The Milwaukee Brewers have made a remarkably swift decision on veteran MLB pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., designating him for assignment just 11 days after acquiring him from the Houston Astros.
For a pitcher who spent more than a decade with Houston, won two World Series championships, earned an All-Star selection in 2017, and finished seventh in American League Cy Young Award voting as recently as 2021, the move marks another difficult chapter in a career that injuries have derailed.
The Brewers confirmed Sunday that McCullers has been removed from the club’s 40-man roster after appearing in only two games. Milwaukee had acquired the 32-year-old earlier this month in a deal that also brought pitcher Colton Gordon and cash considerations from Houston. In return, the Astros received Single-A prospect Jaydn Fielder.
A Brief MLB Opportunity Ends Quickly
At the time of the trade, the Brewers were hoping McCullers could provide experienced depth to their pitching staff. Instead, his stint with the organization lasted less than two weeks.
His first outing for Milwaukee showed some promise. Making his debut on July 20, McCullers pitched three innings out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs while striking out four batters and issuing just one walk. It was an encouraging start for a pitcher attempting to rebuild his career after years of physical setbacks.
The second appearance told a different story. On Saturday, McCullers struggled with his command, walking four hitters and surrendering three runs in only 1.2 innings. Hours later, the Brewers decided to designate him for assignment, opening a seven-day window during which another team can trade for him before Milwaukee must place him on outright or unconditional release waivers.
Injuries Changed the Course of His Career
The move is another setback in what has been a painful decline. McCullers missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons because of significant arm injuries, including bone spurs and flexor tendon surgery. Once considered one of the Astros’ most reliable postseason pitchers, he has found it increasingly difficult to stay healthy and regain the form that made him one of the American League’s top starters.
Financially, the risk for Milwaukee was limited. McCullers is in the final season of an $85 million contract, with Houston sending approximately $4.23 million to help cover his remaining salary as part of the trade.
Threats Off the Field
Beyond the struggles on the mound, McCullers has also endured deeply personal challenges. During the 2025 MLB season, he revealed that he and his family had received horrific death threats after one of his difficult starts against the Cincinnati Reds. Following the incident, McCullers contacted Astros management, and team owner Jim Crane arranged 24-hour security for the pitcher and his family.
Speaking at the time, McCullers described the emotional impact the threats had on his young daughter, Ava, who asked him what the threats meant and why someone would want to hurt their family. He said conversations like that were among the hardest moments he had experienced.
The abuse escalated far beyond criticism of his performance. McCullers said some messages threatened to find his children or attack them in public, calling those comments especially painful as a father.
Astros manager Joe Espada strongly condemned the threats, describing them as deeply disturbing and expressing frustration that a player who had contributed so much to the organization was forced to fear for his family’s safety because of his performance on the field.
Now, after only two appearances with Milwaukee, McCullers faces another uncertain stretch in his career. Whether another organization believes the veteran right-hander still has enough left to contribute remains to be seen. Still, his rapid departure from the Brewers underscores just how quickly fortunes can change in Major League Baseball.
