the Chicago Cubs.
The move keeps the 29-year-old in the National League Central, where he has now suited up for four different clubs during his major league career. After spending time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Brewers, Woodford will now attempt to revive his career with a Cubs team looking to strengthen its pitching depth for the second half of the season.
Woodford’s 2026 campaign has been filled with roster moves and inconsistent performances. Milwaukee originally acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays before the start of the season, hoping he could provide valuable innings out of the bullpen.
However, the results never matched expectations.
In 16 appearances for the Brewers, Woodford posted a 6.94 ERA across 23.1 innings while struggling to consistently retire opposing hitters. His performance at Triple-A Nashville offered little improvement, as he surrendered a 9.95 ERA in five appearances covering 6.1 innings.
Following his difficult start, the Brewers designated Woodford for assignment in early June. After clearing waivers, he declined an outright assignment to Triple-A and elected free agency before eventually returning to Milwaukee on a minor league contract.
That reunion proved short-lived.
Woodford exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on July 1, giving himself another opportunity to pursue a major league roster spot elsewhere. This time, instead of returning to the Brewers, he found a new home with one of Milwaukee’s biggest rivals.
According to USA Today insider Bob Nightengale, the Cubs signed Woodford to a one-year deal shortly after his release.
The signing gives Chicago another experienced arm as it continues searching for reliable bullpen depth during its playoff push. While Woodford has struggled over the past two seasons, the Cubs are betting that a change of scenery could help him rediscover the form he displayed earlier in his career.
Across seven major league seasons and 127 career appearances, Woodford owns a 5.25 ERA. His best season came in 2022 with the Cardinals, when he recorded an impressive 2.23 ERA over 27 outings and established himself as a dependable bullpen option.
Unfortunately, he has been unable to replicate that success since then, finishing each subsequent season with an ERA above 6.20 while bouncing between multiple organizations.
For Milwaukee, Woodford’s departure is unlikely to significantly impact the roster. The Brewers have developed strong pitching depth and remain well-positioned despite moving on from the veteran reliever.
Still, Brewers fans may not have to wait long to see Woodford again.
Because he remains in the National League Central, he could soon find himself pitching against his former team. Milwaukee and Chicago are scheduled to meet in a four-game series from Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, and with both clubs firmly in the postseason race, the division rivals could face each other several more times before the season concludes.
Whether Woodford can revive his career with the Cubs remains to be seen, but Chicago is hoping the experienced right-hander can provide valuable innings while adding depth to a pitching staff preparing for a competitive stretch run.
Leave a Reply