Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has quickly rebounded after a rocky couple weeks to begin the year, hitting .310/.402/.530 over the past month after getting out to a brutal .087/.192/.217 start through his first 13 games. That production only serves as a reminder that the 25-year-old is viewed as a building block in Houston. That fact is also backed up by the team’s apparent efforts to sign Tucker to a long-term extension. Mark Feinsand and Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported recently that the ’Stros approached Tucker’s camp about an extension this year but talks proved unsuccessful and are not active at this time (Twitter link).
Tucker confirmed the report when speaking with Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Tucker tells Rome that he’s open to continued negotiations, whether they take place during the current season or in future offseasons. The former No. 5 overall draft pick noted that he’s controlled through the 2025 season regardless, leaving plenty of time for a deal to come together, though he did voice a preference to “get it out of the way if something does happen, just to not prolong [talks] over a long period of time.” Tucker looked overmatched as a 21-year-old rookie in 2018 but has batted .278/.345/.526 in 1036 plate appearances from 2019-22. He’ll be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.
More out of Houston…
- Lance McCullers Jr. hit a milestone in his rehab from a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm, telling reporters that he threw off a mound for the first time yesterday (Twitter link, with video, via FOX 26’s Mark Berman). McCullers prepped for the mound session by throwing from 90 feet on flat ground and then tossed “about ten” pitches off the mound. The righty still didn’t offer a concrete timetable for his return, replying that his next step is to “just continue to build” as restores arm strength and works toward a minor league rehab assignment. McCullers, 28, pitched to a 3.16 ERA with a 27% strikeout rate and 11.1% walk rate in 162 1/3 innings last season in what would’ve been his final year of club control prior to reaching free agency. However, he inked a five-year, $85MM extension to remain in Houston last spring, and the 2022 season is the first year of that new pact. He’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list in early June, but considering the fact that he hasn’t pitched yet this season and is only just getting on a mound, he won’t be activated when first eligible.
- General manager James Click spoke with Alex Speier of the Boston Globe about his team’s decision to move on from Carlos Correa and entrust the shortstop job to rookie and top prospect Jeremy Pena — a decision he knew might not be universally accepted, given Correa’s popularity in Houston. “[The fans] loved Correa and they wanted to keep him,” said Click. “But we have tried to make it clear to our fans here that our priority is winning. We would love to win and keep everybody together. But sometimes you have to make a difficult decision to move on in order to try to keep that championship window open as long as you possibly can.” Pena has softened the blow by outproducing his predecessor for the time being and slashing .287/.343/.504 with seven homers and quality defense at short.
They should have kept Springer.
Springer the RF who hasn’t played more then 89 games in CF? Corner guys are easily replaceable and given his decking d and injury concerns Springer is a Corner only guy.
Pedro Leon is in AAA and is doing very well. Siri will be the odd man out later this year or for 2023.
Yep. Springer needed to stay. Bregman looks like the one in decline
The Bregman of 2019 was an outlier based on the juiced ball. He will never have a season like thst again.
However: he is having a perfectly good season and looks healthy forvthe first time since that ( should have) MVP season.
He is on pace to place 158 games of great defense, over 60 extra base hits,more walks than dtrikeouts,.772 OPS, 128 OPS+ and 3.4 WAR
And don’t forget He is always significantly better in the second half.
Alex will finish with a perfectly good and valuable season.
Pena is making Astros fans forget about Correa.
Who?
The differences between Astros front office 2012-2019 and Astros front office now are drastic.
The 2025 Astros may well be better than if the old regime was still in place.
But my eyes and gut tells me if Luhnow and company were still in charge Pena would be playing in Washington this year, Sherzer would have been the big move last trade deadline, and they would have made a serious run at keeping Correa.
Which is better? Who knows.
I can see Click and the Astros offering young stars extensions to keep them in Houston beyond arbitration seasons.
And I can see them offering fair contracts to semi-star free agents.
However, I think that once Youngs stars like Tucker and Alvarez hit FA they are as good as gone.
I don’t see Click offering any player $30+ mil per.
Interesting comments…….
We have no idea what Luhnow would have done the past few years to stay within a budget. But we do know that he had a stretch-run trade for Harper worked out (for multiple prospects) that Nationals ownership overruled Rizzo on. Clicks’ actions are in line with his Rays background – letting some expensive veterans go while constantly giving more playing time to youngsters developed by the team, as well as reworking and spotting veterans in ways that maximize their productivity…..not unlike what Friedman does with the Dodgers – but they’re swimming in money so he signs expensive FA’s as well.
My feelings the past few years is that the Astros are the best overall Baseball Ops operation in MLB. Luhnow took from the time he worked with the Cardinals, while Click is influenced by his time with the Rays. What happens over the next few few years with the Astros should prove interesting. It all depends on their farm system continuing to push guys up to the majors and then having the coaching staff be patient and develop them to play at the top level – as they’ve done with Tucker and Pena along with half-a-dozen pitchers and others……moral of the story – don’t give up on McCormick.
McCormick is a tough one for me.
I love his grit. He is a classic over achiever but he may never have more trade value than now
And the team loves Meyers and Leon not to mention Colin Barber who could be ready late next year.
I don’t see a scenario where Chaz is a regular starting outfielder after 2023.
I can see a package of Siri and McCormick and maybe a lower level prospect getting traded after Myers gets back for either a controllable starter OR a catcher that can actually hit. I love Maldys ability to call a game but watching him hit is just unbearable. He’s known for his arm but the running game around the league isn’t what it once was. The game has evolved to a point that stealing isn’t as prominent as it once was. Castro is even worse. As much as I like Castro, I would rather see Lee as the back up this year and maybe resign Maldy as a part time player to Lee next year. Castro has already said he’s thinking of retiring after this year anyway.
Maldy is already signed for $5mil ( vesting option triggered) for next season.
There is 0 chance the Astros bring in another catcher this year.
They love him and think he is the team MVP even if he goes hitless the rest of the season.
Like it or not he’s the catcher for the rest of the year and part time starter/ mentor to Korey Lee next year
I really do enjoy most of your takes on these comment boards. I may not always agree with them, but I can appreciate them. Maldy would be a great back up/mentor to Lee. That was my point. Cut bait with Castro, bring up Lee now and see if he really is the catcher of the future. As far as Soto goes, I think Soto is a No-go. I just don’t see the Astros giving up as much as Washington would want for the guy. Besides, our outfield is actually one of alot of internal depth already. More and more major league clubs are willing to cut older, under producing veterans (Puhols, Canon, Upton) to give the younger guys the spot on the 26 man roster. Now, I’m not sure James Click and company would do that, but I would rather have 2/3 of a season of Lee/Maldy than the rest of the season of Maldy/Castro. Defensively, they are all quite comparable.
Thanks for the kind words
I agree that would be great but don’t see it. Castro is very well liked and respected. Until/unless he starts costing the team games they won’t release him or trade him.
And the team has the 2nd best record in the AL and best record in May.
Korry Lee didn’t start catching full time until late in his college career and COVID cost him development time. The team wants him to catch as much as possible in 2022 not split time with Maldy. That’s why Manea is playing so much 1B and why they traded Papierski.
I am very much looking forward to him in 2023 though.
Jaun Soto, make this trade Happen
In a vacuum I would love this
But the cost would be so much that it would spiral the team back to uncompetitive level in 3-4 years.
I went to MLB trade values simulator.
I entered Jeremy Pena, Hunter Brown, Pedro Leon, Chaz McCormick, Jose Urquidy, and Yordan Alvarez
And it said it was still short of Soto’s value.
Now I have no idea who runs that site and how accurate their values are.
But it sure gives an idea of what Washington might want for Soto.
I gotta pass on that
Thanks for info .. I’m not as knowledgeable on these things and the financial side of the game but I seem to remember 2019 that Soto did damage in the WS. I think he would be more than a rental so I would ditch Forrest Whitley, maybe Siri and someone else but here again im sure y’all keep up with these things way better than me. Lol… Go Astros
But look at the players he entered to assess the value of getting Soto. Would you really give up your top two prospects that are pretty much ready for MLB, (1 position,1 pitcher), your 2019 ROY in Alvarez, 1 starting pitcher off your MLB rotation, the best rookie playing the game right now in Pena at SS, and the 2 players playing CF for him? He’s not even close to being that good of a player. He is awesome, hits bombs for miles. Good on the bases and fields well but I’m not trading 4 MLB 40 man roster spots and my best 2milb players for just Soto. Throw in Strasbourg and eat alot of his contract….maybe then we could talk
I only suggested Whitney cause it seems he’s had supentions and just hadn’t progressed like they were expecting! Kinda reminds me of what was his name? Mark Apple? Want be a bust? Like I said y’all are way more knowledgeable than me but I would really consider 2 players, Whitley and Siri and maybe part is his contact.. Anyways thinking the Astros will do something big at trade deadline… Go Astros
I agree the Astros will do something at the deadline.
My opinion is they get a big bat, likely RH that they can put between Alvarez and Tucker in the middle of the lineup.
They just don’t have a RH 35+ HR guy for that spot. Gurtiel, Bregman, Pena, any of the CF guys – none of them fit that spot.
J.D. Martinez, Nelson Cruz, or even Josh Bell would be good though he’s a switch hitter.
Sit Brantley vs LH pitching – he’s dreadful
Can you imagine the lineup:
vs LH
Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
J D. Martinez
Tucker
Gurriel
Pena
Meyers/McCormick/Siri
Maldonado
vs RH the lineup is a work in progress. Do you sit the CF and play Tucker there hurting the defense? Do you play Alvarez, Martinez, or Tucker at 1B where they have very limited experience so you can sit Yuli?
Hard for me to see a reunion with JD Martinez in Houston. Crane has gone on record as to being against multiple opt out clauses in contracts. That was one of the largest sticking points in not resigning Correa. He said it hamstrings your future payroll and it does. Cruz isn’t looking like Cruz if the last decade at the plate. Washington gave up quite a bit to get Bell from Pittsburgh and they are going to want alot back if they move him. I would love to get Bell because he is a true power switch hitter and a pretty good young first baseman with a few more years of club control. His numbers on both sides of the plate are not nearly as drastic as other switch hitters. But I’m also inclined to believe that the reigning batting champ will get back to his old form of the last few years.
Bell is actually a FA after 2022 which is why Washington moves him and he would not cost much.
And I also think Gurriel will get back to 2021 levels but 2019 was an outer with a lively juiced ball. He will never hit 30 HR again.
He’s a #2 or #7/8 hitter not a cleanup hitter
I agree he is not a clean up hitter. I would prefer to see a line up of
Brantley(high contact,batting avg)
Altuve (seems most comfortable)
Bregman
Alvarez
Yuli
Tucker
McCormick/Myers/Siri(unless Jake just takes then slide him up into This spot and just swap them)
Maldonado/Castro
I only listed 8 for the hypothetical bat that they trade for. This also breaks up the lefty righty mix pretty well. I have Always thought Brantley would be a good lead off hitter due to his high contact high average production he has consistently put up during his MLB career. The problem with him is his legs are catchi g up with his age. Still a really good player, just not what he was 5yrs ago. Even if we don’t get a bat by the trade deadline there still a good chance Pedro Leon will be call up and Siri optioned back to AAA. I see alot of good things happening but I’m also concerned about 2023 and beyond for the reasons Astrosfan1979 listed earlier in this post. I would also like to add that it’s completely enjoyable to discuss our team with people that are not just bashing them for something that everyone else was doing but we took the hardest blame. It’s refreshing to discuss the boys without having to defend the boys!
2023 should bring lots of changes.
Korey Lee will replace Castro and pair with Maldy sharing the catcher job
I think the team could resign Yuli and platoon him with J J. Matijevic at first and as back up 3B/2B. Taylor Jones is also an option and I really like him but he’s RH so does not make sense to platoon w/Yuli.
They could platoon Matijevic and Jones but that would make for more unproven youngsters than they usually like.
Altuve, Bregman, and Pena are set. Dubon and the previously mentioned 1B options fill out the infield.
Tucker and Alvarez are set, leaving 3 OF spots.
I think the team lives Meyers and Leon Noth and hope they are regulars in 2023. Unless one or both completely flops the rest of this year they will get a chance.
That leaves one spot for Brantley ( if they resign him), McCormick, Siri, Jones or Matijevic ( both can play LF- whichever didn’t make 1B spot)any AAA guy they decide needs to be up, or a veteran signing.
They could resign both Yuli and Brantley for part time / backup roles.
That would make a roster of:
C) K.Lee and Maldy
1B) Matijevic or Jones
2B) Altuve
3B) Bregman
SS) Pena
Of) Meyers, Leon, Tucker ( some alignment)
DH) Yordan
Bench) Brantley, Dubon, Yuli.
Rookie/1st full year guys at C, 1B, and 2 OF spots but veteran backups and great bench for pinch hitting.
Hard for me to see either Brantley or Yuli taking a part time platoon role. Especially Brantley. I still think they make a run for Lourdes Gurriel as an outfield option. They tried pretty hard to sign him before the blue Jays came in with more international signing bonus money. Those brothers are real tight and so is that entire family(mom and dad live in Houston as well I believe). I do like Dubon and he’s controlled through next year for sure. I think they let Diaz walk now that Dubon is in the fold. One thing that’s not being discussed is alot of what we are talking about is also going to depend on who is the MANAGER. Personally, I hope they finally give Joe Espada a chance. The players love and respect him. He’s an analytical coach that also has the eye test. I love Dusty but he makes alot of bad in game decisions( not pinch hitting for Maldy in the 8th with Bregman and Castro on the bench with runners in scoring position) multiple times. He’s smart, I think he has mentored Joe along with AJ Hinch and he deserves the job.
I see a very interesting issue for the Astros in 2023.
The team has done a great job of staying competitive by trickling rookies into a loaded veteran roster.
After establishing themselves those players become the veterans that support the new young guys in 2-3 years
Bregman and Gurriel’s first full year was 2017
Tucker and Straw came up in 2018
Alvarez and Toro in 19
McCormick, Meyers, and Siri in 21
Jeremy Pena in 22.
In 2023 4 of the top 10 position players will be free agents. 1B, LF, b/u C, and top bench spot.
Complicating things is that none of the 3 current CF candidates has established himself as an every day starter.
I don’t see the team going with 4 rookies in those 10 spots.
I think Korey Lee and Pedro Leon are near locks but don’t expect the team to have more unproven guys than that.
That means that either Yuli and/or Brantley are brought back – even if it’s in a lesser role- or the team trades for or signs FA veterans for those spots
I can see either Tucker sliding over to center like he did in the post season or them going with Pedro Leon. As far as Brantley goes, I think they let him walk and try and keep Yuli 1-2 more years. Remember, his brother is a heck of a corner outfielder in his own right and a free agent I believe after this year. They are extremely close and that may play a part in his recruitment to play in HOU. And if we do let Brantley walk, that gives us a little more money to resign JV after he opts out.
I don’t see Tucker playing CF more than a handful of games per year.
He is a great corner outfielder but average is likely generous in CF and the Astros know it.
Now that the DH is permanently in both leagues there is no reason to play him in CF to get Yordan into the lineup.
I could see him possibly moving to LF if the team does not sign another OF or bring Brantley back.
Tucker – Meyers – Leon would be a hell of a defensive OF.
After really diving into a little more of Pedro Leon’s numbers I can see what you mean about him being a more natural CF. Meyers as well. The amount of speed with the outfield you have listed is just mind numbing. I see them letting Brantley walk since we already have a DH in Alvarez, FB is being handled by a gold glover(albiet on the way wrong side of 35), that is still at least hitting his weight. I will take Yuli at first than Brantley’s aging legs. I know they say you can never have enough pitching, but we really do have a surplus of talented pitchers right now. And I totally agree that if that package you listed still wasn’t enough for Soto then ownership in Washington must be trying to build a fantasy team instead of a MLB team!
Astrosfn1979 (If you’re stil looking…..);
Right now the Astros FO is looking for candidates they can bring in to play LF, 1B, etc. in a few years. A big part of their magic is reworking position players as well as Pitchers. They got a young Yordan Alvarez from the Dodgers.
Your correct about reworking player to different positions. Bregman was drafted as a SS, Leon was also drafted as a SS. Tucker was drafted as a CF I believe. It also has alot to do with if the MLB club has an established player at that position. Perfect example is when they asked Bagwell if he wanted to play 3rd in the minors or 1st in the majors. They had Caminiti entrenched at 3rd for the foreseeable future so he worked on 1st. The rest is hall of Fame history.
I only suggested Whitney cause it seems he’s had supentions and just hadn’t progressed like they were expecting! Kinda reminds me of what was his name? Mark Apple? Want be a bust? Like I said y’all are way more knowledgeable than me but I would really consider 2 players, Whitley and Siri and maybe part is his contact.. Anyways thinking the Astros will do something big at trade deadline… Go Astros