HOUSTON — The Houston Astros traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Tucker, 27, has been a mainstay in the Houston lineup since he debuted in 2018. He has been named to the last three All-Star games and also finished in the top 20 in MVP voting in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He has also earned a Gold Glove in 2022 and a Silver Slugger in 2022.
The Astros sent Tucker to the Cubs in exchange for Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski.
Tucker is set to become a free agent after the upcoming season.
In 2024, Tucker's production was limited due to a lingering leg injury. He only played in 78 games after playing in at least 140 games in the previous three seasons.
Tucker, who turns 28 on Jan. 17, joins a crowded situation in Chicago's outfield, but the Cubs are reportedly looking to trade Cody Bellinger. They also have talked to Seiya Suzuki's agent about the outfielder's no-trade clause.
Wesneski, 27, has started 22 games in his three-year MLB career. The righty holds a 3.93 ERA in 190 innings. He has also appeared as a reliever 46 times in his career. Wesneski was born in Houston, went to high school at Cy-Fair and went to college at Sam Houston State University. according to his MLB.com bio.
Paredes, 25, debuted in 2020 and is set to become a free agent in 2028. He has played all four infield positions in his career but has mostly started at third base. Paredes is an option for Houston at third base if Alex Bregman departs in free agency. The 25-year-old Paredes hit .238 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 153 games last year. He made the AL All-Star team with Tampa Bay and then was traded to Chicago in July.
Smith, 21, is listed as the Cubs' seventh-best prospect, according to MLB.com. He hits right-handed and is listed as a third-baseman. He was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 draft.