Cubs add a big bat, acquire Kyle Tucker

Consistently fielding a team that plays .500 baseball might be enough for some franchises, but after reigniting a passionate fanbase with their World Series run in 2016 more is expected from the Chicago Cubs. There’s a desire to win again soon. Ownership, however, has seemed reluctant to make the big move to push the team over that bump.

Finding a big name to add to the lineup appeared to be the priority this winter.

It’s just a matter of where they might play considering the club’s lineup doesn’t have many obvious holes to be upgraded aside from maybe behind the plate.

Chicago accomplished the first part of their goal on Friday, taking advantage of a Houston team determined to trim payroll, acquiring one of the best outfield bats in the major leagues in Kyle Tucker.

Right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and a pair of third basemen, Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith, were traded to the Houston Astros in the deal.

Tucker, who turns 28 in January, has spent his entire career with the Astros after the club selected him 5th overall in the 2015 Draft out of high school. He’d debut midway through the 2018 season and would be a regular in the Houston lineup by 2020.

Despite missing time due to a fractured shin (he only appeared in 78 games and saw 339 plate appearances), Tucker batted .289/.408/.585 last season with 23 home runs, 49 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and more walks (56) than strikeouts (54). Collectively, that’s a 4.7 bWAR season. No player on the 2024 Cubs posted such a mark.

The three-time All-Star, who won a Gold Glove for his work in right field in 2022, will likely be the most sought-after bat on the free agent market following the 2025 season.

Up until recently, it didn’t seem likely that Houston was actively looking to move Tucker but reports started suggesting that the Astros were looking for ways to cut payroll. Without many obvious contracts to get off the books, speculation turned to whether the club would move one of their impending free agents, Tucker or left-handed starter Framber Valdez.

Rumors focused on Tucker being the one being shopped. Once Juan Soto’s agreement with the Mets became public on Sunday, teams reportedly shifted their focus to Tucker.

Adding an outfielder hardly seemed likely for Chicago entering the offseason. Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong appeared locked into two spots, barring something extreme happening. Seiya Suzuki finished the season as the team’s primary designated hitter but openly expressed his desire to play the outfield again. Alexander Canario and Kevin Alcántara provided depth. The team also added their #2 prospect Owen Caissie to the 40-man roster after showing that he’s likely MLB-ready at Triple-A last season.

That picture became even murkier when Cody Bellinger elected not to opt out of his contract in favor of free agency.

Chicago has been actively looking to move someone from this group, with most talks centered around Bellinger and Suzuki. The pair would be the most likely trade candidates, given their contracts. Bellinger is due $52.5M over the next two seasons, though he can opt-out in favor of free agency next winter. Suzuki is due $38M over the same period. Bellinger has always been the more likely of the two to be moved.

With Tucker’s addition, it’s nearly certain another deal will follow soon. It’s also more likely Caissie sees more time back at Triple-A unless he has a spectacular spring training. There’s no need for the Cubs to rush him.

Meanwhile, losing Paredes (who Chicago had just acquired last summer from Tampa Bay) might appear to create a hole for the Cubs but it actually may create an opportunity for the Cubs’ #1 prospect Matt Shaw to step into the lineup. The 23-year-old who they drafted 13th overall in 2023 has sped through the minor leagues, reaching Triple-A this past season, before starring for USA Baseball in the Premier12 Tournament in November.

Houston’s return is somewhat tactical and almost certainly signals that they don’t expect to re-sign Alex Bregman. There are definitely cost savings involved though.

Tucker is projected to earn $15.8M in 2025, while Paredes is at $6.9M. Neither figure is final until arbitration hearings are held in January. Still, that likely frees up roughly $7M for an Astros team with other holes to address.

Paredes may turn out to be a good addition to the Houston lineup if the more analytically-minded members of the media are to be believed (many of whom think the return for Tucker overall is light). Specifically, Paredes’s tendencies to hit for power down the foul lines have been highlighted and the short wall in left field at Houston’s now-called Daikin Park should benefit him.

Paredes is a .238/.333/.422 hitter over his five-year career and has played everywhere in the infield aside from shortstop. He’ll be 26 in February.

Wesneski provides Houston with added pitching depth. The Houston native was a 9th-round pick by the Yankees in the 2019 Draft and traded to the Cubs in 2022 for Scott Effross. He has bounced between the rotation and bullpen for Chicago (and their Triple-A affiliate) the last three seasons, pitching 190 IP in the majors with a 3.93 ERA and 1.168 WHIP.

The real prize in the deal for Houston may ultimately be Smith, who instantly becomes their top prospect.

Chicago selected Smith 14th overall in last summer’s draft out of FSU. The strong-armed defender split time across three levels in his first pro season, including a handful of games at Double-A late in the year. Collectively, he hit .313/.396/.609 over 134 plate appearances.

Chicago has added a big piece in Tucker, accomplishing one need while possibly creating another. Bellinger will surely be moved (perhaps soon; potentially to the Yankees) which will help clarify how the Cubs might line up their roster.

Tucker, meanwhile, moves from Houston to Chicago where he’ll play out his final season before free agency in one of baseball’s most historic ballparks. The Astros may have reached the postseason eight straight years, but playing for the Cubs is a bigger market.

Houston found the financial wiggle room it needed, but the overall return is somewhat underwhelming. Parades will face a lot of pressure to hit better than the .223/.325/.307 line he posted for the Cubs after they acquired him last summer.