Buyer’s remorse hit quickly for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Only 11 days after trading for Lance McCullers Jr., the team already designated him for assignment on Sunday.
McCullers Jr. was just recently acquired from the under-.500 Astros, along with fellow pitcher Colton Gordon and cash, for Single-A prospect Jadyn Fielder, son of legendary Brewer Prince Fielder.
McCullers, who arrived from Houston with a 6.86 ERA through eight starts this season, pitched in just 4 ⅔ innings across two games out of Milwaukee’s bullpen.
On Saturday, McCullers walked four and allowed three runs (none earned, however) in just 1.2 innings pitched.
In his debut with the team on July 20, he allowed two earned runs in a three-inning stint, striking out four and walking one.
McCullers had been a career-long starter before his run with Milwaukee, opening up148 of his 154 appearances before being dealt — all with Houston, whom he has represented on the mound since the 2015 season.
A one-time All-Star in 2017, McCullers — who also finished seventh in American League Cy Young voting in 2021 — has failed to consistently recapture his previous effectiveness since missing the complete 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injuries in his pitching arm, including flexor tendon surgery, bone spurs and setbacks.
The 32-year-old is in the final year of a five-year deal worth $85 million.
MLB.com notes that Houston also sent the Brewers about $4.23 million to cover a healthy portion of McCullers’ remaining salary.
Gordon is still with the Brewers at the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Nashville.
