​PHILADELPHIA — The Houston Astros wanted to clear some money for the trade deadline, and the Milwaukee Brewers badly needed an arm for the pennant race.They got together over the All-Star break and Wednesday worked out a deal to accommodate each other.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Astros are sending veteran starter Lance McCullers Jr. and reliever Colton Gordon to the Brewers for at least one prospect, a high-ranking official directly involved with the talks told USA TODAY Sports. The official was not authorized to speak publicly because the deal has yet to be announced.The Astros will also sent money to the Brewers in the deal with McCullers being paid $17 million this season in the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract extension. McCullers, who nearly dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2025 season before third baseman Nolan Arenado exercised his no-trade rights, has pitched only 39.1 innings in eight starts this year. He has been on the injured list with a rotator cuff infringement since May, but has made three starts in a minor-league rehab start.1 / 8Fans look on before the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)The Brewers, in first place in the NL Central, have been looking for starter reinforcements with Brandon Woodward going on the 60-day IL with an inflamed shoulder. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to return to the Brewers, at least in a starting role, the rest of the regular season.McCullers, who waived his no-trade clause, now leaves the Astros with only two remaining members of their 2017 World Series team: Second baseman Jose Altuve and injured third baseman Carlos Correa. McCullers, drafted in 2012 by the Astros, will always be fondly remembered in Houston for pitching Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. His finest season was in 2021 when he went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA, finishing seventh in the AL Cy Young voting, before injuries derailed his career.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astros trade playoff hero Lance McCullers Jr. to Brewers in salary dump