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The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have agreed to a trade involving outfielder Kyle Tucker on Friday.
The Cubs received the 27-year-old Tucker in exchange for infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported the deal.
Tucker spent his first seven MLB seasons in Houston, slashing .274/.353/.516 with 125 home runs, 417 RBI, 365 runs scored and 94 stolen bases over 633 career games.
After playing sparingly in 2018 and 2019, Tucker became a starter during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and then broke out in a big way in 2021.
Tucker hit .294 with 30 home runs, 92 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 2021, and followed that up by hitting .257 with 30 homers, 107 RBI and 25 steals in 2022, and then hitting .284 with 29 home runs, 112 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 2023.
He finished in the top 20 in American League MVP voting in three straight seasons from 2021 through 2023, including a career-best fifth in 2023. He also won his first Gold Glove Award in 2022 and his first Silver Slugger Award in 2023.
The only thing that kept Tucker from a fourth season in a row of big-time production was a shin injury that cost him three months of action.
When healthy last season, Tucker continued to put up numbers, slashing .289/.408/.585 with 23 homers, 49 RBI, 56 runs and 11 steals in 78 games.
Once it became apparent this offseason that the Astros were open to trading Tucker, it seemed obvious that teams would line up for a chance to acquire him.
In addition to being in his prime, Tucker possesses a rare blend of power, speed and defense, plus he has championship experience, winning a World Series with the Astros in 2022.
The only major risk involved with trading for Tucker is the fact that he is entering the final year of his contract in 2025, so he could prove to be a one-year rental.
Since making the playoffs five times in six seasons from 2015 to 2020, they have now gone four straight campaigns without a postseason berth.
The lack of a superstar hitter in the middle of their lineup is a big reason why, but they have finally filled that need with the acquisition of Tucker, potentially putting them in position to end their drought.
