Yeah you're right that I probably overlapped different arguments. I just think the argument of 'oh it's the Brewers so this guy must actually be good' falls apart pretty quickly. Vaughn, Harrison, even Conforto and Rolison have all shown flashes of talent in the past. Does that translate to future success? Absolutely not, and there are hundreds of examples you could probably name just between the Brewers and the Cubs. Gordon has not, really at any point in his career. We can evaluate the players. Astros ended up keeping most of McCuller's contract too, so this wasn't some 'buy a prospect' thing (also because, again, he's 27). They need innings, and while none of these injuries are recent, there are five relievers on the 40 man roster injured right now, and four of them are lefties.
(You know who would have been really good to stabilize their rotation right now, even in a down year? Freddy Peralta. But hey, at least they have Brandon Sproat, 25 years old, and his +5 ERA and FIP, and a guy with a 95 wRC in AAA with no real defensive position)