Jake Woodford Guaranteed World Series Ring

The pitcher will receive a championship ring regardless of which team wins the 2026 World Series.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Baseball

Jake Woodford Guaranteed World Series Ring

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Should professional athletes receive championship rings if they are traded away during the season?

Jake Woodford is guaranteed a World Series ring because he played for both teams competing in the 2026 championship series. The pitcher appeared in games for both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2026 season.

Why it matters

Major League Baseball teams typically provide championship rings to any player who appeared in a game for the organization during their title-winning season. Woodford met this qualification after playing for both franchises throughout the year.

Woodford recorded a 6.94 ERA over 16 games with the Brewers and a 20.25 ERA across 1.1 innings with the Rays. He also made 2 appearances for the Chicago Cubs earlier in the year, posting a 9.00 ERA.

The players

Jake Woodford

He is a professional baseball pitcher who was a first-round draft pick in 2015 and played for three different MLB organizations during the 2026 season.

Milwaukee Brewers

The professional baseball club based in Milwaukee competes in the National League Central division of Major League Baseball.

Tampa Bay Rays

The professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida, competes in the American League East division.

Chicago Cubs

This historic Major League Baseball franchise plays in Chicago and is a member of the National League Central division.

The details

Although Woodford was released by the Brewers and designated for assignment by the Rays, his brief stints with both clubs secure his spot in the history books for the 2026 season. He is currently not on the active playoff roster for either organization.

2015: Jake Woodford was selected as a first-round MLB Draft pick.
September 2026: Woodford made his lone pitching appearance for the Tampa Bay Rays.
October 20, 2026: The official news of the ring guarantee was published.
October 28, 2026: Jake Woodford will celebrate his 30th birthday.

Season Trajectory

This unusual scenario highlights how roster volatility in the modern MLB era can result in a player receiving a ring from either World Series participant. It underscores the transactional nature of mid-season player movement as teams refine their rosters for playoff pushes.

Fantasy baseball managers and fans should note that Woodford is expected to reach free agency during the 2026-27 offseason. His status as a journeyman arm for three teams in 2026 highlights the constant roster turnover impacting bullpen depth league-wide.

The takeaway

Players who are released or traded mid-season can still secure ultimate career milestones if their former teams perform well. This serves as a reminder of the unique organizational rewards that persist even after a player has departed a specific club.