On the heels of Astros GM Dana Brown acknowledging earlier this week that the membership isn’t ruling out a commerce of both Kyle Tucker with free company looming subsequent winter, Joel Sherman of the New York Submit described the Yankees as among the many groups “most severely” pursuing the outfielder. Sherman provides that the Cubs are considered as a “sturdy participant” in Tucker’s market as properly, nevertheless, whereas the Giants are additionally concerned. The Phillies have “no less than inquired” on Tucker beforehand, per Sherman, however whereas they tried to place collectively a bundle for the outfielder it’s unclear whether or not or not they continue to be concerned in his market.
Buzz surrounding the potential of a Tucker commerce has elevated within the days since Juan Soto signed his record-breaking deal with the Mets, and because the Yankees flip in the direction of their contingency plans for in the event that they did not reunite with Soto it’s hardly a shock that they might be concerned in talks concerning one other star proper fielder. Each New York and Chicago’s curiosity in Tucker’s providers has been beforehand reported, however Sherman’s report notably means that the Astros are prioritizing big-league prepared nook infield and beginning rotation assist in commerce talks surrounding Tucker. Whereas the Yankees themselves are missing in nook infield expertise, the membership reached an settlement with lefty Max Fried yesterday to create a surplus of their rotation, and Sherman provides the Astros are stated to be “very ” in reigning AL Rookie of the Yr Luis Gil.
The Cubs, against this, are flush within the kind of younger expertise that the Astros appear to be prioritizing. High infield prospect Matt Shaw is primarily a second baseman by commerce however spent the vast majority of the 2024 season at third base. Sherman notes that Shaw is joined by 2024 first-round Cam Smith and incumbent third baseman Isaac Paredes are “enticing” to the Astros as they run the danger of dropping longtime third baseman Alex Bregman in free company. Whereas not famous in Sherman’s report, it’s additionally price noting that Chicago has a variety of younger pitchers who they might theoretically make out there together with Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown, and Hayden Wesneski.
As for the opposite groups talked about in Sherman’s report, each golf equipment have no less than theoretical matches for Houston’s reported ask as properly. The Giants have former prime prospect Marco Luciano and power-hitting utility man Tyler Fitzgerald as items who could also be enticing to the Astros as third base choices, whereas right-handers Hayden Birdsong and Mason Black are among the many membership’s extra fascinating younger pitchers who could possibly be made out there. It’s unclear whether or not any of these names have been mentioned or to what degree Houston can be occupied with them, however San Francisco sports activities a deep group of younger choices in each areas. The infielders determine to be notably out there following the membership touchdown Willy Adames in free company, and the identical could possibly be stated of the rotation items in the event that they’re profitable of their reported pursuit of Corbin Burnes.
The Phillies, in the meantime, are recognized to be making third Alec Bohm out there in commerce however could also be an imperfect match for the Astros wants. The infielder has simply two years of group management remaining, and two years of a stable however unspectacular third baseman appears unlikely to land one yr of a star participant like Tucker. It’s potential the Phillies might complement a bundle together with Bohm with beginning pitching, however it might be a shock if the membership was prepared to half methods with prime prospect Andrew Painter and different choices like Mick Abel and Seth Johnson are seemingly far much less inspiring to the Astros.
