Astros trade Lance McCullers and Colton Gordon to Brewers

The Houston Astros are finalizing a trade to send veteran right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and left-handed pitcher Colton Gordon to the Milwaukee Brewers, according to multiple reports on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. McCullers, a two-time World Series champion and former All-Star, waived his no-trade clause to approve the move.

The deal is widely characterized as a salary-motivated transaction for the Astros. McCullers is in the final season of a five-year contract, earning $17.7 million in 2026. As part of the agreement, Houston will pay down a portion of the approximately $6.7 million remaining on his salary this season. The trade allows the Astros, who held a 47-51 record and were third in the American League West at the time, to free up financial resources ahead of the August 3 trade deadline.

McCullers, 32, has spent his entire 11-year major league career with the Astros since being drafted by the club in 2012. He was a key contributor to the team's World Series titles in 2017 and 2022, making several notable postseason starts. However, his career has been significantly hampered by injuries in recent years. He missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to a right...