Cubs trade 3 players to Astros for Kyle Tucker -- landing the superstar hitter their lineup has needed

Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune on Dec 13, 2024

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have landed the superstar hitter their lineup has needed.

The Cubs have acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros for third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and their 2024 first-round pick, third baseman Cam Smith, sources confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.

Tucker, 27, is coming off his third consecutive All-Star appearance after hitting .289 with a .409 on-base percentage, .585 slugging percentage and 181 OPS+ in 78 games.

The left-handed slugging right fielder gives the Cubs a proven, consistent middle of the order hitter they’ve been lacking. Tucker’s addition sets up the Cubs to move Cody Bellinger, with the New York Yankees involved in discussions for the outfielder, sources told the Tribune.

The Cubs paid a hefty price for Tucker, who will be a free agent after the season. But it’s a trade they needed to make, even if Tucker decides to test free agency and not sign a contract extension with the Cubs.

Paredes’ time with the organization proved to be shorter than the Cubs envisioned when they acquired him for Christopher Morel and reliever Hunter Bigge ahead of the July trade deadline. Wesneski was a valuable swing pitcher on the staff this past season, but the Cubs possess the starting pitching depth to handle dealing the Houston native. Smith, 21, climbed three levels in his first taste of pro ball after the Cubs took him at No. 14 overall. He possesses tantalizing power, slugging seven homers in 32 games.

No big league team could exceed the Cubs’ combination of prospects, including eight in the top 100, and big league talent in a trade for Tucker. The Astros and Cubs were ultimately able to match up to swing the biggest acquisition of president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer’s tenure.