COOPERSTOWN, NY – There are just a few shopping days remaining before the July 31 trade deadline, with contenders trying to decide which prospects they’re comfortable with moving, and sellers trying to be as greedy as possible.
While both sides seek the perfect compromise, they need to look no further than the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for the ideal trade.
These two teams pulled off the perfect trade in December, and seven months later would each do it again in a heartbeat.
The Astros decided they weren’t going to be able to meet All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker’s price tag to keep him from becoming a free agent after this season and shopped him during the winter to make sure they could receive a healthy return before he walked way. They found the ideal dance partner with the Cubs, who believed Tucker would be the missing piece to lead them back into the postseason.
The Astros, who won the American League West last year while Tucker missed half the season with a fractured shin, weren’t going to simply unload Tucker for prospects. They still planned to contend in the AL West. Astros general manager Dana Brown wanted third baseman Isaac Paredes, who had fallen out of favor in Chicago but whose pull power would be perfect for the Crawford Boxes in left field. They wanted a top prospect to go with him and identified 6-foot-3, 224-pound third baseman Cam Smith, the 14th pick in the 2024 draft. And they wanted a pitcher thrown in the deal, Hayden Wesneski.
“I remember digging into the Cubs roster with Dana," Astros manager Joe Espada said, “and Cam was one of the first names that popped up. I’m looking at the video and I’m like, 'This dude is the real deal.' He hadn’t played a ton in the minor leagues, but every clip you saw, you saw the athleticism.
“Then, you start making call, and you about the makeup of the kid. All of a sudden, you’re getting real excited about him."
A deal was born. The Cubs believed they pulled off a coup and would worry about Tucker’s free agency later. The Astros had a third baseman to replace Alex Bregman, who was a free agent, and one of the premier but unproven prospects in the game in Smith.
Debates raged who got the best of the trade, with questions being asked whether the Astros didn’t get enough in return, or the Cubs gave up too much.
Well, nearly eight months later, and the deal has worked out perfectly for both sides.
The Cubs are sitting tied with the Brewers for the best record (61-43) in the National League with Tucker performing just as they envisioned, hitting .274 with 18 homers and 58 RBIs. And the Astros have the best record (60-45) in the AL West, with Paredes hitting 19 home runs with 50 RBIs and playing exceptional defense until he went on the injured list when he pulled his hamstring last week.
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