DALLAS — The Houston Astros are receiving trade inquiries about outfielder Kyle Tucker, multiple people familiar with the discussions told The Athletic on Monday night, potentially precipitating a bidding war for one of baseball’s best young players.
General manager Dana Brown did not answer directly whether he has received calls from other teams but revealed that “we’ll listen on anybody” as the club confronts a crossroads.
Multiple people familiar with the club’s thinking said Brown is open to dealing one of Tucker or starter Framber Valdez, both of whom are set to make more than $15 million during their final trip through the arbitration process. Approximations have the Astros about $12 million under the first luxury tax threshold and it’s unclear if owner Jim Crane will authorize exceeding it for a second consecutive season. That the Astros are shopping setup man Ryan Pressly already suggests the club is searching for ways to create payroll space.
As of now, no discussions are believed to be serious, according to one person familiar with the club’s plans, who added there are varying levels of interest within the organization about trading the players.
“We’re not trying to aggressively move anybody out the door, but if someone wants to talk, that’s part of being at the Winter Meetings,” Brown said on Monday from the team’s suite at the Hilton Anatole.
“Sometimes guys will think outside the box and say, ‘Hey would you guys do this guy or that guy.’ If it doesn’t make sense, we wouldn’t do it. It would really have to make sense. We’re a good team and we’re not motivated to move any of these guys.”
Like Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez will become a free agent after the 2025 season. (Tim Warner / Getty Images)
Making either Tucker or Valdez available in trade discussions would bring back the type of prospect haul Houston needs to replenish its woebegone farm system while still maintaining a competitive club in 2025.
Asked on Monday whether he believed Houston could still win the American League West without one of Valdez or Tucker, Brown replied, “Yes, I think we could.”
“I think the team is good enough to,” Brown said. “It depends on what you get back in the return if you decide to go that way, but we will not make any trades that don’t make sense in terms of winning the division, getting back to the postseason and all that. We’re not trying to break the team down. The trade would have to make sense in that we’re not weakening our club.”
Tucker is a three-time All-Star who, according to FanGraphs, has accumulated 20.9 wins above replacement since becoming a full-time player in 2020. Among outfielders, only Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts have compiled more. Valdez is one of 11 pitchers to throw 710 innings since 2021, a stretch in which he has a 3.08 ERA.
During last year’s Winter Meetings, Brown emphatically denied that the team would explore trades for impending free agent Alex Bregman, making Monday’s acknowledgment a departure from Houston’s standard operating procedure.
Asked about the difference in the two situations, Brown said, “I just think ultimately finding replacements for certain guys, oftentimes it’s a lot more difficult, so you may not be as open to moving this guy or that guy. Just finding a position like third base is very difficult.”
Bregman played his final season in Houston and a reunion with him is now the team’s “biggest priority.” On Monday, both Brown and manager Joe Espada echoed optimism that the Astros could retain Bregman.
“I’m feeling optimistic,” Brown said. “I don’t quite know what he’s thinking, but I’m feeling optimistic.”
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(Top photo of Kyle Tucker: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)
