Right-handed Shelby Miller underwent elbow surgery last week, according to the club injury tracker on MLB.com. He had his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon repaired during surgery and will likely miss the 2026 season.
The news comes as no surprise. Arm issues were a notable part of his 2025 season. With the Diamondbacks earlier this year, he went on the injured list in July due to a forearm strain. He was still on the IL when the Brewers acquired him at the deadline. Milwaukee was certainly aware that this was a risky rebound, which is why they didn’t include any prospect capital in the deal. Instead, they took $2 million Jordan Montgomery‘s deal for a player to be named later or cash, meaning Arizona only got cost savings.
Miller went off the IL in mid-August, but felt a “pop” in his elbow in early September. He was subsequently diagnosed with a sprained UCL and placed on 60-day IL. He told reporters that Tommy John surgery for a second career was a distinct possibility.
The righty is an impending free agent. Since he will likely miss the entire season next season, his market will obviously be affected. Pitchers in this situation sometimes get a two-year offer. These deals allow pitchers to earn some money during their rehab, with the team hoping to see a return on that investment in the second season. However, it may be difficult for Miller to find such an offer. He is now 35 years old, meaning his likely return in 2027 would take place after his 36th birthday. The track record for pitchers coming back from a second UCL surgery is not as strong as after just one surgery.
He did have a good season. He pitched 46 innings between the Diamondbacks and Brewers, allowing 2.74 earned runs per nine. His walk rate of 8.1% was close to average, while his strikeout rate of 29% was quite strong. He had an influential role with the Snakes before the trade, earning ten saves and eight holds. Teams will certainly be interested, but his rehabilitation and recovery will determine whether he can get back to that level in the future.
There is also an update about it Brandon Woodruff in the follower. It says he would not have been on the World Series roster had the Brewers qualified, but he expects to be healed in time to participate in spring training and be ready for the start of the 2026 season.
Woodruff is one of the more interesting free agents this winter. His deal includes a mutual option, but it has been more than a decade since either option has been exercised by either party. They are usually an accounting measure to kick some of the payments into the future.
The Righty’s track record is excellent, but his health is questionable. He missed all of 2024 due to shoulder surgery. He left the IL in July and made 12 starts before returning to the IL in September due to a lat strain. In those 12 starts, he logged 64 2/3 innings with a 3.20 ERA, a 32.3% strikeout rate and a 5.4% walk rate. His excellent numbers will certainly be attractive to teams, but he turns 33 in February and hasn’t been healthy for a long time since 2022.
Even with the concerns about his age and injuries, he should still attract a lot of interest if he is on his way to being healthy again next year. A few years ago, Justin Verlander was guaranteed a two-year, $50 million deal entering his age-39 season after missing the entire 2021 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon was given a two-year, $44 million guarantee by the Giants when he had some questions about his ability to stay healthy even though he was much younger. Shane Bieber just got a two-year, $26 million deal from the Guardians, even though he wasn’t expected back until midseason. All those deals included an opt-out after the first season.
Photo courtesy of Michael McLoone, Imagn Images
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