Hated Yankees enemy just got traded in early deadline Astros-Brewers deal

The 2017 Yankees felt like a team of destiny. They were actually the perfect squad the current front office has tried to embody for the entirety of the Aaron Judge era: not overly imposing, but talented enough to sneak into the playoffs and make a deep run without too much spotlight beaming on their forehead.

Sadly, they haven't come close to replicating that ever since the Astros eliminated them in Game 7 of the ALCS that year. And Yankees fans got a reminder of the heartbreak on Wednesday when Lance McCullers Jr. was traded in an early deadline deal to the Milwaukee Brewers.

McCullers famously threw 24 straight curveballs to Yankees hitters in that Game 7 to stifle the Bombers. He tossed four scoreless innings and earned the save. That brought his total up to 10 innings pitched and one earned run throughout the entire series. He was also a hero in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, even notching an RBI in that one.

McCullers mocked the Yankees after the ALCS-clincher, which made New York fans even more furious, and he was a known agitator during his time in Houston.

Worst of all, though? McCullers' lone All-Star campaign came during that 2017 season. He's also pitched in just 96 games since then due to various injuries ... but somehow battled through five tough innings in the 2022 ALCS clincher against the Yanks, too.

Former Yankees enemy Lance McCullers Jr. had frustrating success with Astros

In six career regular season starts against the Yankees, McCullers own a 3.82 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings. At Yankee Stadium? He had a 2.25 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in his two starts (12 innings).

We truly wish we could rip the Astros for spending $85 million on this guy, but the Yankees might be the only team in all of MLB that can't. At least he's out of the AL.

Speaking of the money, the Astros saved $2 million in this deal with the Brewers, who sent the son of Prince Fielder (Jadyn) to Houston as part of the agreement. This gave Houston some financial flexibility at this year's trade deadline as they hope to contend for a playoff spot. So now all we'll be hoping is that the end of McCullers' tenure with the Astros doesn't help them gain more October steam in 2026 with the American League wide open.

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