The Milwaukee Brewers are playing the long game with Lance McCullers Jr. despite designating him for assignment.
Milwaukee Brewers fans woke up to odd news on Sunday, July 26, as the team officially announced they were designating Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment.
The surprising DFA came just hours after McCullers struggled to get through his late-inning relief appearance.
McCullers, fresh off the Injured List, allowed five runs (only two earned) on three hits in 4.2 innings of work. That said, he was coming off a four-walk performance, one that left manager Pat Murphy scratching his head.
McCullers may have gotten through three innings of work in 50 pitches for his team debut, but he needed 47 pitches to record five outs in his second outing, and Milwaukee was forced to use Trevor Megill on what should've been an off-day for the Brewers closer.
Brewers might suspect McCullers will clear waivers
Seeing as the 32-year-old has surpassed 10 years of service time, he's well over what the limit is to straight up be demoted to Triple-A Nashville. Clearly, that's what the Brewers had in mind. They never wanted to lose McCullers, but at the very least they know they still have Colton Gordon in their back pocket.
Should McCullers clear waivers, and he likely will, that will allow him to pitch in AAA. As long as that happens, Milwaukee will once again have him at their disposal to be called up at any given point.
Fans were surprised by the roster move, and rightfully so, but it actually makes a ton of sense when looking at all of the variables. This move doesn't mean the team is giving up on McCullers, but it's a bit of roster manipulation, as well as leaving it up to chance that no one will want McCullers, especially after his four-walk outing last night.
Gordon was prized possession in the trade
The Brewers were clearly never too high on Prince Fielder's son, Jadyn Fielder, and nor should they have been. Nepotism is real, as seen with them drafting C.C. Sabathia's son, but a last name can only get someone so far in the MLB.
Fielder wasn't a big-league player, and if he turns out to be one, it won't be anytime soon. The outfielder was as expendable as it gets, and the Houston Astros needed to include McCullers in the trade to create some extra cap room.
Now that he's been DFA'd, it's more clear than ever that the Brewers were attached to Gordon. The 27-year-old is currently in Nashville, and he's 6-5 this season with a 3.97 ERA across 16 games played (15 starts).
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