CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs made a major move on Friday, acquiring All-Star outfielder from the Houston Astros in exchange for a significant haul. In return, the Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski, and top infield prospect Cam Smith to Houston. Tucker, one of the game’s premier hitters, is under contract through the 2025 season.
Despite being limited to 78 games this season due to a fractured right shin, Tucker still posted impressive numbers, hitting .289 with 23 home runs and 49 RBIs for the AL West champion Astros. In 2023, he hit .284 with 29 home runs, an AL-leading 112 RBIs, and 30 steals. Tucker, who turns 28 on January 17, joins a crowded Cubs outfield, and reports suggest the team may look to trade Cody Bellinger, who can also play first base. Additionally, the Cubs have discussed outfielder Seiya Suzuki’s no-trade clause with his agent.
After finishing second in the NL Central with an 83-79 record for two consecutive seasons, pressure is mounting on Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Later on Friday, the Cubs announced the signing of catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year, $11.5 million deal. The Chicago native split time between Detroit and Texas this year, hitting .238 with nine homers and 37 RBIs across 91 games.
The New York Yankees were also reportedly in pursuit of Tucker, but the Astros ultimately struck a deal with the Cubs. Yankees GM Brian Cashman expressed relief that Tucker ended up in the National League. “I’m glad Mr. Tucker isn’t in the AL East—or the American League at all. But it’s a huge addition for the Cubs,” Cashman said.
The Astros could turn to Paredes at third base if Alex Bregman departs in free agency. Paredes, 25, batted .238 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs across 153 games this season. An AL All-Star with Tampa Bay before being traded to Chicago in July, Paredes is known for his pull power and is eager to play at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. “It’s a beautiful stadium that suits my hitting style,” he said through a translator.
Meanwhile, Astros GM Dana Brown indicated that a reunion with Bregman remains possible. “Alex Bregman’s status hasn’t changed,” Brown said.
Wesneski, a 27-year-old Houston native and Sam Houston State alumnus, is set to compete for a rotation spot with the Astros. This season, he went 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 28 appearances, including seven starts. Reflecting on the trade, Wesneski called it a “dream come true.”
The Astros are betting on Paredes, Wesneski, and Smith to keep their competitive streak alive, even after being swept by Detroit in this year’s Wild Card round. “This move strengthens our future without losing ground in the present,” Brown said.
Cam Smith, a 21-year-old infield prospect, was a key piece of the deal. The Cubs’ 14th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Florida State, Smith hit .313 with seven homers and 24 RBIs across three minor-league levels, finishing the season at Double-A Knoxville. “He’s a powerful college bat with athleticism and upside,” Brown said.
Kyle Tucker, the fifth overall pick in 2015, has been a standout for Houston since debuting in 2018. He emerged as an elite player in 2021, hitting a career-best .294 with 30 homers and 92 RBIs. Tucker has won a Gold Glove and compiled a .274 career average with 125 homers, 417 RBIs, and an .869 OPS over 633 games—all with Houston.
For the Cubs, Tucker’s arrival adds firepower to their lineup, but the team also addressed a need behind the plate with Kelly’s signing. His two-year deal includes $5 million per season, a $7.5 million mutual option for 2027, and potential performance bonuses. He joins Miguel Amaya and Matt Thaiss, who was acquired from the Angels in November, to bolster the Cubs’ catching depth.
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