Photo: Lance McCullers Jr. pitching vs. Orioles, July 23, 2017 — by Keith Allison (Flickr), via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Speaking to reporters at the Astros’ spring complex in West Palm Beach, the veteran right-hander struck a reflective tone about both his future and the reality of the moment. McCullers, now 32 and entering the final year of his contract, didn’t pretend this spring is anything but important.
“I have no reservations about my future in baseball,” McCullers said. “I have two beautiful daughters. I have a beautiful wife. We’ve been married 10 years, together 16, 17 years, so if the future for me is to be home with them, I’ll be happy with that. I’ll be content with that.”
It wasn’t a typical spring-training sound bite — and it spoke to the road he’s traveled over the past three seasons.
A Difficult Stretch
McCullers has spent much of the last few years working his way back from injuries and inconsistency. In 2025, he made 16 appearances (13 starts), posting a 6.51 ERA and 1.81 WHIP across 55.1 innings before a right-hand injury ended his season in September. He was moved to the bullpen late in the year and eventually landed on the injured list before returning for the season finale.
The numbers raised real questions. His pitch effectiveness declined, hitters chased less often, and when they did connect, the results were often damaging.
Still, the Astros are giving him every opportunity this spring.
Why the Astros Are Giving Him a Shot
At his best, McCullers has been a reliable mid-rotation starter with a swing-and-miss curveball and a ground-ball profile that plays well in Houston. And right now, the Astros need innings.
The rotation has taken hits, and the team is looking for stability wherever it can find it. Manager Joe Espada has already said the plan is to build McCullers up as a starter this spring, and GM Dana Brown has been open about wanting to see what he can do when healthy.
“I’m kind of excited about seeing him in spring training, to be honest,” Brown said earlier this offseason.
The Reality of the Situation
McCullers is owed $17 million in 2026, the final year of the five-year extension he signed in March 2022. That contract means the Astros have every reason to see if he can still contribute, even as younger arms push for rotation spots.
The competition is real. Several pitchers are in the mix for innings, and nothing will be handed to anyone this spring. If McCullers wants to be part of the Opening Day rotation, he’ll need to stay healthy and produce.
If not, Houston could face a difficult decision about his role — or his future with the team.
One of the Last Links to 2017
There’s also a deeper layer to McCullers’ story. Along with José Altuve, he’s one of the last remaining players from the 2017 championship core. He’s seen the rise, the titles, and the long run of postseason success that followed.
That perspective showed in his comments. He made it clear he still wants to pitch and still wants to help the Astros. But he also sounded like someone who understands where he is in his career and what life beyond baseball might look like.
Whether 2026 becomes a comeback season or a final chapter, McCullers enters spring knowing exactly what’s at stake — and the Astros are hoping he has one more strong run left in him.