Astros trade McCullers, Gordon to Brewers for OF prospect Fielder

Astros Trade McCullers and Gordon to Brewers

The Houston Astros have traded veteran right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfield prospect Jadyn Fielder, the teams announced on Wednesday, July 15. The deal also includes cash considerations from the Astros to offset a significant portion of McCullers’ remaining salary.

According to team officials, the move was designed to provide the Astros with payroll flexibility and create space on the 40-man roster. Houston currently faces a roster crunch with starters Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski, as well as reliever Bennett Souda, expected to return from the injured list. By trading McCullers and Gordon, the Astros cleared two spots on their 40-man roster.

Financial Terms and Contract Details

McCullers is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract that pays him $17 million for the 2026 season. Under the terms of the trade, the Astros agreed to pay the Brewers $4,227,273 to cover the majority of the remaining salary, effectively reducing the cost to Milwaukee to $2.5 million. The payments are scheduled to be distributed in installments on July 31, August 31, and September 30.

For the Brewers, the acquisition is aimed at bolstering a pitching rotation hit by injuries. Milwaukee is currently without two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff, who is on the 60-day injured list with a new injury to the anterior capsule in his shoulder. Additionally, left-hander Kyle Harrison is on the 15-day injured list with forearm tightness. The Brewers, who entered the All-Star break with a five-game lead in the NL Central, currently maintain a 3.48 team ERA, which ranks second in Major League Baseball.

McCullers’ Legacy in Houston

McCullers, 32, spent his entire professional career with the Astros after being selected in the first round of the 2012 draft. He became a central figure in the franchise’s run of dominance, helping the team secure World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Across 154 games with Houston, he compiled a 53-40 record with a 3.85 ERA.

Known for his postseason contributions, McCullers posted a 3.47 ERA in 19 career playoff appearances. Notable highlights include his relief performance in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS against the New York Yankees, where he threw four scoreless innings to clinch the pennant, and his start in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.

“I’m proud of what I helped this great organization accomplish over the years and I’m looking forward to a new opportunity with another great organization in Milwaukee,” McCullers said in a statement. Because McCullers possessed “10-and-5 rights”—having accrued 10 years in the big leagues and five with the same team—he held the power to veto any trade. He ultimately waived that right to facilitate the move.

Context of the Trade

The second half of McCullers’ tenure in Houston was frequently interrupted by physical setbacks. He has been on the injured list since May 19 due to a right rotator cuff impingement and was undergoing a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land at the time of the trade. In eight starts for the Astros this season, he posted a 6.86 ERA across 39 1/3 innings.

The Astros received 21-year-old Jadyn Fielder in return. Fielder, the son of former Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, made his professional debut in 2025 and was playing at the Class A level prior to the trade. Colton Gordon, the other player moving to Milwaukee, is a 27-year-old left-hander who debuted in 2025 and appeared in four games for the Astros this season.

To accommodate the new arrivals on their 40-man roster, the Brewers placed left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny on the 60-day injured list.

Find more reporting in our Sports section.