DID THEY GET ENOUGH?
Evaluating the Astros’ haul in the Kyle Tucker trade
Dec 13, 2024, 2:14 pm
Kyle Tucker is heading to the Cubs. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images.
According to multiple reports, Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker has been traded to the Cubs. It appears that the Juan Soto contract added to growing concern that the club would not be able to reach agreement with Tucker long-term.
In return for Tucker, the Astros receiver infielder Isaac Parades, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and 3rd base prospect Cam Smith.
Kyle Tucker to the Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith is done, pending medicals, sources tell @TheAthletic
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 13, 2024
Parades can play both 3rd and 1st base, but his best position is 3rd, per Chandler Rome. Parades is 25 years old and hit .238 last season with 19 home runs and was an All-Star. His best season was in 2023, he blasted 31 dingers and had an OPS of .840.
He will be a free agent in 2028 and is a perfect fit for the Crawford Boxes, as he's a pull hitter.
Only two players in MLB had a higher pull rate than Isaac Paredes in 2024: Jose Altuve and Rhys Hoskins. His swing is made for the Crawford Boxes.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 12, 2024
Chandler Rome recently reported that Wesneski is a pitcher that "very much intrigued the Astros." He pitched out of the bullpen and started seven games for the Cubs last year, posting a 3.86 ERA over 67.2 innings. He also spent some time pitching for Triple A in 2024. Wesneski went to Cy-Fair high school in Houston, and is under team control for the next several years.
Smith is a 3rd base prospect that was drafted 14th overall out of Florida State in the 2024 draft. He hit .313 overall in three different levels of the minors last season.
That Cubs' MLB Pipeline #7 prospect immediately becomes Astros #1 sums up sorry state of the Astros' system (Cubs' system is good at least).
Paredes is legit 3B (offensively as good as Breg over last 2 years) and will make maybe 3 mil in '25.
Good day for Mariners/Rangers fans.
— Charlie Pallilo (@Pallilo) December 13, 2024
In this episode, we break down the decision to bring rookie Cam Smith up to the Houston Astros big league roster — just 96 plate appearances into his major league journey.
Was it the right call, or a move made out of desperation due to the early-season outfield situation? We dive into the context of the Kyle Tucker trade, the uncertainty surrounding the outfield to start the year, and whether Cam Smith was truly ready — or if the Astros may have rushed a top prospect before he was fully developed.
Don't miss the video below as ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank break it all down!