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Kyle Tucker (Photo by Kevin M. Cox/Getty Images)
The blockbusters keep rolling in even after the Winter Meetings have come to a close, as the Cubs reportedly acquired all-star Kyle outfielder Tucker from the Astros on Friday for third baseman Isaac Paredes, prospect Cam Smith and righthander Hayden Wesneski.
Speculation suggests this deal could potentially lead to further Cubs trades, including a possible match with the Yankees and Cody Bellinger.
Meanwhile, the Astros add a player whose righthanded pull-hitting skills are perfect for his new home ballpark in Paredes, a prospect who will now rank as the organization’s new No. 1 prospect in Smith and a post-hype sleeper with a feel for spin in Wesneski.
CUBS RECEIVE
Kyle Tucker, OF
Age: 27
The Astros selected Tucker with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Plant (Fla.) HS, and over time he has developed into one of the top outfielders in baseball. Tucker is a three time all-star, a gold glove winner in 2022, a silver slugger award winner in 2023 and a world series champion with Astros in 2022. Tucker hit .289/.408/.585 with 23 home runs over 78 games in 2024 as he missed time with a right shin injury that cost him 79 games. At the age of 27, Tucker is a career .274/.353/.516 hitter with 125 home runs and 94 stolen bases. He enters 2025 in his walk year and is expected to hit the free agent market unless the Cubs can cobble together an extension.
ASTROS RECEIVE
Isaac Paredes, 3B
Age: 25
Paredes is now on his fourth organization in five seasons, as the Cubs acquired Paredes in July. Paredes had a breakout season with the Rays in 2023, hitting .250/.352/.488 with a career-best 31 home runs and 98 RBIs. He was selected as an all-star in 2024 for the first time after hitting 15 home runs over the first half with the Rays. Paredes struggled after the trade to Chicago, where he hit just .223 with three home runs over 52 games. Paredes has strong bat to ball skills with a career 7% swinging strike rate, has excellent feel for the barrel and is adept at pulling the ball in the air. This will likely fit well in his new Minute Maid home park and its famed Crawford Boxes in left field. Paredes had a 45.8% flyball rate in 2024 and a 53.7% pull rate. This could make for a return to his 30-home run form of 2023.
Cam Smith, 3B
Age: 25
Smith was the Cubs’ first round pick in 2024 out of Florida State, signing for a little over $5 million. While Smith was not considered among the elite crop of college hitters in the 2024 class, he was just on the periphery of that group, as the draft-eligible sophomore was a standout in the 2023 Cape Cod League and his sophomore season with the Seminoles. Smith’s post-draft debut was arguably the best of any player in the 2024 class, as he reached Double-A and hit .313/.396/.609 with seven home runs across all levels. Smith stands 6-foot-3, 224 pounds and is a well above-average athlete. His athleticism has not yet translated to ability in the field, however, and there are lingering questions around his defense. Smith is an outstanding combination of power, bat-to-ball skills and approach, and he could develop into a well above-average hitter in the future.
Hayden Wesneski, RHP
Age: 27
The Cubs acquired Wesneski in the Scott Effross trade with the Yankees at the 2022 deadline. Wesneski has spent parts of three seasons with the Cubs since 2022, including time as both a starter and reliever. On the heels of a strong debut in 2022, many believed Wesneski would emerge as a member of the Cubs rotation in 2023, but he struggled out the gate. Since then, he’s been up and down from the minors before eventually settling into the Cubs bullpen in 2024. Wesneski’s primary pitch is a low-80s slider that he throws over 40% of the time. He mixes it with a four-seam fastball at 94-95 mph, a sinker at 93-94, a high-80s cutter and a changeup.
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