Blockbuster deal: Cubs complete trade for Astros slugger Kyle Tucker

The Cubs pulled off the long-rumored trade to acquire Houston outfielder Kyle Tucker.

In return, the Cubs will send third baseman Isaac Paredes, 2024 first-round draft pick Cam Smith and right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski.

It could be a great deal for the Cubs, who have lacked a dynamic bat in the lineup. Tucker, 27, was limited to 78 games last year due to a shin injury, but his .993 OPS would have ranked third in MLB, behind Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani and ahead of Juan Soto. Since 2021, Tucker ranks 11th in OPS, which puts him in the range of players like Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Corey Seager.

The next step will be to sign Tucker to a long-term deal when he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. The price will certainly be high, but the Cubs should be prepared to pay whatever it takes.

Speculation continues that the Cubs are working on a deal that would send Cody Bellinger to the Yankees. For next season, Tucker figures to play right field, Seiya Suzuki will continue to DH and Michael Busch likely remains the first baseman.

By trading Parades and Smith, 2023 first-round pick Matt Shaw will most likely get a chance to be the long-term third baseman, while second baseman Nico Hoerner figures to stick around for now.

The left-handed hitting Tucker, a Tampa native, was the No. 5 overall draft pick in 2015. He made his major-league debut for the Astros in 2018, and has appeared in 64 postseason games already in his career, including three World Series.

With this deal done, the next step for the Cubs this winter would be to improve the bullpen.

The Cubs also signed veteran catcher Carson Kelly to a two-year major-league deal on Friday. Kelly, 30, spent most of his nine seasons in MLB with Arizona. He played for both Detroit and Texas in 2024, hitting .238 with 9 home runs. According to Statcast, Kelly tied for 11th among catches in defensive run value.