11:15am: Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic confirmed Houston’s curiosity in Smith, Paredes, and Gil in a report this morning whereas additionally noting that the Astros have curiosity in Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Suzuki is a commerce candidate in his personal proper however membership brass has downplayed their curiosity in shifting him. That disinclination to half with Suzuki is confirmed by the report from Rosenthal and Rome, who notice the Cubs are “extremely unlikely” to maneuver him.
10:03am: 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 Publish described the Yankees as among the many groups “most severely” pursuing the outfielder. Sherman provides that the Cubs are considered as a “robust participant” in Tucker’s market as effectively, nonetheless, whereas the Giants are additionally concerned. The Phillies have “at the very least 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 opportunity of a Tucker commerce has elevated within the days since Juan Soto signed his record-breaking cope with the Mets, and because the Yankees flip in direction of their contingency plans for in the event that they didn’t reunite with Soto it’s hardly a shock that they’d 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, in contrast, are flush within the type of younger expertise that the Astros appear to be prioritizing. Prime infield prospect Matt Shaw is primarily a second baseman by commerce however spent nearly all 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 “engaging” to the Astros as they run the chance of shedding 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 may 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 at the very least theoretical suits for Houston’s reported ask as effectively. The Giants have former prime prospect Marco Luciano and power-hitting utility man Tyler Fitzgerald as items who could also be engaging 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 stage Houston could be fascinated 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 crew management remaining, and two years of a strong however unspectacular third baseman appears unlikely to land one 12 months of a star participant like Tucker. It’s attainable the Phillies may complement a bundle together with Bohm with beginning pitching, however it could 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 possible far much less inspiring to the Astros.
