The Milwaukee Brewers have designated pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment just 11 days after acquiring him from the Houston Astros. The team made the move on Sunday.
McCullers Jr. was part of a trade that also sent pitcher Colton Gordon and cash to Milwaukee in exchange for Single-A prospect Jadyn Fielder. McCullers Jr. joined the Brewers with a 6.86 earned run average (ERA) through eight starts with the Astros this season. He pitched in only 4 ⅔ innings over two relief appearances for Milwaukee.
In his debut with the Brewers on July 20, McCullers Jr. allowed two earned runs in three innings, striking out four and walking one. On Saturday, he walked four batters and allowed three unearned runs in 1.2 innings.
McCullers Jr. spent his career as a starter before his brief stint with Milwaukee, making 148 starts in 154 appearances for the Astros since 2015. He was a one-time All-Star in 2017 and finished seventh in American League Cy Young voting in 2021. However, he has struggled to regain his previous form since missing the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to pitching arm injuries, including flexor tendon surgery and bone spurs.
McCullers Jr. is in the final year of a five-year contract worth $85 million. MLB.com reported that Houston also sent approximately $4.23 million to the Brewers to cover a significant portion of his remaining salary. Gordon remains with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.