Cubs land All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in blockbuster trade with Astros

The Cubs announced Friday that they have acquired All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros in a trade that illustrates a shift in priorities to winning now. Third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and third-base prospect Cam Smith are heading to the Astros in the deal.

Tucker has been an All-Star in each of the last three seasons and won a Gold Glove in 2022 and a Silver Slugger in 2023. He posted a .993 OPS in 2024, landing him among the top 10 in the majors.

That kind of bat is exactly what the Cubs were missing from their offense in 2024, when they finished 12th in runs, dropping from sixth in 2023. The difference didn’t all come down to an especially pitcher-friendly Wrigley Field, either. A team slump in May and June ultimately sank the Cubs’ playoff chances, despite an end-of-season resurgence.

In 2023, when the Cubs finished with a plus-65 run differential, outfielder Cody Bellinger’s bounce-back season lifted the offense. But he dealt with a broken finger and broken ribs in 2024, missing time and playing through pain because of the injuries.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson led the Cubs in WAR, according to FanGraphs (4.3), but his defense played a large role in that figure. The same goes for second baseman Nico Hoerner (3.9 WAR), who was next on the list.

‘‘Ultimately, teams win in all shapes and sizes,’’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday. ‘‘And having great defenders all over the field certainly helps. But, yes, you can’t lose sight of offense.’’

Tucker, who is projected to make more than $15 million in arbitration, is set to hit free agency for the first time after the 2025 season.

The Cubs were more willing to part with that much young talent because of where they are in their contention cycle. Since the trade deadline, when the Cubs zeroed in on deals that could help them beyond the 2024 season, they have shifted their focus to winning in 2025.

The Cubs haven’t been in the playoffs since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, when they were swept by the Marlins in a best-of-three wild-card series.

Paredes’ stint in the organization was short-lived. The Cubs acquired him at the trade deadline in July, sending third baseman Christopher Morel and pitching prospects Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson to the Rays.

After putting together a .792 OPS with the Rays before the trade, Paredes had a .633 OPS in two months with the Cubs. But that was a small sample size. FanGraphs projects him to be a 3.3-WAR player next season. Plus, he is under team control through the 2027 season.

Wesneski, a Houston native, has filled a range of roles in the bullpen and rotation. He made his major-league debut with the Cubs in September 2022, not long after they acquired him from the Yankees, and had a 3.93 ERA in parts of three seasons with them.

Smith was the Cubs’ first pick — No. 14 overall — in the MLB Draft in July. In less than two months of pro baseball, he climbed from Single-A to High-A to Double-A. He hit .313 with a 1.004 OPS across all levels.

Smith’s potential might make him hard for the Cubs to watch down the line, as he kicks off a promising career in another organization.

Next, the Cubs have to address their overcrowded outfield. With Tucker joining Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki, they have three right fielders. Bellinger also can play first base, and all three could take turns at designated hitter.

But the trade for Tucker adds to a surplus the Cubs could address by, for example, trading Bellinger. The Yankees, who also were reportedly in talks with the Astros about Tucker, might make sense as a potential trade partner. Bellinger has two years left on his three-year, $80 million contract, with an opt-out after the 2025 season.