The week began with Houston Astros GM Dana Brown saying he was open to listening to offers for star outfielder Kyle Tucker. The week could end with Tucker becoming the newest star for the Chicago Cubs.
According to Jose de Jesus Ortiz, the Cubs remain favorites to trade for Tucker. Not only that, but the baseball reporter added that it wouldn't be a surprise if Tucker is traded within the next 48 hours. Ortiz reiterated that the New York Yankees are still in the mix, but as has been reported previously, the Cubs are seen as the primary landing spot for Tucker.
According to AL folks I trust, it will be a surprise if the Astros don’t trade Kyle Tucker within 48 hours. The Cubs appear like clear favorites. Until a deal is done, keep an eye on the Yankees, but Cubs were better positioned.
— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) December 12, 2024
Still waiting on other sources to call back.
The Astros have been pushing hard for a big return in trade talks with the Cubs. Houston is asking for third baseman Isaac Paredes, RF/DH Seiya Suzuki and an additional prospect. Matt Shaw and Cam Smith, Chicago's first-round picks from 2023 and 2024, respectively, have been mentioned in trade rumors since it became evident that the Cubs were seriously pursuing a trade for Tucker.
However, as much as the Astros may be looking to cash in on a big return, it is unlikely that Shaw, the Cubs' top prospect, will be traded. Also, the Cubs have pushed against the idea of trading Suzuki. Even as Suzuki's name has been tossed around in trade rumors, reporters have repeatedly said he is not expected to be traded.
The Cubs have also been working on completing a trade with the Yankees involving Cody Bellinger.
We'll see if the Cubs eventually budge or if the Astros are the ones to ease off on their demands, but a Kyle Tucker trade now seems more likely to happen than not.
This could go down as Jed Hoyer's most important trade running the Cubs. We'll see what happens in the next 48 hours.
Cubs, Astros Exchange Names
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Houston Astros are targeting Chicago Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes and right fielder/DH Seiya Suzuki in trade talks for star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Rosenthal says a trade between both teams would also include prospects going to the Astros. Houston is believed to have interest in Cubs third base prospect Cam Smith, Chicago's first round pick in 2024. However, one big hurdle early in these trade discussions is that the Cubs do not seem willing to trade Seiya and would rather deal Cody Bellinger this offseason.
Via The Athletic.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and corner infielder Isaac Paredes are two players the Houston Astros are targeting in a possible trade for right fielder Kyle Tucker, sources briefed on the discussions told The Athletic on Wednesday.
Talks are fluid, and the teams have exchanged a variety of names. Any Cubs package for Tucker, 27, likely would include prospects as well. Third baseman Cam Smith, Chicago’s first-round pick in 2024, is another player in whom the Astros are interested.
A league source said that the Cubs are highly unlikely to move him, and they seemingly prefer to deal first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger in a separate trade.
Will the Cubs ultimately budge on Suzuki? The right-handed hitter's agent revealed to the media on Tuesday that Jed Hoyer has informed Suzuki what teams have been interested in trading for him. Wolfe said that Suzuki would consider waiving his no-trade clause, but also added that he did not believe the Cubs would trade Suzuki this offseason.
This has moved fast because it was less than two days ago, when Astros GM Dana Brown first said the team would listen on any trade offers for Tucker. Now, the Astros and Cubs are in talks, exchanging ideas and trying to make a trade work.
If the Cubs and Astros do end up making this trade happen, then you'd have to imagine that Matt Shaw is beginning the 2025 season as the Cubs' third baseman with Paredes in Houston. That's a lot of trust in Shaw, who only started getting regular playing time at third base in 2024, but his bat may be good enough that he simply has to be average at the hot corner.
I guess the biggest remains Suzuki. There was the trade talk on Tuesday, but it really did seem like the Cubs were genuine in not actually wanting to trade him. Suzuki has been the team's best hitter the past two years after all.
Cubs GM Carter Hawkins: "We don't want to trade Seiya but, look, as (Joel Wolfe) talked about there's people interested in great players and so if teams come asking those are at least conversations that we're willing to have, but I really don't think much is going to come of it." https://t.co/UbfINDMjs0
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) December 10, 2024
Suzuki is owed $38 million over the next two years. Meanwhile, Bellinger is owed $52.5 million over the next two years if he ends up opting back into the final year of his deal for the 2026 season. Is there another path here, where Bellinger is included in the trade and the Cubs take back Astros' reliever Ryan Pressly? The 35-year-old pitcher is set to earn $14 million in 2025.
And remember, as much as the Cubs are trying to move pieces to create more space in payroll, the Astros have also been trying to shed salary this offseason.
Folks, this is exciting. Can the Cubs finally make a trade for a star?
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