1:20pm: Right-hander Hayden Wesneski is also involved in the talks, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
1:03pm: The Cubs and Astros are “close” to an agreement on a Tucker trade, tweets Heyman. Ari Alexander of KPRC-2 in Houston reports that the two sides have discussed a return that would send Paredes, Smith and a third player to Houston.
12:56pm: Talks between the two sides have “continued to gain momentum,” Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. Jon Heyman of the New York Post tweets that Smith and Paredes are “among the names being discussed,” suggesting others could indeed be in play.
9:10am: The Cubs and Astros have been in talks on a trade that would send star outfielder Kyle Tucker from Houston to Chicago in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes and 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith, reports Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. It’s not yet clear whether other players are involved on either end. There’s no indication a deal is nearing the finish line.
Tucker, 27, only recently emerged as a viable trade candidate. The former No. 5 overall pick broke out as an everyday player in 2020 and has since elevated himself to one of the game’s best young players all around. Over the past four seasons, he’s turned in a .280/.362/.527 slash with 112 homers, 80 steals, an 11.3% walk rate and just a 15.1% strikeout rate. A fracture in his shin cost him much of the 2024 season, but he had his most productive season ever when healthy: .289/.408/.585, 23 homers, 16.5% walk rate in 78 games.
Tucker is a year from reaching free agency as a 28-year-old and is poised to command the type of mega-contract that Astros owner Jim Crane has been unwilling to offer; Houston’s longest contract under Crane has been Yordan Alvarez’s six-year, $115MM deal. Jose Altuve’s $151MM extension is the largest in terms of overall guarantee. Tucker could command double that guarantee in free agency over a significantly longer term than Alvarez’s deal.
For the Cubs, adding Tucker would only further increase the likelihood of trading Cody Bellinger and/or Seiya Suzuki. Tucker would supplant both in right field. Chicago already has young Michael Busch at first base and Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field. Left fielder Ian Happ has a full no-trade clause. There’d be no obvious spot to play either Bellinger or Suzuki other than designated hitter. That’d be a waste of Bellinger’s solid defensive skills, and Suzuki has a preference to play in the field rather than slot in as a primary DH. He also has a full no-trade clause, further complicating matters.
The trio of players’ contracts are worth keeping in mind, too. Tucker is entering his final season of club control and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $15.8MM this coming season. Bellinger is guaranteed a $27.5MM salary next season and has a $25MM player option with a $5MM buyout for the 2026 season. In essence, he’s guaranteed at least $32.5MM for one year and perhaps $52.5MM over the next two seasons, pending that opt-out decision. Suzuki has two years to go on his five-year, $85MM contract and will earn $18MM in each of the next two seasons.
For the Astros, trading Tucker would be a tough pill to swallow. Crane has voiced a willingness to pay the luxury tax if the right situation presents itself but seems to rather clearly prefer to avoid doing so for what would be a second straight season. The ’Stros have been angling to bring longtime third baseman Alex Bregman back into the fold, but he’s been seeking a deal north of $200MM while Houston’s most recent reported offer was for six years and $156MM. That the Astros are looking at not only an immediate big league option at the hot corner (Paredes) but also a recent first-round pick whose primary position is third base (Smith) at least implies some pessimism of completing a reunion with Bregman.
That said, the Astros also have a need at first base. Paredes could capably fill that role, as he’s played all four infield positions throughout his big league career. He’s primarily been a third baseman, but he does have nearly 400 innings at first base under his belt. It’s at least possible that the Astros could use the payroll space created by a potential Tucker trade to re-sign Bregman, play Paredes at first base and then simply be content to add a player with Smith’s overall upside to the upper tiers of their system. Smith isn’t likely to be a big league option until 2026 anyhow, and his bat is his calling card; a move to an outfield corner isn’t out of the question at some point.
Paredes, 26 in February, went from the Rays to the Cubs at the 2024 trade deadline and struggled in his new environs. The versatile slugger hit .250/.342/.488 and belted 31 homers for Tampa Bay in 2023 and looked well on his way to approximating that production in ’24 when he hit .245/.357/.435 with the Rays prior to the trade. With Chicago, however, Paredes slumped to a tepid .223/.305/.307 slash in 212 plate appearances.
Those struggles notwithstanding, Paredes is a .234/.338/.437 hitter (123 wRC+) who’s swatted 70 homers while playing four different positions across the past three seasons. He’s walked in a strong 11.2% of his plate appearances during that span against a 17.3% strikeout rate that’s about five percentage points lower than average. He’s projected to earn $6.9MM in 2025 and is under club control through the 2027 season. He’d be a long-term add for the Astros who can help out at a variety of positions and who would offer a solid bat against righties and plus production against southpaws (.274/.366/.456). On top of that, he ranked third among all qualified MLB hitters in pull percentage this season and posted the second-lowest ground-ball rate in that same set. An extreme-pull righty bat with that kind of penchant for elevating the ball seems almost tailor-made for Houston’s short left field porch.
Smith, meanwhile, was just selected with the No. 14 pick last summer and signed for a bonus a bit north of $5MM. The Florida State product absolutely torched minor league pitching with a .313/.396/.609 slash in 134 plate appearances across two Class-A levels and Double-A. It was one of the best debut performances of any draftee and only served to further elevate his already considerable prospect stock. Baseball America ranks Smith sixth in a deep Cubs farm system that in 2024 boasted six of the game’s top 100 prospects. Smith will likely be included on several top-100 rankings ahead of the 2025 season.
Currently, RosterResource projects the Astros for a $215MM bottom-line payroll with nearly $234MM of luxury tax obligations. That leaves them about $7MM shy of this season’s $241MM tax threshold. Moving Tucker would open up quite a bit of breathing room, as would a trade of reliever Ryan Pressly, whose name has also frequented the rumor circuit this offseason. He’s owed $14MM but can veto any trade scenario as a player with 10-and-5 rights (10 years of MLB service, including the past five with the same team). Astros general manager Dana Brown said early in the offseason that his club might need to be “creative” to address roster needs amid payroll uncertainty, and talk of potential deals involving Tucker, Pressly and lefty Framber Valdez all fit under that umbrella.
wild
What about Paredes and Cam Smith and Belli and some cash for Tucker.
Hoerner 2B
Suzuki DH
Tucker RF
Happ LF
Busch 1B
Swanson SS
Shaw 3B
Amaya/Kelly C
PCA CF
Room for Caissie and Triantos as reserves
Too pricey for the Stros
Kudos to the Cubs!
Padres ownership gets a zero this offseason.
Padres ownership supposedly wants to compete.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
The Padres Private Equity group is going to ruin this franchise and all that Peter built.
I can’t believe they are getting Tucker
He might win mvp next year he had a huge injury shortened season
Apparently Parades is available!
Houston would be a good park for him because he’s a pull hitter
I thought the same too. Also 3 years of control. Good guy to get.
Yes, 3 years 0f control on a .238 hitter……you do know that regardless of how many HR’s he hits, that’s 23.8 hits per 100 at bats…..thats a lot of miss in this 3 year control player…..quite a light return as compared to what they’re probably asking from other clubs…….
The could ask for whatever they want. No other team is going to give them a haul for 1 year.
See this is why batting average is a bad stat rocky7
.238 is an average based on how many hits you get compared to how many plate appearances
The problem, of many, with batting average is not all fields are constructed the same.
Back when Parades was playing with the Tigers as a right handed pull hitter he’d have to hit the ball close to 340 feet for a home run to right field.
With the Rays Parades only had to hit it about 315 feet, or 25 feet less than Tigers stadium
When he was traded to the cubs Wrigley is about 350 feet to right
Astros stadium is only about 325 feet to right
All dimensions are based on a quick google search.
So if parades hits a ball 330 feet to right field it would be a home run in Tampa and Houston, but not in Detroit or Chicago.
This is why batting average is a bad stat. Treating each at bat as equal is silly.
The better question is what’s his batting average with RF closer to Astros and Rays dimensions across all stadiums. Cause a lot of fly balls would turn into homers increasing the average.
Paredes is a RH pull hitter. I think you meant LF distance.
Most of the time this just results in maybe 2-3 more home runs over 82 games at home. Over 600 plate appearances it’s not gonna affect batting average in any meaningful way.
Doesn’t just affect home runs also affects doubles and long singles.
You’re right. Left field. Forgot batter vs field is a mirror effect. His right is left and his left is right
Batting average?
How about he gets on base 34.6% of his plate appearances which is significantly better than MLB average and would have been 4th on the Astros team last year?
To expound on this:
He hit 19 HR last year.
According to Baseball savant, if all of his games were in Houston last year, those same PAs would have resulted in 26 HR.
Bergman has hit .260 the last 3 years, that’s 2 hits per 100 at bats more. Is that a big difference?
I agree Perksy! No reason Paredes coudln’t slam 40 or more homers with the Crawford Boxes aiding him in home games.
What the Astros seem to want is for the Cubbies to add Suzuki to this deal, but even as an Astos fan, that sounds a tad bit greedy.
I wouldnt be shocked to see the Cubs take Pressley back and @ half his salary to facilitate the deal if they are keeping Seiya out of it.
But Suzuki can’t be happy about the Cubs acquiring a RFer like Tucker.
The Cubs are not giving up all the control of Smith and Parades for a 1 year rental. And if Hoyer does he shoulde be fired before he’s allowed to even think about a stupid trade like that.
I have no problem giving up Paredes for a year of Tucker, Shaw will play 3B and Paredes looked almost as bad as Morel.
Giving up Cam Smith is a huge ask unless you are committed to extending Tucker.
Counsell likes to get creative with lineups, and Hoyer has even mentioned a preference for having a rotation of guys in the DH spot, rather than an exclusive everyday DH. Let’s not forget that Tucker played 1B previously, and Busch can play 3B. Happ has even been versatile, playing both IF/OF, although not recently. I’m not including Bellinger, because I think he gets traded regardless. Versatility means different guys can be DH to get a day off from the field, and hopefully keep people fresh throughout the season. Winning cures everything, including hurt egos.
Parades and a low level prospect should be enough.
Unc, I agree the trade leaves me scratching my head a bit. Unless Hoyer goes wild this winter I dont see how the Cubs can seriously contend against LA or Philly or whoever for the NL pennant in ‘25.
But the idea of acquiring a player like Tucker is still exciting. I don’t mind giving up Paredes he looked lost as a Cub. And I don’t generally mind trading prospects for proven ML talent, but 6yrs of a bat like Cam Smith for 1yr of Tucker is a lot.
it would not be enough, other teams are offering more than that and Houston is not going to give Tucker away
Tucker will not be extended. He’s made it clear he’s going all the way to FA. Why else do you think they want to trade him? Use your head. Any trade for him should reflect that. Why would he leave a perennial contender except for FA. My God people think a little.
Uncle – I agree with your comment that the Cubs shouldn’t give up that much control for Tucker. Don’t get me wrong, Tucker is one of the best hitters in baseball.
But Ricketts (not Hoyer) would need to work out and be agreeable to a very expensive extension with Tucker, first – IF they worked out a deal. And I can’t see trading Smith and Paredes for Tucker – trading Belli or Seiya and $$ and Paredes makes more sense.
And as an aside, Cubs are losing out on the value of their hitters, they should move in their LF and RF corners, about 6 to 8 feet.
I’m not giving up the present 3B or the future 3B for 1 year of anybody. Parades fine, But not Shaw OR Smith. That would be stupid. No wonder the Astros are still interested. Jed is a fool. I’m sorry but he needs to go before disaster hits. He’s in his last contract year and willing to make a big mistake to save his job. That MLB interview proved it. He’s a moron.
Total shot in the dark here Mike but chance is your last name Murphy? I’m curious because I’ve got an uncle Mike whose a huge Cubs fan. He goes down to Chicago a lot from Minneapolis. And goes to Murphy’s Bleachers a lot.
No
I didn’t think so. I’m sure I’m way off. Like Samsonite to Swanson off. Lol.
I’m an American. German Ancestry. But a lot of the traits are the same. I have been to Murphy’s a lot. And I’m not giving out my last name either. LOL
Everything Hoyer does leaves me scratching something. How does he still have a job? If he’s dumb enough to trade those 2 guys there better be something a lot better coming back than just 1 year of Tucker.
I don’t expect you too. Like I said total shot in the dark.
Uncle… Neither one of those guys is going to have the effect that an absolute stud like Tucker will have on that lineup. They’ve been treading water year after year with a team full of ‘complementary players’. This guy is a difference maker. Paredes was never gonna be that guy with the Cubs. And Smith? He may end up being a star or a dud- But you don’t get a player like Tucker for scraps. And what good is prospect capital if you don’t use it sometimes?
I agree. I just know Hoyer is horrible at it. I want a real GM making those decisions. Fire Hoyer and Hawkins and let Counsell do it. He can’t be any worse. And it’s for only one year. Think about it for a sec. It’ll come to you. He doesn’t want an extension. He wants FA.
If it was Parades and Suzuki strait? As a Cub fan I would do it.
Suzuki’s agent has gone off saying that Saya would have not signed with a team that intended to make him a DH
He is the worst of the 4 options and it is not close.
The smart move for Jed is to offer Paredes and Smith with Wicks as a 3rd. If they up to Suzuki then tell them that Smith is off the table
He traded Rosario for Morgan. That is quite possibly another stupid trade. I’ve never heard of Morgan. Rosario was a stud. Another future piece.
I might me wrong, but the brick wall is designated as historical and can’t be moved
That is correct. They had to remove the bricks and put them back up in the renovation.
It could be redone but it’s not going to be. There’s nothing wrong with the park now after a billion dollars of renovations. And it doesn’t make any difference. The wind makes the difference.
Even without potentially acquiring Tucker Owen Caissie would’ve slotted to play RF. So either way he wouldn’t be too happy.
I think he’s more concerned about running into the wall. Cody broke a rib last year doing it
Yeah well everybody figures it out. And by that I mean Bricks Are Hard and Ivy doesn’t help. It can be a painful lesson.
Jets playing for his next contract. Cam Smith is not going to be majorly baseball player for another year or two. So he is not a factor in Jed’s walk year.
Tucker put up 4.7 WAR in 1/2 a season. He has been a 5+ WAR player prior.
No one on the Cubs is close to that level of talent. Period.
Paredes plus Cam is not a over pay at all. If anything Jed has to add Wicks
I would not even entertain that at this point. The first step is winning the NLC. The Brewers are putting up the white flag right now so Jed needs to take the reigns and go alpha in the NLC.
Part of the benefit of having a stocked farm system is to use them in trades. Cubs cant use 5 OF prospects, Bellinger and Seiya. I wish they were more focused on trading Alcantara or Canario, but you have to give up something of value to get something of value.
The hard part is watching what just happened w Soto. The Yanks gave up a lot of value for Soto and it didn’t seem to help them re-sign at all. He just went for the biggest offer. And it’s hard to envision the Cubs ever being the largest offer for a superstar like Tucker. They seem to think everyone should give them the Wrigley Field discount for the honor to play for a mediocre team with a great fan base.
Aged like buttermilk
Get a comp pick when he leaves tho. Hence the extra prospect cost.
Why do you think the Brewers are waiving the white flag, bc they traded Williams? They traded Hader too, that’s how small market teams operate. They still have a good club and seem to produce a never-ending stream of quality relievers. I wouldn’t count them out yet unless they sell off more.
And they added Wesneski nice haul for the Astros.
But the Cubs are in good shape I’d think. They don’t have to extend Tucker. They can keep Tucker and Bellinger in the lineup and sit PCA who can’t hit. Shaw can hit and should be able to replace Parades production at third. Cubs needed to add some power to the lineup, Id keep Bellinger and Tucker, nice addition. Have a choice to extend Tucker and trade Bellinger, or let Tucker walk and keep Bellinger in ’26 for the final year of his deal, depending on how the season plays out. Nice flexibility in that way carrying them both in ’25.
The two best ballparks for Paredes to hit in are Tropicana and whatever they’re calling the Astros home park in 2025.
Paredes is gonna hit 40 there
I also enjoy parades, myself.
If the Cubs get Tucker for what has been thrown around what the Cubs are giving up would be a steal for Chicago.
The Astros want Cam Smith, isaac Paredes and Seiya Suzuki. Cubs are getting fleeced and Discount Jed needs to be fired immediately if he accept that trade for a rental with zero chance at an extension. Even if an extension was possible it would be too rich for Jed and Ricketts blood to do it..
I don’t think this person likes Jed Hoyer
you didnt even read the article. the ask from the Cubs is Paredes and Smith. Not including Suzuki
There is additional reporting on them asking for Suzuki as well – which is why the lesser deal hasn’t already happened.
You are genuinely delusional if you think they can just get Tucker for Parades and Smith there is a definitely another piece involved
And you aren’t too smart if you think the Cubs or anybody is giving up all that control for a 1 year rental. It’s an overpay in talent for the Cubs and another stupid trade rumor. Anybody who thinks this would be remotely possible need a quick spin of electro shock.
UncleMike, look at what the Yankees gave up to get Soto and his .989 OPS in 2024. Tucker’s 2024 OPS was .993. I’d say he would bring back a haul.
The Yankees gave up Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Kyle Higashioka for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham. So if we throw in Chas McCormick does that get it done?
I’m not giving up Cam Smith for anybody. Cam Smith alone would be a massive overpay and a fireable offense for Hoyer.
No-Suzuki has not been part of Astros trade, that was separate and only b/c he doesn’t want to DH.
That is a reasonable position, but it almost surely means that Tucker isn’t going to be a Cubbie.
Tucker is pretty much Soto-light, so the Astros are gonna be looking for a Soto-esque return.
And he’s injury prone. Soto isn’t. You could be paying for 1 year of nothing.
Jordan Wicks most likely. Byrd took his opportunity away.
That would be a good comp if it actually worked out for the Yankees. Yes they made the WS but now what? They are talking about having to find his replacement and they gave up 4 pieces that they could have used to get Kyle Tucker this year. The Soto deal is the exact reason you don’t give up a haul.
Aged like milk
Laughs in Cam Smith Orange
Completely agree. Paredes and Smith for Tucker would be a huge get for the Cubs.
And the Cubs need to be hot and heavy on signing Tucker to an extension ASAP or else don’t make the deal
@refugee……Owner has to see if he’d extend immediately at something like 12/540mil (45 aav) the way salaries have spiked. If that’s not good enough, agree it makes no sense. Entering ’25, many NL teams are better for it to be a pure rental.
Trouble is that the Astros are looking to trade Tucker precisely because he won’t sign an extension. He is gonna ask for $500+ million next year – making whatever Bregman gets look paltry.
12 years and 540mil for a 28 year old who will regress 4 years into that deal. No thanks. I’ll take my chances with Owen Caissie.
Not claiming it’s wise, but it will likely take at least 500 for him to extend….give or take 50mil
I hope the Cubs shock me and pay it. He’s the kind of player you invest big money in and build around- from what I’ve seen of him, anyway.
Price of doing business for big market teams, it’s time the Cubs stop acting like a mid-market team and acquire some legit stars. Overpay for one or two, it will pay off in fan support. At least recoup a lot of the cost.
Ha, since Cubs fans think it’s an overpay and Astros fans think it’s not enough, it is probably a fair trade!
Paredes and Cam Smith have quite a bit of value. I definitly don’t think it would be a bargain for 1 year. If Astros sign Bregman, that deal doesn’t happen.
For one year of Tucker? No thanks
I tend to agree because there is almost no chance Jed will extend him. You will also need to trade multiple outfielders. Happ, PCA, Suzuki (doesn’t want to dh), Caissie, Canario ( no options), Alcantara, Bellinger. Sending an outfielder with Paredes would make so much more sense.
Cubs would eventually get (and Houston would be giving up) the compensatory draft pick for Tucker rejecting a QO after this season. Or of course they’d have a year to try to work out an extension.
So what? Smith was the 13th pick in the draft. That’s a stupid analogy.
One yr of Tucker and a top 20 hitter prospect for 2 yrs of Steele.
And, going down around the same time, Cubs sign Burnes.
100% agree. Cam Smith raked and looks like a bigger, stronger Shaw. Plus 3 years of Parades is a lot to give up for one year of Tucker knowing Ricketts won’t sign him to a $400M+ extension.
Absolutely….a real steal…..
It’s a done deal Houston finally did something smart
Seems like a light return to me.
He’s got one year left on his contract. He’s a great player so the price tag after the last two offseason is gonna be high.
Yanks sent budding ace Michael King and a prospect that was flipped for Dylan Cease for a guy with one year left on his contract. This return for Houston is way less.
Soto was way better. King wasnt exactly a lock to be an ace either.
Yes, the package that Houston is asking the Yankees for is reported to be much greater than this light package from the Cubs……a .238 hitter and a rookie who hasn’t played an inning yet and may be one of those never will bes’….just don’t know….
Was Soto “way better”? In 2023, Soto had a 5.5 WAR vs Tucker’s 5.4. Soto is unquestionably a better hitter, but Tucker is no slouch. He’s a significantly better defender and base runner. Tucker was on an MVP level start this year before the injury as well. Soto was younger, but the trade package should be at least comparable.
Looking at overall career, yes. Tucker in any given one year might be as good. You don’t get more consistent than Sotos bat.
Tucker is not a generational, HOF lock like Soto, and he missed 50% of last season – very different.
I don’t think they’re hugely different-I think you’re undervaluing Tucker’s major advantage in defense.
Yes, and it didn’t work out for them so why do it again. Houston doesn’t have leverage here unless they tell teams we are planning on resigning him.. They seem to be making it clear they won’t being doing that, So ,moving him now for two players (one being a first round pick and the other an allstar) is better than the one sandwich draft pick they could get. next year.
I was thinking the same thing. Even for just one year of Tucker. Has to be someone else going back…Suzuki???
Very light. Tucker’s arm, glove, and speed aren’t getting the respect deserved
Cam Smith is a replacement for Bregman; if they are looking at Smith they don’t feel they will be able to resign Bregman or they are leaking this to send message to Bregmans camp.
And Paredes would be the bridge to Smith at 3rd.
Where is Dave Dombrowski here?!?
Looking for a cheap platoon bat and hoping Phillies fans buy his nonsense that old dogs learn new tricks.
Are we really going to crap on Dombrowski like he wouldn’t go after another high-salaried all star if given the green light? Middleton and Dombrowski are the last owner/GM combination I would accuse of being cheap other than Cohen.
Middleton and Dombrowski take hits for being too passive and too aggressive, and both arguments are absurd. It’s background noise.
I have a feeling he wants Bellinger if the cubs pay down part of his salary or take a bad contract back.
Please, oh, please get Tucker out of Houston (Preferrably us)!
(But it ruins the Lone Star series, though. So…)
-A Rangers fan
No 9 WAR player in our division? Astros rebuilding? Let’s go it’s just the mariners and rangers and maybe athletics
I picture Houston preferring to send Tucker to the NL but I also see them going back to the AL clubs to at least gain further leverage with the Cubs.
Cubs should send happ to the reds so they can keep seiya
Happ has a no trade clause.
So does Seiya
He would be MVP the way he hits in that ballpark.
Only if he can hit against Reds pitching.
Ha, good one. I think Happ just likes playing there.
Has anyone seen our president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos we fear he may have been kidnapped.
Us Braves fans are about to put up missing person posters on street posts very soon we are concerned.
Damn it why didn’t we get him chipped whyyyyy!!!!
Teams cant just keep spending non-stop, the Braves invested a lot in acquiring and extending their core. They have fantastic pieces in place and probably just need to bolster w role players. Of course, Tucker would be a boost to just about any team but acquiring a star in his walk year is a rather risky proposition. Jed is just desperate to save his job.
Get it done Hoyer, and get Ricketts to extend him. Time to open up the pocketbook on an actual player worth giving a long contract to. 2025 cannot be another 83 win-season and getting lapped by the Brewers…
Who would play 3B for the Cubs then?
Matthew Shaw
They also just grabbed that Workman kid from Detroit’s system that is supposed to be a strong defender with some pop. They have a few guys they can try out. There’s always the trade deadline if that’s the one hole they can’t fill with Shaw, Workman, Triantos, Cowles, or whoever.
Are the cubs really going to part with Cam Smith for one year of Kyle Tucker? I can’t see them paying the price for a long term contract. Like the trade in general as he would be a huge get but the cubs are acting like a poverty stricken franchise since the pandemic.
It would be kinda weird if the Cubs traded for Paredes, which was clearly a future-oriented move since they were essentially out of it at the time, then turned around and traded him away before his first full season in Chicago.
Hoyer you’re an idiot if you send any top line prospect for 1 yr of any player with this current roster
I hope Dana Brown doesn’t forget this team is a little over 2 years removed from a World Series title with, for the most part, the same roster. Trading Tucker is not necessarily a bad idea, but priority 1 needs to be re-signing Bregman and giving yourself 1 last legitimate shot to win a title before Tucker and Valdez walk. If they do end up trading him, Dana needs to win that deal cause it’s hard to see them competing anytime soon after that. They will have to overpay and likely have to be locked in to some ugly years if they re-sign Bregman, but I think they need to run it back and go for it one last time in 2025.
@stros,
as a Yankee fan I hope they suffer. However, considering they rank so low for their farm, its tough to see them only getting one prospect. perhaps they are looking to trade another player mid season to backfill and then use the next 2 years of ‘competitive’ finishes to draft more. With all the success you’d think money would be flowing and they wouldn’t be so adverse to keep the winning product going.
A young Dave Dombrowksi would get this guy for the Phillies. But, this version has his sights set on some platoon bats.
You are correct cambo.
What an awful trade by the Astros. Parades was horrible and you want him as centerpiece of trade for top OF? Jim Crane really has lost his mind.
Horrible? Parades was worth 3.4 WAR last year…. he’s a good player
@jabronie
inside out doesn’t know what he’s talking about, he’s just a rage baiter.
He was terrible as a cub
@Simm
Look at his overall stats, and tell me why you wouldn’t keep him.
As a cub…he was terrible. That’s why.
@simm
So he regressed a little at the end of the season for a new team.
If you were the GM, you wouldn’t care about career stats, or anything like that?
so he was terrible as a cub, you would get rid of him strictly for that reason?
Agreed. Look at how AJ Preller fleeced Cashman in the Soto trade. This is a huge fail by the Astros.
It was a lot of talent that Cashman gave away….but Soto did have a critical role in getting them into the WS. Don’t love the trade, but the Yankees would have been out of the playoffs without it.
Well, Preller himself was fleeced to get Soto too.
Soto lives on Fleece St. And he runs the HOA now!
It will hurt to give up Cam Smith. But the Cubs did trade Glyber Torres for a Chapman rental when Torres was an overall top-10 prospect. Torres has had an ok career, but if Cam Smith has that career nobody is going to be overly upset with this trade.
Torres was the 1 prospect in all of baseball. The Cubs won a championship that year their first in 100 years or whatever it was. Thats why nobody is overly upset about that trade.
Astros Receive: Suzuki, Paredes, Smith, Caissie
Cubs Receive: Pressly, Tucker
Seems like a fair package for 1 year of Tucker. Balances present day need with an eye towards future. While i like the deal, i still would have prefered pitching prospects.
This would make no sense if it doesnt come with a extension. I have been in Jeds corner this whole time but if this is true and it happens without an extension then Jed should be put on the hot seat. Can someone help me understand why this is a good move for one year rental of Tucker?
lol yes, please, Astros, make this trade! Hahahahaha. This Dana Brown guy is running the Astros into the ground, what a moron. Jim Crane has also clearly had a complete mental breakdown. Parades was awful with the Cubs, and tell me when Cam Smith is an MVP candidate and has a ring and I’ll start taking him seriously. Kyle Tucker is one of the best and most dangerous players in the game, and as a Mariners fan, boy would I like him off the Astros, along with Bregman. Those are two big stars right there.
You’re a Mariners fan and the words “Dana Brown is running the Astros into the ground” really left your fingertips? Hahaha
That would be what’s best for the Astros long-term, since they know they are going to lose Tucker for nothing if they hold him until he’s a free agent.
I’m seeing a Preller special coming with Cubs. Suzuki and prospects for Cease.
@nor
Why would they trade cease?
No chance to extend him, might as well reallocate those funds to a future Michael King extension.
@wagner
I like Michael King, that could work
That would add payroll, I doubt it happens.
They need to replace Profar, potentially. Suzuki would do that on a shorter commitment (only two years left at 18 per, not bad).
@wagner
I would say Suzuki is better as well.
Bruce Levine has been around long enough to have a lot of contacts. That said, his information is sketchy at best. I still highly doubt that this gets over the finish line.
The Astros are very frugal. They will hold out for the best deal. It is very difficult for me to imagine that they would let go without a significant haul. I believe Dana Brown is perfectly content with paying Kyle Tucker $17 mil for the one year. It’s actually quite a bargain
Good, Yankees keep Gil, Cubs get Tucker and then the Yanks get Bellinger. Yanks can go after Tucker in free agency next year. Win-win-win for all.
Interestingly good idea…….although the offense that Tucker would bring this year, considering that the Yankees core players are in that window of win now, might also influence going for Tucker right now and gambling that they can re-sign him longer term…….they can sign Walker to a 2 year and solve 1st, and platoon 3rd right now with Cabrera, Peraza and DJL et all and get league average defense and probably offense as well given that league average is probably .240-.250 these days….worth it for Tucker….
Even if Belli didn’t opt out after 2025, they could move him to 1B for 2026. Just sign Carlos Santana on a 1 year to get through 2025 at 1B.
Still not sure what they’ll do at 3B for this season. They don’t want Bregman – and I agree with that, his power wouldn’t play.
Keeping Gil is really crucial. The trio of Cole, Fried, and Rodon – while exciting now – will age quickly. At that point, Gil will be very much in his prime and may be leading the staff performance-wise.
Goldschmidt for a year would work, too. I believe I read Santana is talking with Seattle and close to signing.
Either way, I’m with you… don’t give up Gil for Tucker.
Goldy for a year could work.
I heard some NY fans on YouTube basically saying “who cares” at the idea of losing Gil and/or Dominguez for Tucker. Why crush your future when you have the financial means to improve the team AND keep top young players?
With respect to 3B, I’d just sign Hyeseong Kim to play 2B and keep Jazz at 3B. Kim improves the infield defense and adds contact skills/lead off potential. Wouldn’t be that expensive either. Had some good swings vs Bobby Miller in the Seoul Series.
the problem is that without tucker they need jasson, wells, volpe and possibly rice to take huge steps forward in order to make the playoffs. you cannot win a championship with an average to below-average offense
I’d love to add Cam Smith. I think the kid will be a quality MLB player for a long time.
This trade would help extend Houston’s window for sure.
Tucker would be a great “ get” for the Cubs but it will cost them more than Paredes and Smith. I don’t want to give up Suzuki but Tucker provides no place for Suzuki to play except DH. A platoon of those two doesn’t make any sense.
When I click the link for Pressley, it says his 2025 status is “free agent (mutual option). Why didn’t Brown simply decline his end of the option if they didn’t want to pay him?
If this is all it takes, I’m gonna guffaw hard at all my fellow Yankees fans screaming we can’t giving Luis Gil. Hand planted in face…
Imid love to get this guy, but if the Cubbies pull it off, at least Belli is probably coming to our Yanks. Not bad, now just get Walker.
I said it below, but the Cubs have what the Stros need more tbh. Resigning myself on this one.
I wonder if Suzuki to Houston is a possibility in this trade in some sense. His bat would be a good fit there. Not sure if the Astros want to take on much of his salary.
They must be fairly sure they can trade Bellinger–perhaps there’s already a deal on the table?
Yeah, info came out last night that Yanks and Cubs were making “ progress” toward a deal because the Cubs agreed to eat some of Bellinger’s money. Speculation arose that Cubs were getting close to acquiring Tucker because of this…. Seems to be accurate so far.
The speculation said Will Warren was the piece the Cubs wanted.
This sounds like a Yankee type move… trade some decent prospects for a 1 year rental expecting him to take a team friendly deal.
Anywhere but the Yankee$
This does sound like a Jed (“I gotta win this year or else”) Hoyer deal. The Cubs will only get Tucker for a year but he could be an 6-8 WAR player and might get the team over the hump and into the postseason. The Cubs aren’t far away from a wild card right now with 83 wins and a +67 run diff in 2024. And once you get into the dance, anything can happen (see Rangers, 2023.)
If they could extract some pitching from the Yankees in return for Bellinger things get even better for the club. Don’t know if the deals will happen but they might even make Cubs fans happy…for one year, anyway.
Tucker is a one-year rental. He’d be leaving next year, just like Soto. I’m confused as to why the Cubs would trade for him. I get Yankees, Phillies, desperate win-now teams, but the Cubs giving up a lot for 1-season of Tucker seems dumb.
I really don’t see the trade and extension stuff happening in today’s game with under 30 talented players. Soto changed everything.
Bellinger’s contract leaves the acquirer with a difficult choice. If he performs well, he takes a pile of money and opts out. If he’s mediocre or injured, he takes a bigger pile of money, hopes the second year is his next “pillow” year. The acquiring team has basically no leverage. Unless the Cubs cover some of the cost, almost anything you give to acquire him is too much. He’s not exactly a transcendent player like Soto.
Hope almost always punches you in the face, thx for that life lesson Cashman… again.
So the team with a glut of outfielders at the MLB level, and some ready-for-action prospects in the same position…is going to trade for another OF? Yes, Tucker is excellent, but this is hardly a weakness.
If the Cubs get Tucker and trade Bellinger they cold easily give Suzuki 40-50 starts in the corner outfield slots. Happ and Tucker could DH on those days. Tucker is coming off a serious injury and Happ isn’t getting any younger. The half-days of rest wouldn’t hurt.
Don’t know if the part-time work in the field would make Suzuki completely happy, but it might quiet him down a little.
This trade makes no sense for the Cubs. The trashtros need a 3B and have talked about lowering payroll but the cubs have talked about moving out a big contract too. Doesn’t add up to bring in a rental in that situation
Dana: Hello Jed, how’s the wife & kids? Sorry to hear about that oenny-pinching owner you have there
Jed: Everyone’s doing well and speaking of pinching things, how about that ass on your boy Kyle Tucker? Damn that’s tight!
Dana: Homie don’t play that Jed!
Jed: Oh I’m sorry. I just wanted to discuss Tucker so that our fans can think I’m actually gonna trade for him.
Dana: I feel you man.
Jed: Would you like to?
Dana: (hangs up abruptly)
I think you need a rewrite.
Tucker is represented by the same agency as Swanson and Happ, so maybe there is enough of a connection there to get an extension done. The ability of the Cubs to secure an extension would be heavily factored into what they would be willing to give up in a trade. They (nor any other team) is going to sell the house for a rental player, regardless of how talented the player is. Smart teams just don’t do that anymore.
No extension gets done. Those days are over. This dude will absolutely be a FA next season.
Why aren’t the Astros asking for Busch and Cam Smith for Tucker they are undervaluing him in the trade offer
It has to be because he is one season rental, that always drops his value. Paredes will have more years of control and Cam Smith has 7 years of control. The Cubs already paid Smith a 5 million bonus, which has to be factored into the equation.
Who would replace Tucker in right field? Then what is Houston priority in getting Paredes, have him as a 3rd baseman or play him at first. Do the Astros resign Bregman, or do they sign Walker? They won’t sign both, sounds like this owner is more worried about the tax then putting a playoff team on the field at this time.
The Astros do not have to trade Tucker, but if someone makes it worth their while then they will pull the trigger. They won’t give him up for Paredes and a low level prospect, Paredes plus Cam Smith and another piece like Suzuki or an outfielder like Alcantara or Caissie for Tucker and some prospects back from the Astros end like a pitcher prospect
They’re losing him next year anyway. So while they don’t have to trade Tucker, it would be foolish to let him go for free.
The Cubs really don’t need anything back, except for Tucker. The Cubs probably want to ooen spots on their 40 man roster to allow for further flexibility with subsequent trades. I often forget that having a 40-man roster limit for all MLB Teams helps in a slight marginal way of keeping some competitive balance. It forces the hand of teams by making them pass players through waivers instead of allowing teams to stockpile talent without restrictions. Obviously, in certain situations it can also protect teams with higher salaries to shuffle players off the 40-man without losing players because their salaries are too expensive to be absorbed by small market teams due to budgetary reztraints.
Right, but I don’t understand how giving up a bunch of pieces for 1 season of Tucker helps the Cubs at all. If you’re losing the piece you traded for anyway, why not look elsewhere?
Cubs fans are all over this: “Please Astros Management, do something this stupid and continue so for a very long time.
Would’ve been nice if they finished the Contreras/Urquidy swap in ‘23
Cubs have an opportunity to walk away with Tucker and Cease if they play this correctly.
If they can satisfy Astro demands w/out including Seiya, Preller is salivating on a package that will send Suzuki (perhaps prospects) to SD for Cease.
A key here is that Wolfe is Roki Sasaki and Seiya’s agent. Friedman and Dodgers have got to be taking notice. Seiya for 2 years is most likely preferable to 3 years for Teo.
This would be the best gift for Cubs fans this holiday season. If I were a Cubs fan I would be salivating and daydreaming for this possibility to come to fruition. They would still have one of the better farm systems in the league. If the Cubs get both of these players and Paredes is involved, I will then believe that the Paredes trade last season was genius and it becomes the trade that ignites their team back to perennial playoff convention for the next 5 years, at the very least, especially if they hold on to Cease and Tucker. None of this makes any sense unless they retain both of them.
does and gil and rice beat this offer? probably depends on how the astros view rice. reports indicate they love gil but that may be gamesmanship to up the cubs offer. yankees have a greater need for tucker imo. they’re racing the clock on the judge/cole window. tucker would also benefit from playing in ys.
It doesn’t beat that offer. Gil is back of the rotation starter. Astros have plenty of mid to back end starters.
what if they magically transformed rice into a right-handed pull hitter?
Why not wait for Bregman to sign elsewhere first? Once his bat is off the board, the market for Tucker should expand and his value should increase. If you’re going to trade him, get max value
Not enough of a return. The stros to get back additional prospects, Shaw, Horton or Rojas should be included as well. Heck, I’d take 3 top tier prospects over Parades. We have a similar high k options already on the payroll.
They don’t want to pay the salary (somewhere around 27-28 $ million including a player option for next season). The Stros are probably talking with Bregman’s camp about the trade possibility, so they can have him wait until the deal is official. They can use the money they will save from having to resign Tucker in order to pay Bregman. Picking up Paredes gives the Stros positional flexibility. They are trying to hard to also address first base after releasing Pena. I think the Stros still need a Lefthanded bat once they lose Tucker. The Astros can be really tough to beat when Tucker and Alvarez are in the lineup together. I never understood why they never separate the two in the lineup with a righthand bat.
Shaw, Smith and Wicks for Tucker
If that’s all it takes and I’m the Mets, I’m picking up the phone.
Smith is one of the best prospects in baseball. Mets have no one comparable.
Smith is ranked 73. The Mets have a couple of players ranked ahead of him. He’s not even the Cubs top prospect.
You overhype him.
If the Tucker trade goes through, I think this trade will have an even greater impact than the Crochet trade because of the division the Cubs play in. If the Cubs can pull off a trade for Dylan Cease and can sign him to a long term contract the Cubs will find themselves in rarified air because of their lineup and their rotation. They would have the players to win a playoff, especially a 5 game playoff. If the Padres trade Cease, who becomes their ace? Michael King? Don’t forget they lost their ace, Joe Musgrove, in game one of last season’s NL Championship series. With the Dodgers signing Snell and having Ohtani the pitcher next season, how can the Padres get to the world series, especially with the rest of the National League’s pitching FA additions? You could even debate the fact that even the Pirates will have a better rotation than the Friars, especially if they trade away Cease. This would be a dumb move by the Padres. Also, who is going to replace Profar’s bat in the lineup?
C’mon Cubbies…get ‘er done
Tucker deal is done. Preller would love to replace Profar with Seiya. Cubs just need to pony up the right prospects to go with him and Cease is a Cub!
@nor
I don’t think cease wants to go back to the cubs
I like Tucker a lot, and he’s high on my roto list. But I don’t get this for the Cubs. You already have to trade Belli, so now you will have to trade Belli & Suzuki?
And how much of an improvement is Tucker? He is bWAR 5.5 v Suzuki’s ~ 3.5? So you pick up 2 WAR, eat some salary, and give up players/prospects?
I think Tucker is a large improvement. But yeah they have to make 2 more trades now it seems.
Suzuki isn’t going anywhere. He can pout all he wants. He’s a DH and a spot starter in right field.
They don’t have to trade Suzuki though Seiya may not be happy about being the DH a lot.
Cortes & durbin for devin, now paredes & cam smith for kyle tucker? Are gm’s losing their minds with these 1 sided moves?
Wonder if this is holding up a Bellinger trade.
Nice get for the Cubs but its tough not having an extension. Seems like itd be better to just keep Bellinger cuz this would be an all-in type season with only one year of control.
As a NYY fan I’m resigning from this one. I think the Cubs have what Houston needs, not one but two Bregman replacements.
I know it’s already been suggested, but if they trade Cam Smith for third place and a year of Kyle Tucker, Hoyer needs to be castrated and shipped to Thailand before the ink is dry.
The Cubs are going for it!
They better ask for permission to negotiate an extension for Tucker BEFORE they agree to this trade. Cuz if they lose him next off-season this might be an all-timer in the most desperate trade category.
If that is all it took to land Tucker…well, enough said as I shake my head.
It’s one year of Tucker and that rumored return is enormous.
Bellinger is probably on his way out the door. We know the Yankees are interested and the Rangers are also looking for a LH bat. Paredes might mean the Bregman era in Houston is over
I think Paredes guarantees the Bregman era in Houston is over.
Giving up a top prospect for one year of control in a year where the cubs are still unlikely to make the playoffs is yet another example of why Hoyer needs to be fired. Save your players and try and sign him in the offseason if you want him. He’s already said he’s gonna test free agency
Aloha folks, sorry not excited about this move. Giving up current 3rd baseman and future 3rd baseman plus another player for 1 year of Tucker?! Jed is desperate. If this happens big win for Houston and loss for the Cubs. We’ll see what happens. Mahalo
I think it makes some sense for the Cubs to go for it a bit. But they are supposed to be trading away an outfielder now they got another one. I guess i will wait until all the details are announced.
Does everyone see this as the Astros taking a step back and choosing not to be as competitive in 2025? I cannot help but feel this way if they are trading one of the best players in MLB in K. Tucker and ,most likely losing Bregman, that this seems like the direction. they may be headed. As a Mariner’s fan I am not bummed one bit but if they are, I don’t understand why they would choose this course. You have a good pitching staff and Altuve, Tucker, Pena, Diaz, and Alvarez as your core hitters. That is strong.
They are screwed either way. The Astros had a good run and have nothing to be ashamed of(except cheating of course). But it’s time to take a step back.
One year of Tucker, what are you doing Hoyer?
OMG Cashman can’t multitask after getting Williams. Go get Bellinger now!!!!
You’ll be happier in a year when they sign Tucker after his one-and-done season. A reverse Soto.
Aloha Jiggs, I’m with you! Sick of this, Jed hadn’t done anything in his term, big deal wise, then in his last year of his contract he wants to trade our current 3rd baseman under control and our future 3rd baseman and his 6yrs of control away, for 1 year of Tucker?! No way the Ricketts pay him $400+ to stick around. Meanwhile after next year: No Paredes, no Cam Smith and no Tucker. Jed needs to be fired, sorry for saying that. He has no vision, short slighted. Let’s hope for the best. Mahalo!
Why are the Reds not trying everything in their power to best Chicago’s offer and get Tucker for themselves? Doesn’t he fit exactly what they keep saying they are looking for in an upgrade in the outfield? Are Bob and Nick asleep? Somebody wake their asses up!
This is the third offseason they have been asleep now.
Tito is gonna say “I came back for this?”
I think acquiring a star player in his walk year is a questionable move. Give up a lot for one season where anything could happen. Not a great strategy for a small market club. At least the Cubs COULD re-sign him if properly motivated and he enjoys playing there.
Small market by choice. Cubbies are top 5 in estimated annual revenue.
Some might argue those are the guys to get as they have an incentive to play well and get paid. Especially if you deal from your excess. Depends on your perspective.
It would be stupid for the Reds to be trying to beat the Cubs offer. The Reds won’t give him 400-500 million to keep him after next year, the Cubs feasibly might. I’m all for usin*prospects to make trades to make the Reds better but don’t waste them for a guy you’re only going to get one year out of. I would love to have seen Tucker in a Reds uniform but the cost would be too damn much for one year.
How many more years of these kids window do you want to waste? Two are gone already. Stephenson starts the breakup in two years, if not before then.
Remember the India.
Really hope that third piece is noteworthy. Hate seeing Tucker get traded for little
Cam Smith is one of the best position player prospects in baseball.
Really? Well that’s good. I’m not to familiar with Paredes. I’m just a big Tucker fan
Dave Dombrowski is not impressed.
Wait until he signs Austin Hays back or brings in a Randal Grichuk. These MLB fools trading for fulltime players when you can just sign two guys to play a position.
Had a feeling Wesneski might be involved here. TX kid that hasn’t been able to establish himself in Chicago but great arm. Cubs can’t figure out how to use him. Will probably go elsewhere and be solid if given a set role.
The Astros are good at elevating pitchers.
Gee, thanks Chicago for rebuilding the Astros with a trade and keeping their evil empire alive !
Cubs are fleecing
Suzuki to Dodgers. Bye Teo. He’ll be in Boston by the end of the week.
What? Hell nah
Way too much for a year of Tucker.
crap
yankees just didn’t have the pieces to match that deal. the line-up is going to be ugly next season
They’re still adding. The Yankees will win more games in 2025 than they did in 2024.
lol
i like it! i’m going to adopt your positive attitude
Cam Smith should be off the table.
Issac, Cam Smith, and Wesneski is crap return. I have to believe they could get better
One year later, 5 games over .500 and no Cam Smith.
The Cubs should own that division every year. Low revenue small market division and the only team that could compete on a revenue basis, the redbirds are withering on the vine.
Ah, right… Wrigley, vines, winter, withering. Okay player, well played.
Get. It. Done. This is the impact bat this team desperately needs.
EDIT- deal is done!! Passan official!! LFG!
It doesn’t make much sense for the Cubs to make this deal, unless they are willing and able to extend Tucker, and unless they have a deal in the works for Bellinger.
You have to be smart, so trading makers sense, You can always bid if desired when he’s a F.A.
“Meanwhile” has to START the sentence. It’s not supposed to come in the middle, separated by commas. And there should not be a comma before “too.”