Inevitable. Whatever you may think of the deal that sent Astros star right fielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs for three players including Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski, the writing was on the wall earlier this week when GM Dana Brown said everything was on the table, including a trade of Tucker.
On Friday, the deal came through that sent the left-handed outfielder to the Cubs with just one season remaining before his impending free agency. Now, the Astros will move forward in the aftermath. Here are some thoughts.
Juan Soto’s deal turbocharged this decision.
If it wasn’t already painfully obvious to Jim Crane and Brown that Tucker would eventually demand a deal higher than anything they would ever offer, Soto getting 15 years and three-quarters of a billion dollars hammered that home. The Astros are a team that winces if they have to give deals longer than three or four years. And, certainly, pinning an annual value of $50 million on one player when their entire payroll is between four and five times that was out of question.
The Astros weren’t wrong to make this move, something they’ve not done previously.
For fans, this sucks. Plain and simple. But, the Astros weren’t wrong. They allowed both George Springer and Carlos Correa to reach free agency and walk without making a move. Alex Bregman is next though this may help them retain him (more on that shortly). This time, they were proactive, especially given where they are in their needs at the infield corners. Instead of letting Tucker walk, they got two young players and a solid swingman pitcher. We don’t know if it is the best deal they could get, but it is better than watching another Astro leave for nothing in return.
Paredes gives them flexibility in Bregman talks.
This does give them the flexibility to sign Bregman financially if they can come to an agreement, but it also gives them options. Paredes mainly plays third, but he can play first as well. If Bregman returns, the Astros have their everyday first baseman. If not, they can fill the hole at first without worrying about the hot corner. And this is unlikely to be the last move they make this offseason. Acquiring talent in the outfield and in the rotation are still on the wish list. This deal just frees them up to make moves without the pressure of having to find someone to fill spots they needed filled.
Cam Smith could be the best player in the deal in a few years.
Instantly, Smith becomes their best minor leaguer. He is ranked 73rd on MLB’s top 100 prospects list and he’s only 21 years old. With legit power from the right side, he has become a solid defender at third base. If he can make it to Sugar Land by the end of 2025, could he potentially be the Astros 2026 starter at third with Paredes moving to first? Smith has improved dramatically since college and seems to be on the fast track. He immediately improves an Astros farm system they are desperately trying to rebuild.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
