Brewers Acquire Lance McCullers Jr., Colton Gordon in Trade with Astros
The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon from the Houston Astros. In return, the Astros will receive minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder, the son of former Brewers star Prince Fielder. The trade also includes cash considerations, with the Brewers reportedly absorbing a bit more than of McCullers’ remaining contract.
McCullers, a two-time World Series champion, was placed on the injured list in May due to right rotator cuff impingement. He is expected to return in July. He is currently in the final year of a five-year contract, which pays him $17.7 million this season. Reports indicate that McCullers waived his no-trade clause to approve the move to the Brewers.
The Astros are contributing to McCullers’ 2026 salary as part of the deal, which has been described as a salary dump. This move follows the Astros’ attempts to trade McCullers for much of the past year. He was also part of a proposed 2024 trade for Nolan Arenado that ultimately did not proceed after Arenado vetoed the deal.
At the time of the trade, the Astros held a 47-51 record and were third in the AL West. The Brewers, conversely, were leading the NL Central with a 59-37 record. McCullers is set to become an unrestricted free agent before his 2027 season.
McCullers’ Career and Injury History
McCullers has spent his entire MLB career with the Astros, who drafted him in the first round in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and earned an All-Star selection in 2017. He missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injury before returning in 2025.
This season, McCullers recorded a 6.86 ERA and a 1.525 WHIP over eight starts and 39.1 innings before his May injury. He has been undergoing rehab starts with Triple-A Sugar Land, where he has posted a 2.45 ERA across three minor-league starts since June 25. Injuries have been a recurring issue for McCullers, limiting him to 142 1/3 big league innings from 2022-26.
Prior to his recent injury struggles, McCullers was a key member of Houston’s pitching staff. From 2015-21, he pitched 671 innings with a 3.57 ERA, a 26.6% strikeout rate, and a 9.7% walk rate. He has also been a significant contributor in the postseason, holding a 3.47 ERA in 72 2/3 career playoff innings.
Colton Gordon’s Profile and Potential Role
Colton Gordon, a 27-year-old left-handed pitcher, was an eighth-round pick by the Astros in the 2021 draft. He has pitched 14 games at Triple-A this year, including 13 starts, with a 6-3 record, a 3.69 ERA, and a 1.17 WHIP. His last minor league outing on July 10 saw him allow no runs and four hits over six innings, with seven strikeouts.
Gordon has also pitched 9 1/3 innings in the major leagues this season, all in April, where he recorded an 11.57 ERA. In 2025, his big-league debut season, he had a 5.34 ERA over 20 games, including 14 starts. He has one more option year remaining after this season and five years of team control.
The Brewers’ rotation has recently faced several injuries, with Quinn Priester undergoing thoracic outlet surgery and Kyle Harrison placed on the injured list with elbow pain. Brandon Woodruff is also on the 60-day injured list due to recurring symptoms. Either Gordon or McCullers, once healthy, could potentially join the Brewers’ rotation. Gordon pitched for Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
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Source: bleacherreport.com
