Brewers designate Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment less than 2 weeks after getting him in trade from Astros
Less than two weeks after making a trade for pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., the MIlwaukee Brewers have designated him for assignment. The team announced the move before Sunday’s game versus the Colorado Rockies.
McCullers, 32, was acquired from the Houston Astros on July 15 along with minor-league pitcher Colton Gordon in exchange for Jadyn Fielder, the son of former Brewers slugger Prince Fielder, ranked among Milwaukee’s top 100 prospects.
The nine-year veteran made only two appearances for the Brewers before the team had apparently seen enough. McCullers’ outing in Saturday’s 8-5 win over the Rockies was particularly rough, with 4 walks in 1 2/3 innings.
In the ninth with the Brewers leading 8-2, McCullers walked TJ Rumfield to lead off the frame. Then first baseman Jake Bauers committed a throwing error to put two men on base. McCullers followed up with a two-out walk to Ezequiel Tovar before giving up a two-run single to Jake McCarthy.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy then pulled McCullers in favor of Trevor Megill, who allowed Tovar to score on a Kyle Karros single. Altogether, 3 runs were charged to McCullers, though they were unearned due to Bauers’ error.
To take McCullers’ place on the roster, the Brewers recalled pitcher Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. In 18 appearances (13 starts), Stallings had a 3.70 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. He made two appearances for Milwaukee earlier this month, throwing three scoreless innings.
McCullers waived his 10-and-5 rights (10 years in MLB, five with the same team) that would have allowed him to veto a trade to facilitate a deal to the Brewers. After being designated for assignment, Milwaukee has seven days to trade him. If the Brewers find no takers, McCullers will then either be placed on waivers, accept a demotion to the minors or be released outright.
Injuries have been a significant issue for McCullers during his 12 years in MLB. He missed the entire 2019, 2023 and 2024 seasons with elbow injuries and underwent reconstructive surgery in 2018. His best season was in 2021, when he posted a 3.16 ERA, 13-5 record and 185 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings.
McCullers was on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation when he was traded.
