The Brewers are making their move before the deadline crunch even really starts. Word broke Wednesday afternoon that Milwaukee and Houston are finalizing a trade centered on Lance McCullers Jr., the veteran right-hander who helped the Astros win it all in 2017 and 2022.
MLB Trade Rumors broke the news that the two sides were finalizing the deal.
This wasn't a done deal all at once. Jon Heyman first flagged talks between the clubs, careful to note nothing was official yet, before circling back minutes later to report the trade was actually being finalized.
Brewers in talks to acquire Lance McCullers. No word it’s a done deal yet. @brianmctaggart on it
Here's the catch, and it's a big one: McCullers hasn't thrown a pitch in a major league game since he landed on the IL on May 19 with right shoulder inflammation. Before that, he was rough — a 6.86 ERA across 8 starts and 39 1/3 innings this year, the final season of the 5-year, $85 million deal he signed with Houston. McCullers reportedly had to waive his no-trade clause to make this happen, and the Astros are kicking in money to help cover his 2026 salary, which tells you exactly how motivated Houston was to move on.
It's not just McCullers heading to Milwaukee, either. Heyman added that lefty Colton Gordon is going along for the ride, giving the Brewers pitching staff another arm as they load up for the stretch run.
Lefty Colton Gordon is going with McCullers from Astros to Brewers. Crew adding to depth.
Gordon is no household name, but he's a useful project. The lefty broke in with Houston in the 2025 season and has bounced between the rotation and bullpen since, giving the Astros length when needed. Milwaukee clearly isn't just chasing a name in McCullers — they're stacking arms, betting that between his championship pedigree and Gordon's upside, at least one of these guys helps down the stretch.
The real bet here is on health, not stuff. McCullers has a track record of big-game pitching when he's right — he's started multiple World Series games and delivered in October before. But a pitcher who hasn't appeared since mid-May and was getting hit hard before that is a lottery ticket, not a sure thing. If Milwaukee's medical staff can get him back on a mound and looking like himself, this trade looks like a steal. If not, it's a depth move that cost them very little to find out.