The Houston Astros seemed resigned to the fact that Lance McCullers Jr. will be part of their pitching staff next season. And why shouldn't they be? Given his extensive injury history, exorbitant contract, and ineffective performance last season, it's unlikely that even the neediest of teams will be looking at McCullers as a possible trade target.
At the MLB Winter Meetings this past week in Orlando, Astros GM Dana Brown spoke about McCullers and what he expects from the right-hander in 2026. His comments aren't so much surprising as they are depressing.
“He’s got something to prove to the baseball world that he’s still Lance McCullers and he can get after it,” Brown told Chandler Rome of The Athletic “… I’m kind of excited about seeing him in spring training, to be honest.