Houston is finalizing a trade sending Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon to Milwaukee.
The Houston Astros are nearing a deal to send out one of their more decorated arms in a trade.
According to MLB.com, the Astros are set to send veteran righty Lance McCullers Jr. and lefty Colton Gordon to a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.
It is not yet known what the Astros are sending in return.
The move comes on the end of McCullers’ five-year, $85 million deal, though the club has yet to confirm the terms.
As for why now, a shoulder injury and a crowded pitching staff paved the way for such a deal, as McCullers has been out since May with shoulder inflammation.
Through eight starts this year, he’s struggled to a 6.86 ERA in 39.1 innings pitched.
With a lot of returning pitchers coming back for Houston, it made sense to vacate the room a bit, though it sends one of the last members from the Astros’ first World Series title off, leaving just Jose Altuve and the injured Carlos Correa from the 2017 championship roster.
To read more about what Milwaukee expects out of their new veteran arm, here is the full story from Brewers Roundtable writer Joe Rutland.
McCullers leaves Houston with a pair of World Series rings and a memorable outing in relief that helped clinch the ALCS.
However, his career overall has been marked by multiple injury setbacks.
His departure will close the chapter on the franchise’s championship era as McCullers looks for a fresh start and a new environment to turn around his struggling ERA.
