Despite finishing with a top-three starting rotation in 2018, the Astros are in danger of losing sixty percent of that vaunted unit. We’re all familiar with the circumstances surrounding Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton‘s free agency, with a distinct possibility that both pitchers find themselves elsewhere next season.
For McCullers, the question was never if he would remain in Houston or not as he is still under club control through 2021. The pressing issue for his status next year was always the condition of his right elbow. Based on the somewhat vague comments by Jeff Luhnow during the first day of the annual general manager meetings, it doesn’t appear that McCullers will be throwing on a major league mound next season if surgery is required.