Desperation is a powerful thing. It can make a ball club make a decision that they instantly regret. At the same time, sometimes you can profit from another team's distress. That's exactly what the Houston Astros would love to do when it comes to Lance McCullers Jr.
It's not all McCullers' fault, but the injuries that robbed him of most of his prime have turned his contract into an albatross. Fortunately, there's light at the end of the tunnel, with his deal expiring at the end of the upcoming season.
For a while, McCullers was an up-and-coming star.