Brewers-Astros trade swaps what could be the next random NY Mets flier for 2027

The New York Mets made a pre-trade deadline move with the Chicago Cubs in late June, swapping David Peterson for Cole Mathis. ESPN’s latest prospect rankings have Mathis slotted in as the tenth best Mets prospect. It was, in every way, a classic trade deadline type of move a month early.

Yesterday featured a not so traditional trade made. Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers from the Houston Astros in exchange for Jadyn Fielder, the son of Prince Fielder just in case your body wasn’t reminded you to feel old today.

McCullers has long been one of those guys who just needed to stay healthy to put together an amazing career. At times when he was healthy, he was every bit the player we were told he could be. The problem is he missed all of 2023 and 2024 and over the past two seasons is working on his second year pitching to an ERA closer to 7.00 than 6.00. This, very much, sounds like the type of player David Stearns will try to wave a magic wand over.

Lance McCullers Jr. has a 2027 Mets contract of some kind waiting for him 

Stearns will already have some familiarity with McCullers from their days together in the Astros organization. The 2015 season, McCullers’ rookie year and Stearns’ final in Houston, would have been the time to cross paths.

Even if they hadn’t actually been familiar with each other, McCullers is the kind of player Stearns absolutely seems to gravitate toward. But before Stearns writes him a blank check, McCullers will need to do a couple of things with the Brewers.

First and foremost, McCullers needs to stay healthy. All of the missed time could scare off just about any team. Another injury and he’s bound to have to settle and maybe take a deal based largely on innings incentives. Furthermore, McCullers needs to perform. Otherwise he’ll need to get reacquainted with the minor league travel schedule. He hasn’t done anything with Houston in years to suggest he’s worth a major league contract. A split deal, where a player receives a larger salary in the minor leagues than the average teammate, is the closest.

Then there’s the performance. McCullers doesn’t necessarily need to pitch incredibly well. That has never stopped Stearns before. It’s the signs of what can be.

McCullers hasn’t pitched in a major league game since mid-May. Milwaukee took a financial gamble on him without sacrificing much in terms of prospect, even receiving another player in the process. The Mets won’t have a chance to make a crafty move of this style. What they can do is watch from afar and assess if McCullers is worth a trial period in St. Lucie next year.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow