The Houston Astros traded veteran right-hander Lance McCullers Jr., left-hander Colton Gordon and cash to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 15 for minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder, a swap that sends a former World Series arm to a contender for a 21-year-old carrying one of baseball's most recognizable surnames. MLB Trade Rumors called it the first trade of the season's unofficial second half, with the Aug. 3 deadline still weeks away. McCullers, who held full 10-and-5 no-trade rights, waived them to approve the move.
The players moving
McCullers, 32, is in the final year of the five-year, $85 million extension he signed with Houston in 2021. He returned from a long run of injuries to make the Astros' rotation this season, and Milwaukee adds him as veteran starting depth for a playoff push. Gordon, a 27-year-old lefty, gives the Brewers a second controllable arm in the deal. Houston, which entered the trade in the thick of the AL West race after throwing a combined no-hitter over the Rangers in May, used the move to clear salary and add a prospect with upside.
Three generations of Fielders
Jadyn Fielder is the son of six-time All-Star Prince Fielder and the grandson of Cecil Fielder, a three-time All-Star who won the 1996 World Series with the New York Yankees. Jadyn went undrafted in 2024, bypassed a commitment to North Florida, and signed with the Brewers — his father's original franchise — as an undrafted free agent. He has spent 2026 in Class A, slashing .233/.415/.398 with three home runs and 10 stolen bases across 176 plate appearances, pairing a patient approach with more speed than the power-hitting Fielders who came before him. Houston now controls a bloodline prospect for years; Milwaukee, where Prince spent the first seven seasons of his career, sent the family name back out the door.
The money
The Brewers picked up $2.5 million of McCullers' remaining $6,727,273 salary for 2026, leaving Houston to pay $4,227,273 across three installments through the end of September, per the reported terms. The deal gives Milwaukee rotation depth for its playoff push and gives Houston salary relief plus a prospect; MLB Trade Rumors framed the Astros' side as a salary-motivated move. The trade came a day after the American League's 4-0 shutout win in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, as contenders across the league began reshaping rosters; Milwaukee has since stayed in the mix on a schedule that included a midweek homestand against the Mets.
Source: MLB.com.
The deadline itself produced a larger deal at catcher, with the Red Sox acquiring Adley Rutschman from the Orioles.
Philadelphia added to its lineup at the deadline, acquiring Luis Arraez from the Giants.
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