Lance McCullers DFA by Brewers less than two weeks after trade
Milwaukee designated Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment after two relief outings and recalled Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Lance McCullers DFA came fast in Milwaukee: the Brewers designated the veteran right-hander for assignment Sunday, less than two weeks after acquiring him from the Houston Astros, the team announced before its game against the Colorado Rockies.
Milwaukee also called up right-handed pitcher Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville as part of the roster shuffle, according to the Brewers and the Associated Press.
The move followed McCullers’ rocky relief appearance Saturday in Milwaukee’s 8-5 win over Colorado. The Associated Press reported that McCullers walked four batters across 1⅔ innings after entering with the Brewers leading 8-2 in the eighth.
McCullers returned for the ninth inning, where he gave up a hit and two walks before Trevor Megill was brought in to record the final out, according to the AP.
Why did the Brewers DFA Lance McCullers?
The Brewers announced the transaction after McCullers made two relief appearances for them. In those outings, the AP reported, he had a 3.86 ERA with five strikeouts, five walks and five runs allowed, three of them earned, over 4⅔ innings.
The bullpen assignment was unfamiliar territory for McCullers. Before joining Milwaukee, he had started 148 of his 154 career major league appearances, all with Houston, according to the AP.
McCullers, 32, had been with the Astros for his entire big league career until Houston traded him and left-hander Colton Gordon to Milwaukee on July 15. The Astros received minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder in the deal.
The financial piece of that trade was notable. The AP reported that Houston agreed to send Milwaukee $4,227,273 to cover most of what remained on McCullers’ salary, leaving the Brewers responsible for $2.5 million.
What happened before the trade?
McCullers was on the injured list because of shoulder inflammation when the trade was made, according to the AP. He had not appeared for Houston since May 13.
In eight starts for the Astros this season, McCullers went 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA, the AP reported.
His broader résumé is much stronger than that brief Milwaukee stop. Since debuting in 2015, McCullers owns a 53-40 career record with a 3.85 ERA, according to the AP.
He was part of Houston’s World Series-winning clubs in 2017 and 2022. Injuries, however, wiped out his 2019, 2023 and 2024 seasons, the AP reported.
Who is Garrett Stallings?
Stallings now gets the Brewers roster spot after being recalled from Nashville. The AP reported that he previously threw three scoreless innings over two appearances for Milwaukee earlier this season.
At Triple-A Nashville, Stallings has gone 3-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 18 appearances, including 13 starts, according to the AP.
For Milwaukee, the transaction closes a brief chapter for McCullers after a trade that looked like a low-cost swing on an experienced arm. His Brewers stint lasted two outings, one new role and less than two weeks.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.