The Milwaukee Brewers released right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. on Monday, ending his brief tenure with the club just before a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
The move came one day after the National League Central leaders designated the 32-year-old for assignment. McCullers now must clear waivers before becoming a free agent in the coming days, according to his transactions listing on MLB.com.
Milwaukee acquired McCullers earlier this month in a deal with the Houston Astros that also brought left-hander Colton Gordon and cash considerations in exchange for minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder. The Brewers assumed only $2.5 million of McCullers’ remaining salary while Houston covered the bulk of the obligation.
Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors addressed the rapid turnaround in the pitcher’s situation with the organization.
“It might seem strange to say McCullers has no trade value when he was just traded, going from Houston to Milwaukee earlier this month. However, the Astros ate most of the money, with the Brewers only taking on $2.5MM. It seemed Milwaukee was willing to absorb that cost as a way of acquiring left-hander Colton Gordon. The fact that McCullers has quickly been designated for assignment and released only reinforces the idea that Milwaukee’s real target was Gordon.”
McCullers appeared twice for the Brewers over the past week, both times in relief. He worked 4.2 innings, allowed five runs (two earned) and recorded five strikeouts.Before the trade, he logged 39 innings across eight starts with Houston this season and posted a 6.86 ERA. Shoulder inflammation had sidelined him since mid-May until the deal sent him to Milwaukee.
Now that he has regained his health, McCullers could attract interest from other clubs if he is open to accepting a minor league contract. Opportunities for veteran pitchers seeking to continue their careers often emerge under those terms.
McCullers has appeared in parts of nine major league seasons, almost entirely with the Astros before his short stay in Milwaukee. He earned an All-Star selection in 2017 and contributed to Houston’s 2022 World Series championship.
Injuries forced him to miss the entire 2023 and 2024 campaigns. Those absences limited his availability and prevented him from building on earlier success.
In 148 career starts spanning 818 innings, McCullers owns a 3.85 ERA and 909 strikeouts. Prior to 2023 he had established himself as one of the more effective starters in the game.
The Brewers enter the Giants series leading their division and possess one of the stronger bullpens in the league. That depth allowed them to move on from McCullers after limited evaluation rather than retain him in a low-leverage role.
McCullers’ release underscores how quickly roster decisions can shift for clubs contending in the second half of the season. Teams routinely prioritize younger arms with options or proven contributors when evaluating short-term additions.
His path forward will depend on whether another organization views the former Astros mainstay as a viable depth option for the stretch run.
