Lance McCullers Jr. Q&A: Jim Crane, accepting a trade and his final Astros years

On Wednesday morning, Lance McCullers Jr. accepted a trade to the Milwaukee Brewers, ending his 14-year association with a Houston Astros franchise that witnessed him blossom from a precocious prospect to a pillar of its golden era.

Houston chose McCullers 41st overall in the 2012 MLB Draft and developed him into a potential foundational piece of its future starting rotations. Giving him a five-year, $85 million contract extension in 2021 signaled how highly Houston thought of the man who once told the team’s fanbase to “Bury me in the H.”

A bevy of injuries interrupted McCullers’ plan. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, flexor tendon repair in 2023 and has thrown just 94 ⅔ innings since 2022.

Still, in a phone conversation with The Athletic on Wednesday afternoon, McCullers acknowledged he “didn’t want to ever wear another team’s uniform.” He chose to do so only after calls with owner Jim Crane and a reluctance to hold the Astros back from anything they intend to do.

Moving McCullers gave the Astros financial flexibility prior to the trade deadline and eliminated what could have been some uncomfortable conversations once the second half of the season began on Friday.

McCullers, who is on the injured list with a shoulder issue, spoke to The Athletic about his decision-making, his health and his legacy in Houston. Questions and answers have been edited slightly for clarity.

Lance, what has today been like for you?

It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind. Happy, sad, excited, kind of all the emotions. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve been part of this organization since I was 18 years old. I got to accomplish a lot of amazing things and be a part of a lot of amazing things here. That chapter of my life and career is closing, but I’ll forever be grateful that I got to experience (it) and be a part of those. I’m also excited that I have a new opportunity in front of me with the Brewers and I think this is a day that we can look back on and potentially say, “Hey, this was a sad day, but it was still with a lot of excitement and it led to a lot of great new relationships and a lot of great new moments.”

You had some authority here with 10-and-5 rights. Was it a difficult decision for you to waive your no-trade clause?

Because McCullers has 10 years of major-league service time and spent at least five consecutive years with one team, he is afforded the opportunity to veto any potential trade.

Of course. I didn’t want to ever wear another team’s uniform. Like I said, I got drafted here. This organization took a chance on me when I was an 18-year-old kid. This has been my home ever since. My daughters were born here. This is where my wife and I will live forever. I never thought about playing somewhere else or being somewhere else but I think all things, obviously, have to come to an end. I spoke to Jim Crane on Monday and we both thought — he thought — that this was going to be a good opportunity for me and that it would leave the Astros in a good situation leading up to the deadline and for the rest of the year. For me, even though I knew I was going to be leaving potentially, I didn’t want it to be a situation where me kind of being selfish, per se, was going to hold the organization back. I love the organization. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Crane. And out of that love and respect, I told him on the phone that I would waive it. Didn’t tell him where I needed to go or anything like that. Just told him that if he felt like this was what was best for the organization and also myself that I would waive it and try to, on my way out, leave the Astros in the best situation they could (be in) for their goals this year as well.

Just to be clear: did Jim call you or did you call Jim?

Jim called me.

OK. And at that point, did he tell you that there was a trade with the Brewers in place or was he just asking if you would be willing to waive your no-trade clause?

We were just kind of talking, more so, just kind of, talking about the rest of the year and the team’s goals and what my role would (be) or what it could potentially look like. He had mentioned that there was some interest from some clubs. We had follow-up conversations after that and he told me it was the Brewers. Obviously (I) spoke to my family and called around to some guys that used to play there, including Josh Hader and some of those guys. They all had amazing things to say about it. Felt like it was the right thing to do. The organization felt good about the trade. Like I said, I feel like it’s a new, clean, fresh start for me with an organization that has a really good team and is obviously aspiring to go win a World Series and it also leaves the organization here with some flexibility and potentially a player for the future.

When you look back at your Astros career, what will be your fondest memory?

I kind of always think back to the game against the Yankees in (the 2017) ALCS. Not only because it was the ALCS and it was (to go) to our first World Series in 10 years, but I think just what the city was going through with (Hurricane) Harvey during that time. It was an emotional time for the city. I felt like us playing right after that happened and obviously going through the postseason after that happened, there was a big rally around the team. The team rallied around the city. That’ll be a big thing that always kind of sticks out to me in my career here.

McCullers collected the final 12 outs of Houston’s Game 7 win against the Yankees at then-Minute Maid Park, which sent the Astros to the World Series for the first time since 2005. Each of McCullers’ last 24 pitches were his signature curveball.

You mentioned earlier that you never wanted to wear another uniform in your career and now we’re at this point. I guess the logical question is did something change? What has changed from you having that viewpoint at one point to now being willing to do this?

Obviously, I’ve been through a lot these last few years. I haven’t been able to give the best version of myself — out of no control of my own. It wasn’t anything that I did or didn’t do. I’ve dedicated my life to this sport and this game and to this organization and I’ve given it all I’ve had. But the surgeries kind of piled up and these last few years have been tough on me. Not for a lack of effort or trying or dedication or any of that stuff, I just wasn’t really able to give the Astros the best version of myself that the team needs, honestly. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t accomplish great things here, and I wasn’t a part of great things here, but it’s just kind of the way that it came down at the end. And I guess when you have immense respect for an individual like Mr. Crane and you speak with him and you guys kind of both think that this would leave the organization in the best place possible and I’ll still have an opportunity to go pitch and continue my career, you’re kind of forced to make a decision. You either kind of dig in and I say ‘I have this right and I’m not leaving.’ Or, ultimately, you do what’s best for potentially your career and the organization that you’ve spent so many years at and have so much respect for and think fondly of. That’s kind of where that decision changed. It was a tough decision. It was something that had to be made pretty quickly, but ultimately, I think it’ll be a good decision on both sides.

You’ve made three rehab starts. How do you feel health-wise? How does the stuff feel and do you feel like you’re ready to step back into a major league rotation?

Yeah, stuff feels good. I felt good on the rehab games. (I’m) working on a couple of different things as far as my pitch mix goes to try to open it up a little bit for me. I’m hopeful. The Brewers have done a fantastic job with their pitching staffs over the years, getting the most out of the guys they’ve had. Some of those guys have gone on to do some amazing things. I think that obviously they looked to get me in this deal. I’ve spoken to a lot of members of the Brewers staff today and they’re excited. I’m excited. I’m hopeful that I can give them everything I got. At the end of the day, maybe I’m not the same version of myself, but I’m still a great competitor. I’m going to put my best foot forward there and do my best for them.

What about the city of Houston? What did you like the most about it and how did you feel like the city embraced you during your time here?

I think that’s probably one of the hardest things. I poured myself into this city and they poured themselves into me and into our team. Sports are a funny thing. You have a bunch of people from different places and all kinds of different backgrounds and you’re not from here. But I really found a home here. I tried to make a big difference. I tried to make a big difference when I was an active player here. I love them and they love me. I know the last little bit of time may have been a little bit rocky, but I think overall I hope that they know how much I cared for them and how much I went out there and put on the line for them.