Brewers DFA Recent Trade Acquisition

McCullers, 32, was acquired alongside left-hander Colton Gordon in a trade that sent minor league outfielder Jadyn Fielder to the Houston Astros on July 15. As part of the deal, the Brewers reportedly absorbed $2.5 million of the remaining money on McCullers’ contract.

Once a vital member of Houston’s rotation, McCullers has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness since signing his five-year, $85 million extension ahead of the 2022 season. He was limited to just eight starts over the first three years of the deal, missing all of 2023 and 2024 due to a flexor tear that required surgery.

Since returning in 2025, McCullers has averaged just over 91 on his sinker — well below the 94 mph he used to sit at before the injuries. He posted a 6.55 ERA over 44 innings last season and a 6.86 ERA across eight starts in 2026 before landing on the injured list with shoulder inflammation in May.

The Brewers activated McCullers on July 17 and used him out of the bullpen twice. In his team debut on July 20, the right-hander gave up two earned runs with four strikeouts in three innings against the New York Mets. He made another appearance Saturday, issuing four walks while allowing three unearned runs over 1.2 innings against the Colorado Rockies.

The bullpen role was unfamiliar to McCullers, who had started 148 of his 154 outings with Houston. Since his MLB debut in 2015, he has compiled a 53-40 record with a 3.85 ERA and a 10.0 K/9 rate over 818 career innings. He was an All-Star with the Astros in 2017 and a member of two World Series-winning teams.

While McCullers could theoretically clear waivers and return to the Brewers, his service time gives him the power to reject an outright assignment to Triple-A in favor of free agency. More than likely, the former All-Star will find a new home while Stallings takes on a middle-relief role with Milwaukee.

Stallings, 28, has pitched three scoreless innings in two appearances with Milwaukee this season. At Triple-A Nashville, the right-hander has posted a 4.11 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 18 appearances, including 13 starts.