The Houston Astros have reportedly acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros for a trio of players led by infielder Isaac Paredes, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith.  Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported that the Tucker deal was done while Chandler Rome of The Athletic noted the full package was done, pending medicals.

Tucker, 27, recently arose as a trade candidate as the Astros continue to shuffle their roster and as the slugging outfielder is entering his final year of team control would likely command mega deal that didn’t seem feasible for Astros ownership. Since being drafted fifth overall in 2015 and making his big league debut in 2018, Tucker fully emerged as a top young talent during the 2020 season.

Over the past four seasons (2021-2024) 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 when healthy he turned in a .289/.408/.585 slash with 23 homers and a 16.5% walk rate in 78 games. He was on pace to have a more productive season than Juan Soto who just signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.

The move appears to be a turn for the Cubs, who had been rumored to be considering moving outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger, to follow through in their efforts to trade one or both players to shave payroll. Tucker is projected to earn about $16 million in his final year of arbitration while Bellinger is owed a $27.5 million salary next season and has a $25 million player option with a $5 million buyout for the 2026 season. Suzuki on the other hand has two years left on his five-year, $85 million contract and will earn $18 million in each of the next two seasons. It may also be a ploy by the Cubs to inspire one or both of these players to waive their full no-trade clauses to find a more favorable destination.

Tucker is a three-time All-Star, one-time Silver Slugger, and won a Gold Glove in 2022. He has proven a quite capable right fielder, owning 39 Defensive Runs Saved with 6 Outs Above Average and 9 Fielding Run Value. He’s received positive marks for his range and his arm and is a welcome addition to any outfield. The Cubs may be mostly motivated financially to acquire a player of his caliber for one year to inspire the offloading of two other contracts, but he still helps compliment an outfield with Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong while also providing an occasional DH.

The Astros on the other hand look to be moving in a different direction after failing to reach the ALCS for the first time since 2018. Owner Jim Crane has oft been hesitant to spend big on most contracts and with the current free agency of Alex Bregman appearing to not fall in favor of Houston, the Astros are acting to save money and get some worth out of one of their top players.

Paredes immediately fills a need at both corner infield positions depending on how things turn out. The Astros have struggled to fill first base since the fateful signing of Jose Abreu and clearly needed an upgrade at the position. This is the second time Paredes has been traded in 2024 after heading to the Cubs from Tampa Bay in the summer.

After bursting onto the season in 2022 with 20 home runs, in 2023 he hit .250/.342/.488 with 31 homers and looked to be on his way to similar production in 2024 when he hit .245/.357/.435 with the Rays before the trade. However, the move didn’t prove fruitful as he slashed .223/.305/.307 with three home runs in 212 plate appearances.

His infield versatility will certainly prove useful for the Astros and while he’s not considered a top-notch defender, he should handle either corner position well enough. It will mostly be his bat that will prove most useful should he return to form from his second half in 2024. Paredes is a proven slugger but also features a strong 11.2% walk rate over the past three seasons against a 17.3% strikeout rate that’s about five percentage points lower than average. He’s projected to earn $6.9 million in 2025 and is under club control through the 2027 season which makes him a valuable return. Additionally, his splits against righties and lefties are both solid. His extreme-pull profile will fit nicely in Houston’s ballpark thanks to the shorter porch.

The addition of top prospect Smith could be a backup plan in the long term for the Astros should they fail to re-sign Bregman. Due to Bregman’s asking price of over $200 million, the Astros have done their due diligence but may be hedging the bet to keep their options open down the line. Smith was selected 14th overall this year and quickly moved through the minors, reaching Double-A. He slashed .313/.396/.609 slash in 134 plate appearances with seven home runs in just 32 games. Should his production continue it’s not out of the question he could make his debut in 2025.

The addition of Hayden Wesneski could also point toward some changes coming to the Astros pitching staff. Drafted in the sixth round by the Yankees in 2019, Wesneski made his big league debut with the Cubs in 2022 following a trade in August. Mostly a starter in the minors, Weskneski has had quality success splitting time between the bullpen the occasional starting. In 190 innings in 68 games over three seasons, including 23 starts, Wesneski owns a 3.93 ERA with 183 strikeouts against 60 walks. His league-average strikeout rates and below-league-average walk rates make the 27-year-old right-hander a nice flex piece for the Astros pitching staff. Should the team move Framber Valdez they could look to using Wesneski as a starter full-time or if Ryan Pressley is moved, he can slot into the bullpen as a long or middle reliever to bolster things. In 2024, he posted a 3.86 ERA in 28 appearances.