The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart Talks About Lance McCullers Trade to Milwaukee Brewers

Episode Date: July 16, 2026

Brian McTaggart Talks About Lance McCullers Trade to Milwaukee Brewers

When did you start to hear this was really becoming a story with Lance moving on in Milwaukee? You actually heard on Monday and started poking around a bit and heard it. It was probably going to happen. There were a few sins to tie up. They had approached Lance at some point, said they didn't have room for him in the rotation anymore. He was open to a move to the bullpen, but they have Wisniewski coming back. Blanco's coming back probably sooner than later. So they basically just didn't have a spot from the rotation.

And then they started to poke around with trades a little bit. the Astros thought that they could trade him, get some money back, create a little bit of payroll flexibility they can use of the trade deadline. And then so a few teams had an interest, but Milwaukee seemed to be the best fit. Lance, of course, no trade clause. He signed off on going to Milwaukee. Some other teams were still in it at that point, but it became clear on late Tuesday, I think Tuesday night after the All-Star game, it was going to be the Brewers,

and it was finished on Wednesday. Any idea how many teams were legitimately interested? I mean, there are some payroll teams looking to cut, add, move around a little bit. I mean, was there a lot of interest, or was that hard to tell at this point? I don't think there was a lot. I mean, I think the Yankees were interested at one point.

I know the raise were interested, but the raise did not, of course, Lance is from Tampa, but the raise did not want to send any money back. So it had to be a fit for the Astros financially, just because this was basically going to be a little bit of a salary dump. And they also, by including Colton Gordon in there, they, you know, created a couple of spots on their 40-man roster because they're about to have some guys come off the 60-day aisle who are not on the 40-man roster.

So it was some payroll flexibility, some roster flexibility, and also, you know, given Lance a chance to go somewhere and help a team that's in first place. I know that you had a chance to speak to Lance. Where is he body-wise? Can he get to Milwaukee and pitch right away? Where is he in his process? this. Yeah, he said he was going today. I called him yesterday. I taught them for on and off for a few days since Monday. And then yesterday I called him for the last time and he was actually at Dyken Park packing up his locker, which made me feel kind of sad. But he's going to Milwaukee today. I think, I think they're going to have been off the aisle. He says he's ready to go. He was hoping he could have pitched for the Astros on Sunday, the last game before the All-Star break that Javier started.

So, you know, they're in dire need of pitching. They have a lot of injuries. You know, Mizorowski had arm fatigue. Not sure, you know, if he's going to come back, Woodruff is injured. So he's going to get an opportunity there and to show what he can do. And, you know, Lance, you never know. He could go out there pitch seven innings, strike out 12 guys or pitch two in a third and not, you know, not give you much.

So it'll be interesting for sure. Yeah, just your thoughts overall then if you could, Brian, obviously you covered him his whole career, getting drafted, the come up, the 24 curb balls, and then unfortunately all the injuries, how you see through your eyes, the Lance McCullors Jr. as a Houston Astros story. Yeah, I mean, this was a guy taken 41st overall and what turned out to be a pretty landmark draft for the Astros because they took Correa. Remember, they took Correa number one overall for less muddy. And then they turned around, were able to sign Lance out of a scholarship at the University of Florida.

He was a pretty hard commit to Florida at that point. And next thing you know, that draft, the next one, and the next one, I mean, those sort of got the franchise turned around a little bit and it ushered in like a decade of dominance. But Lance was right in the middle of that. I mean, especially the first part of his Astros career. I mean, he started some of the biggest games in Astros history, game seven of the World Series. I mean, he didn't last very long, but, you know, he drove in a run. He started the 18 inning game in Seattle where they shut out the Mariners won nothing. and got the pain you home run.

He started that game and went six innings. And, of course, you mentioned that the 24 straight curveballs, four scoreless innings to close out the 2017 ALCS. I mean, you know, this guy, his fingerprints are all over, this golden era. The second half, you know, was marred by injuries. And, you know, he tried to come back from a couple of major arm surgeries and really was never the same. But maybe you wish you would have got a little bit more from Lance where you drafted him.

But if you would have said, hey, this guy is going to help you win a couple of World Series, pitching some really big games. just pour it all out there for Houston. You know, I think he's done that. And, you know, other than the injuries, I think he should have no regrets about the way things went in Houston because they,

he was part, just like Altubei of an incredible run of dominance for a decade. Brian McTackert, Astros.com with us here on Sports Talk 790. So, of course, this is the move before the move. How do you see this playing out now? We continue to ask you two and a half weeks

away from the deadline. You still think outfield bat is the number one target and now of course they can take on more salary in a trade well yes and no i mean i think there are people in the organization that want the outfield bat um i talked to some people yesterday who say relief pitching is the number one needs so um and i guess you can make a case for both of those things i mean they they do have ben at suza coming back off the aisle soon and when blanco comes back the westnest he comes back that could push a couple of guys to the bullpen. So, you know, by and large, I think the bullpen is pitched not terribly for what it's been asked to do here over the last couple of months. I mean, I think they need to add

that left-handed bat. The lineup just feels like way too short. You could really use another guy, but maybe there's a chance to get both. You know, I'm not sure they have the prospect capital to do that. So we'll see. It's going to be really interesting, but I don't see starting pitching. I mean, like I said, they're just about to add a couple of guys off the I-own. Starting pitching is so expensive. So either be a left-handed bat or a leaf pitcher, maybe both. If I'm in charge, I'm definitely trying to get that left-handed bat. Brian, the name on the active roster that we've heard about in trade conversations, it really wasn't about Lance. It was really a little bit about A.J. Blue Ball. Is there anybody else that you envision that may being thrown out there on the

current active 26-man roster? Because, again, for an organization that has just a couple of top-end guys that they want to obviously keep and not much after that, nothing really at the AAA level. Is there anybody else that you would see maybe being floated out there as a possibility for whatever they want to fix? Yeah, I mean, you know, do they trade one of their relievers? Do they, you know, package a reliever in a deal? I mean, I think more likely than anything, I think if they're going to make a trade like this, they're going to have to trade somebody off their prospect list, off the minor league

minor league rosters. I mean, is it someone that's going to hit hard, like, you know, one of their top pitching prospects, Pecco or Meyer or guys like that, it might take somebody like that to get one of these deals done. Yeah, BlueBah is going to have some interest for sure, but he's, you know, he's also a key part of your bullpen, although his last two outings have been very good, just because he can pitch two, three innings every time out and has been a closer in college and has started for the Astros as well. So he has some value, but he has some value to the asteros as well. I think if they're going to make a trade,

they're going to have to give up, they're going to have to give up some prospects. And while they don't have the prospects that a lot of other teams do, to get a rental on a reliever is not terribly expensive. I think if you get a rental on an outfield left-handed bat, you know, they definitely have the prospects to do that. So I don't anticipate anybody leaving off the Major League roster.

Not to say it can't be done, but these teams are going to want, that they're going to want to trade with you or teams are probably rebuilding a little bit, retooling, and they're going to want some young talent. And Bluebaugh is that as well. So we'll see. It's going to be a very interesting couple of weeks.

Let me also ask you, the three names have been brought up, and Dana brought them up yesterday, Bennett Sousa, Hayden Wisniewski, and Ronell Blanco. And look, these are all three guys coming off of injury. These are all three guys that have served roles in the past. of the three, which one of the three in your mind, if you had the crystal ball out right now as you're driving around Austin,

could make an impact or could make the most impact between now and the end of the season, provided they get out that injured list and are healthy. I'll say it's Blanco just because of what he did in 24. That was two years ago, but he was their best starting pitcher in 2024. He had the no-hitter that year, but just from start to finish, I think he led the league and batting average against. He was really, really good. Now, he is past 30, I believe.

So it's not like this is a young guy. And, you know, over the last couple of years, we've seen guys come back off Tommy John surgery for the Astros who just haven't got it done. Luis Garcia, Jose Arkiti, and even Lance wasn't the same since he came back. So I get why there's some trepidation there. But don't sleep on Hayden West Nesky.

I heard when he pitched AAA his last start, I think he went four and a third inning, struck out seven. I heard he was absolutely electric. So they traded for this guy for a reason, and we really haven't got to see a strong look at him so far. So if one of those guys could just step up and become a guy gives you six innings every time, that's going to be a huge boost.

And if they both do it, all the better. But Blanco just, his track record not too long ago was really, really good. So it looks like so far he's pitched pretty well in AAA. So I think he's going to be the first one back as far as him and West Nesky, the starting pitcher's off the I. maybe as soon as this weekend. I think Wisniew might make one more rehab start, but we're going to find out that both these guys

are going to come back and join the rotation. And with the deadline coming up, and the possibility of Dana Brown maybe knowing his job could be on the line, Brian, do you still expect Alvarez and Nions to be completely untouchable as far as the prospects? Oh, yeah. Yeah, they're not going to trade Nians.

I mean, they, yeah, I think he's performed so well since they drafted him. You know, he just got a promotion as well, the high A ball. So the second half of the season, he's going to be at Asheville. No chance to trade him. They're not trading Pena. They're not trading Alvarez. Zero chance that happens.

So they don't have to. I mean, they can get better trading off the bottom half of their major league roster and sending some other teams a prospect or two. You know, if you want to look in the offseason at trading Pena, just because you're in the same boat you were with Tucker when he's entering the final year of his contract, that's a different deal. But, you know, there are three games out on this thing. And as long as they don't slip, you know, past five, six games,

I think they're going to try to make a run at this. The division is very winnable, very winnable. And also the Astros have the second easiest schedule in the major leagues over the rest of the season. So it's right there in front of them. So if they can just make a tweak or two, get some help off some of these IL guys, I think they have a chance to make a run at this.