Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers made a trade Wednesday, one that aims to help the team this year with a deep postseason run and in the next handful of seasons.
The Brewers on Wednesday acquired right-handed starter Lance McCullers Jr. from the Houston Astros, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. The Brewers are also getting left-hander Colton Gordon, a 2021 eighth-round draft choice, and cash in the deal. Minor-league infielder-outfielder Jadyn Fielder, son of former Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, is the only player headed to the Astros. The Brewers are reportedly paying $2 million of the McCullers' remaining salary (around $7 million) on his $17.7 million this season. McCullers is set to be a free agent after the season.
McCullers, a two-time World Series champion with the Astros who has missed all or significant chunks of four seasons due to injuries, had a partial no-trade clause in his contract as well as 10-and-5 rights, which he waived, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The 10-and-5 rights is a player with 10 years of major-league service, including five years with his current team.
The Brewers, who had one opening on their 40-man roster, transferred left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to create room for both players. Potential 26-man roster moves loom before Friday's series opener against the Miami Marlins.
While the 32-year-old McCullers is currently on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, he was scheduled to make a fourth rehab appearance with the Astros' Double-A team Friday, when the minor-league season also resumes. The Brewers could continue his rehab assignment, which began June 25. McCullers last appeared in an MLB game May 13 and went on the IL shortly thereafter.
In eight starts this season, McCullers has pitched 39⅓ innings with a 5.06 FIP (6.86 ERA) with a 12.8% walk rate and 25% strikeout rate. For his career, McCullers has a 10.3% walk rate and 26.1% strikeout rate (MLB averages are 8.4% and 22%).
While McCullers won't slot near the top of the Brewers' rotation behind right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, what the Brewers covet from the veteran is his postseason experience. McCullers has made 12 starts and seven relief appearances for the Astros, who made trips to the postseason every year except 2016 and 2025 since McCullers made his MLB debut in 2015. That includes starting Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. In the postseason, McCullers has a 4.96 FIP (3.47 ERA).
Injuries are also part of McCullers' story. He had Tommy John surgery following the 2018 season, missing all of 2019 and appearing in only three games of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. McCullers didn't make his 2022 debut until August due to a right flexor tendon injury. He had his right flexor tendon repaired in June 2023, then had a setback in July 2024 that kept him out of that entire season.
He came back to make 13 starts and three relief appearances in 2025, posting a 5.77 FIP (6.51 ERA) in 55⅓ innings.
The 27-year-old Gordon had made 24 major-league appearances over the last two seasons with the Astros, including 15 starts. In 95⅓ innings, he has a 5.86 FIP (5.95 ERA) with a 5.1% walk rate and 22% strikeout rate. At Triple-A this year, Gordon pitched in 14 games, all but one a start, with a 4.46 ERA in 70⅔ innings, with a 4.7% walk rate and 18.6% strikeout rate.
The 21-year-old Fielder, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, was playing at High-A Wilson, where he had a .233/.415/.398 slash line with three homers, 23 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 45 games.
Thanks to @patrickgpe for starting the thread.
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