Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday at the Winter Meetings that Houston is willing to trade anyone, including right fielder Kyle Tucker, if it means improving the roster. Apparently these comments weren’t just posturing on Brown’s part.

A three-time All-Star, Tucker has established himself as one of the game’s best outfielders over the past four years, posting 112 homers, 360 RBIs, 80 stolen bases, 145 OPS+ and 21.2 WAR (per Baseball-Reference). He missed significant time due to a fractured right tibia in 2024, but finished the season with 23 home runs and a career-high .993 OPS in 78 games. It wouldn’t be easy for the Astros to replace that production.

However, Tucker is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2025 season. He’ll do so at the start of his age-29 season, putting him right in the middle of where Juan Soto (26) and Aaron Judge (31) – the two best recent competitions – were when they hit the open market achieved. Assuming Tucker has a strong walk year, “he expects to get a deal worth at least $400 million to $500 million,” as Ken Rosenthal wrote in The Athletic (subscription required).

According to Sherman, the Yankees, Cubs, Giants and Phillies have all expressed interest in acquiring Tucker. The Bronx Bombers were also linked to Tucker by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com on Tuesday.

With the help of MLB.com’s reporters, here’s a breakdown of Tucker’s trade market from the perspective of every team involved.

Astros
Tucker is likely to make more than $15 million in arbitration this year and could be the biggest name on the free agent market a year from now, meaning staying in Houston would be extremely unlikely. If the Astros could free up some payroll and acquire a few controllable, quality players or high-level prospects who are close to the big leagues, trading Tucker would make sense. – Brian McTaggart

Yankees
Tucker’s appeal is obvious: a left-handed hitter who can exploit the dimensions of Yankee Stadium while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. He has played right field most of his career, but with Aaron Judge expected to return to that position in 2025, the Yankees would use Tucker to cover the more demanding left field area in the Bronx. The Astros are said to be interested in reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. The Yanks’ rotation was bolstered this week with their upcoming eight-year deal with left-hander Max Fried. Alternatively, the Yankees could draft right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who now has seven starters on his roster. When asked directly about the likelihood of contacting the Astros about Tucker, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he would “expect us to have conversations with all teams about what the availabilities are of the players we’re looking to bring in.” their squads, as well as with all agents whose players are free.” Agency that we also like. We check every box and figure out the price tags.” – Bryan Hoch

Boy
If the Cubs want to improve their offense for 2025, it is important for them to explore the trade market. And something Chicago has been missing in recent seasons is a top-notch hitter anchoring the middle. The Cubs were open to trade offers from Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki, among others. If either of those two were moved, it would clear the way for an impact bat, and Tucker clearly fits that profile. Beyond the MLB roster, the Cubs also have a surplus of top-100 prospects they can use in trade discussions. That includes top prospect Matt Shaw (No. 22 overall), whose path to Chicago likely lies at second or third base. This is why names like Nico Hoerner and Isaac Paredes are popping up in trade talk. – Jordan Bastian

Giants
Even after signing shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million deal, the Giants could use more depth in their lineup, particularly on the left side. Tucker could provide that, along with elite defense at corners, which would give the Giants the opportunity to use Mike Yastrzemski as a fourth outfielder or trade bait. San Francisco could offer the Astros a package centered around Casey Schmitt, a 25-year-old infielder who is considered a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman but is now held back at his best position by Matt Chapman. Schmitt struggled mightily at the plate as a rookie, but he took a step forward offensively in 2024, posting a .760 OPS with six home runs in 40 games. Schmitt, a 2020 second-round draft pick, will not be eligible for arbitration until 2027 and will be under the team’s control through 2029. –Maria Guardado

Phillies
The Phillies have regressed since their 2022 World Series appearance, losing to the D-Backs in the 2023 NL Championship Series and the Mets in the 2024 NL Division Series. That’s why Philadelphia is looking for ways to improve a roster that doesn’t have many glaring holes. Acquiring Tucker would be one way to accomplish that, either as the new starting left fielder — Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas move to a timeshare in centerfield — or as the new right fielder. In the latter case, Philadelphia would likely increase its efforts to trade Nick Castellanos, who has been considered a potential replacement candidate since last offseason. – Thomas Harrigan