The first-place Milwaukee Brewers have padded their starting rotation by trading for Houston Astros oft-injured right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and lefty Colton Gordon on Wednesday.
In return, the Astros get minor league outfielder/designated hitter Jadyn Fielder, the son of former Brewers star Prince Fielder and grandson of Cecil Fielder. The Brewers will also pick up $2.5 million of McCullers' remaining $6,727,273 salary this season, as the Astros' longest-tenured pitcher was in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract.
Milwaukee leads the National League Central by five games over the Chicago Cubs; Houston is third in the American League West, three games behind the Texas Rangers.
The Brewers own a 3.48 team ERA that ranks second in the majors -- behind only the New York Yankees -- but injuries to their starting rotation left them seeking depth.
Two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff is on the 60-day injured list after an MRI exam revealed a new injury to the anterior capsule in his shoulder, which was surgically repaired after the 2023 season. Left-hander Kyle Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with tightness in his throwing forearm.
Astros general manager Dana Brown said they created flexibility in payroll and the roster.
"Make no mistakes, we are still trying to improve this team," Brown said. "We are still actively talking about acquiring a left-hand bat."
McCullers, a 2017 All-Star selection who waived his no-trade clause to complete the trade, is 2-3 with a 6.51 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 55⅓ innings this season. He is currently on a minor league rehab stint after going on the IL with a rotator cuff impingement.
"He was battling to come back," Brown said. "I think Milwaukee having a few injuries right now made sense that he can get some opportunity there."
After missing 2½ seasons due to flexor tendon surgery in 2023 and a setback in 2024, McCullers, 32, returned to the Astros' rotation in 2025, though he had three trips to the injury list that season. He also missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
McCullers, a first-round pick in 2012, has a 53-40 career record with a 3.85 ERA and 904 strikeouts in 148 starts. He won two World Series with the Astros and finished seventh in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2021, when he went 13-5 with a 3.15 ERA.
Houston agreed to pay $4,227,273 to offset most of McCullers' remaining salary, with the Astros making payments of $914,005 to Milwaukee on July 31, $1,770,885 on Aug, 31 and $1,542,383 on Sept. 30.
Gordon, 27, also offers starting depth for the Brewers as he's under team control until 2028. He has made four appearances this season, including one start, and has a career 6-4 record with a 5.95 ERA over the past two seasons. He started 14 games for Houston in 2025, with 72 strikeouts and 19 walks.
Fielder, 21, is hitting .233 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 133 at-bats this season for Class-A Carolina. His father was a six-time All-Star who belted 319 home runs over 12 MLB seasons, including his first seven with Milwaukee. His grandfather was a three-time All-Star who won a World Series with the New York Yankees after he was traded from the Detroit Tigers in 1996. In his 13 MLB seasons, Cecil Fielder hit 319 home runs with 1,008 RBIs.
"Most likely will play the outfield, although he's played some first base and second base," Brown said of Jadyn Fielder. "But you know good bloodlines, of course. And you know just the opportunity to acquire a young bat."
To make room on their roster, the Brewers placed left-hander Rob Zastryzny on the 60-day injured list with a left trapezius strain.
MLB's trade deadline is Aug. 3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.