(670 The Score) The Cubs left Dallas last Wednesday technically empty-handed after a week of rumors and speculation at the MLB Winter Meetings, but behind the scenes, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and his front office had orchestrated a move that would soon shift the organization’s trajectory.
By Friday evening, it was official – the Cubs had acquired star outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Astros in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and third-base prospect Cam Smith, who was Chicago’s most recent first-round draft pick.
This wasn’t just another trade by the Cubs — it was a statement. For a major-market team like the Cubs, who have tread cautiously in recent years, this move represented a clear shift in philosophy. Under Hoyer’s leadership, the Cubs have prioritized long-term planning and financial flexibility, but the addition of Tucker signals a new era — one in which the Cubs are prepared to be nimble and seize opportunities to win now.
Tucker, a three-time All-Star and a 2022 Gold Glove winner, is among the most dynamic and underrated players in baseball. Since 2021, he ranks 10th in MLB in both wRC+ (145) and OPS (.888), with every player above him except his former Astros teammate Yordan Alvarez owning an MVP trophy. In terms of slugging percentage, Tucker’s .527 stands in elite company, trailing only Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Alvarez, Bryce Harper and Byron Buxton during that same span.
Tucker’s offensive output is elite, but what makes him even more valuable is his exceptional defense. Tucker ranks as a top-five defensive right fielder since becoming a regular starter in 2021, according to Fangraphs, and he’s the only player on that list who also slugs over .500.
For the Cubs, this isn’t just an addition of an All-Star. It’s the acquisition of a player who can impact the game in virtually every way. With Tucker entering a contract year, the Cubs may have landed a star primed for a massive season as he aims to solidify his place among the game’s best ahead of a big payday.
Tucker brings credibility to the North Side and instantly transforms the Cubs’ lineup. His power and consistency — paired with his ability to deliver in clutch moments — could be the missing ingredient for a team that has lacked true star power since its World Series core was dismantled.
But this trade was about more than just Tucker’s talent. It reflects Hoyer’s commitment to an organizational philosophy centered on adaptability and preparedness. The Cubs have spent years cultivating a deep farm system and maintaining financial flexibility. Now, Hoyer has leveraged that groundwork to take a calculated risk — giving up current and future assets for one guaranteed year of a superstar.
Consider the deal: Hoyer parted with Paredes and Wesneski, two players with eight combined years of team control, along with Smith, a promising youngster who was already contributing at Double-A just months after being drafted. While none of those players match Tucker’s caliber, the package represents significant value. This isn’t the type of risk the Cubs have been known to take in recent years, but it’s exactly the kind of gamble they need to make to compete in the present.
Hoyer’s words from the GM Meetings in 2021 came to mind when analyzing this trade.
“You try to be prepared and opportunistic as much as possible,” Hoyer said back then. “Some team could come up today with an idea we haven’t thought about and we have to be able to be nimble, not stuck in our ideas, and think through things quickly. The real benefit of a really good front office staff from top to bottom is that constant state of preparedness where you can be nimble and move quickly. There’s also the benefit of the two forms of currency. When you’re able to be more nimble in prospects and financially, it allows you to do those things more quickly. When you’re less nimble, you can’t do that.”
The Tucker deal is the embodiment of this philosophy. It’s a recognition that opportunities to acquire a player of his caliber are rare, and the Cubs were ready to act decisively when the chance arose.
“There are those cycles in the game where some of those teams that are shedding were teams that were adding very recently,” Hoyer said in 2021. “Things change from an economic standpoint for certain teams so you always have to be on alert for that. Throughout the summer, you try to gather information about teams’ financial situations for that reason, to maybe anticipate that this team may need to shed payroll or this team may be adding a lot. Certainly, that’s a reason to be nimble because you never know what opportunities are going to present themselves. What I’ve definitely learned in this game is that they always will. If you’re in a position to be nimble, there will always be opportunities, you’ll never lack for them. You just don’t know what they are at that point.”
Of course, trading for a player on the cusp of free agency always carries risk. Tucker is expected to test the open market after the 2025 season, where he’ll command a deal worth north of $300 million. There’s no guarantee the Cubs can retain him beyond this year, but Hoyer is betting that Tucker’s presence will elevate the team enough to make the risk worthwhile. After back-to-back 83-win seasons and no playoff victories since 2017, the Cubs needed a bold move to break out of mediocrity. Tucker provides that spark, even if the work to solidify the roster isn’t finished.
While Tucker significantly improves the Cubs’ outlook, their roster remains a work in progress. Cody Bellinger is set to make $27.5 million this season, and the Cubs would like to move his contract and use that money elsewhere. The Cubs have also been linked to starting pitchers and may need to address third base, where Matt Shaw — their top prospect — may not be ready for a full- time role. Still, the Cubs’ top prospects are inching closer to the big leagues, with six of their seven players in the top-100 prospect list reaching Triple-A in 2024. The farm system is ready to support the big league club, creating even more flexibility for Hoyer to make additional moves.
This trade also signals that the Cubs are prepared to act like the major-market team they are. After years of conservative spending and patience, Hoyer has made it clear: The Cubs are ready to compete now. It’s not just about what the Cubs could be in the future; it’s about what they can achieve right now.
Ultimately, this move sends a clear message to fans, players and the rest of the league that the Cubs are fully committed to making a return to October baseball.
Sean Sears is a producer for 670 The Score. Follow him on X @seanrsears.