Kyle Tucker seems like the type of player a contending team like the Astros would want to sign to a long-term contract.
The 27-year-old outfielder, who is entering his four-ball year, hits with power and average, gets on base, and unlike many players these days, has excellent bat discipline and has never struck out 100 in a season.
He has the qualities to be a key part of the batting lineup. So why would the Astros want to trade him?
As longtime Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart explained on MLB Network, Houston has lost a number of key players to free agency in recent years, including Carlos Correa, George Springer, and Gerrit Cole, and the team has There is no longer a firm system that can compensate for this. For those losses.
“If you can get a few impact players, maybe a prospect or two, you'll save a lot of money. And Astros fans will probably scream, but at this point they're trading Kyle Tucker. It makes a lot of sense to do that,” McTaggart, writing for MLB.com, said Wednesday.
As for suitors, McTaggart says, “The Yankees make a lot of sense in many ways.”
The paper's Joel Sherman first reported Wednesday morning that the Yankees are among the teams most seriously pursuing a trade for Tucker, with the Cubs also a strong suitor and the Giants also in talks with Houston. he pointed out. The Phillies also checked in.
After Juan Soto signed a record 15-year contract with the Mets worth $765 million, with the potential to exceed $800 million, Tucker will be worth $300 million and possibly more in free agency next winter. He could earn a salary of $400 million.
Despite playing in only 78 games last year due to a shin injury, Tucker still averaged 4.7 wins above replacement player (WAR) with 23 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .289 average, and a .993 OPS.
According to Sherman's report, the Astros are very interested in American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, and the Yankees have signed Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, making it possible for the Astros to move forward with Tucker. The possibility of trading the starting pitcher has increased due to the contract.
Acquiring Tucker would soften the blow of losing Soto to the Mets, but the Yankees would be in the same position as Soto, as Tucker is expected to play out the final year of his contract and test free agency. .
