With the Chicago Cubs acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, what are the chances that the Northsiders might not be done dealing with Space City?
In a column for The Athletic that urged the New York Yankees to deal for Tucker, Ken Rosenthal took a jab at the Cubs, one pointed at owner Tom Ricketts.
“Of course, the same can be said of Tucker with the Chicago Cubs or any other club, presuming Astros owner Jim Crane is willing to trade him, which is no guarantee. Imagine if the Cubs included infielder Isaac Paredes in a deal for Tucker, then signed another Astros mainstay, free agent Alex Bregman, to play third base,” Rosenthal wrote. “That is the kind of plan the Cubs actually might pursue if owner Tom Ricketts were operating the team as a big-market behemoth rather than an efficient Midwest bank.”
However, with the Cubs now having acquired Tucker for a package that includes Paredes, what are the chances that Rosenthal’s mockery could be turned into reality?
Paredes, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays last season for utilityman Christopher Morel, immediately became the Cubs starting third baseman.
He has now departed for Houston, leaving Chicago without an obvious solution at third. It almost certainly also means that the Astros are bidding farewell to Bregman.
The Cubs were linked to trade interest in Bregman last season before Houston rallied to win the American League West. Could Chicago actually make a move for him now if Paredes is dealt?
Spotrac’s calculated market value for Bregman points to a four-year contract of nearly $120 million, Boras’ representation hints that any deal that the nine-year Major League Baseball veteran inks could be higher than that.
The Cubs figure to remain busy this offseason whether or not the Tucker/Paredes trade comes to fruition. Chicago is still aching to trade outfielder Cody Bellinger and remains interested in signing or trading for a starting pitcher.
However, if the organization takes Rosenthal’s snark to heart, Bregman may just yet be donning a Cubs cap before Opening Day.
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