The Chicago Cubs had been sleepwalking through a relatively quiet offseason until Friday’s blockbuster deal which saw the North Siders acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.
Heading back the other was is infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith (the club’s 14th overall selection). While the price tag was steep, it could have been even higher had Tucker featured additional term on his contract. However, the 27 year old will essentially get to feel out his new club for a season before needing to make a commitment as a free agent following the 2025 campaign.
Across 78 games for Houston in 2024, Tucker hit 23 HRs, drove in 49 RBIs, and scored another 56 times himself. The 6’4″ outfielder has also shown some skills on the base paths as well, having swiped 25+ bases in both 2022 and 2023. His .289 average, .408 OBP, .993 OPS and 4.7 WAR made him an intriguing addition for several clubs this offseason when rumours of his availability began to surface following the 2024 campaign.
Models predict that Tucker is likely to earn around $18M in 2025 via the arbitration process, and is likely to become the Cubs everyday right fielder. Seiya Suzuki will likely shift over to DH, but could get juggled around depending on what ultimately happens with Cody Bellinger in the coming weeks.
With Tucker sent packing, Houston could be facing even more turnover with Alex Bregman likely on his way out of town as well. The two hitters had been teammates since 2018, with the Astros ultimately winning the World Series in 2022 as the two played pivotal roles in the championship run.
In a separate deal Friday, the Cubs agreed to a two-year contract with catcher Carson Kelly. The deal is believed to be for $11.5 million total, and will include a mutual option for 2027.
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