When the Houston Astros made the bold call to trade Kyle Tucker last offseason-with just one year left on his deal-it raised some eyebrows. Tucker was a homegrown star, a key bat in the lineup, and still in his prime. But the front office clearly saw the writing on the wall: they weren’t going to be the team to pay him the massive contract he was destined to command in free agency.
Fast forward a year, and that prediction proved spot on. Tucker, after a bumpy, injury-limited season with the Chicago Cubs, inked a jaw-dropping four-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That’s $60 million a year-an eye-popping number, even in today’s market. The Cubs gambled on a one-year rental, and now they’re walking away empty-handed.
Houston, on the other hand, came out of this deal looking sharp.
In return for Tucker, the Astros landed Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith, and Hayden Wesneski. That trio didn’t just fill gaps-they gave Houston real value, both now and for the future.
Paredes brought exactly what the Astros hoped for: power. He delivered at the plate, showing off the kind of pop that can change a game with one swing.
There’s even talk that Houston might flip him again, potentially extending the return on the original Tucker trade even further. That’s the kind of asset management that keeps a contender’s window open longer than most.
Then there’s Cam Smith. The rookie had moments this past season that made scouts and fans alike sit up and take notice.
He’s still raw, but the tools are there. If he develops into even a solid everyday player-let alone the star his flashes suggest he could become-that’s a major win for Houston.
And don’t overlook Hayden Wesneski. The 28-year-old right-hander may not be flashy, but he’s reliable, durable, and gives the Astros a steady arm in the rotation. In a league where pitching depth is gold, Wesneski is a valuable piece.
So let’s break it down: Houston turned a player they weren’t going to re-sign into three contributors, two of whom are under team control and showing upside. Meanwhile, the Cubs gave up all three for a single season of Tucker that didn’t move the needle-and then let him walk for nothing.
It’s fair to question why Chicago didn’t make a stronger push to keep Tucker, especially after giving up that kind of return. But evidently, they weren’t willing to match the Dodgers’ monster offer. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that was clearly trying to make a splash and now finds itself with nothing to show for it.
Bottom line? The Astros played this one smart.
They made a calculated decision not to chase a massive extension, maximized Tucker’s value while they could, and came away with a haul that’s already paying dividends. That’s how you stay competitive year after year-even when you lose stars.