By Patrick Mooney, Chandler Rome and Sahadev Sharma

DALLAS – Two clubs facing a crossroads completed the biggest blockbuster deal in baseball on Friday as the Houston Astros sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs for a three-player package that included infielder Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and touted infield prospect Cam Smith.

The Athletics Chandler Rome, Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney analyze the consequences of the deal.

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How surprising is the Astros’ decision to trade Tucker?

Rome: The premise always made logical sense, but the execution is a completely different matter. Most of Houston’s blockbuster transactions this decade have been about signing superstar players – not shipping them out.

Trading Tucker is at odds with the Astros’ behavior during their rise as an American League superpower, but the club couldn’t afford to let its guard down this winter. Aside from owner Jim Crane increasing the payroll to nearly $300 million, there was no obvious solution to improve their sustainability.

Crane, who is more involved in baseball operations than most owners, has maintained that the Astros’ championship window will never close during his tenure. The fact that Crane agreed to this deal suggests that general manager Dana Brown convinced his boss that it would have no impact on his statement.

Internal discussions about trading Tucker or Framber Valdez date back to last year, but most dismissed it as mere due diligence because such a concept was so contrary to the Astros’ standard operating procedures.

Then, on Monday night, Brown claimed the Astros could win the American League West without any of those players. This was perhaps the clearest confirmation that Houston was open for business. The teams pounced and the Cubs won.

Why did the Cubs covet Tucker?

Mooney: The Cubs’ lineup needed a dynamic presence to take the pressure off everyone else, someone who could put up 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .900 OPS. This star-level production helps other hitters relax, gives pitchers more breathing room and allows younger players to develop at their own pace.

If the Cubs don’t want to sign players at the absolute top of the free agent market, they’ll have to get creative. Tucker is the type of player who could put together a 5 or 6 WAR season that catapults a team into October with 83 wins.

Sharma: Some will say the Cubs paid too high a price for just one year of Tucker. But not all trades for stars on expiring deals are created equal. And making films like this is about giving depth to those interested. The rest of the division certainly won’t shed any tears over the potential Smith’s departure, a sign that the Cubs paid for Tucker. But worrying about what might become of Smith or Wesneski can’t be their concern. It’s time for the Cubs to win.

The Cubs had little flexibility in their roster, so a shakeup was necessary and finding an elite hitter had been a must for years. The addition of Tucker answers one of their most pressing questions and changes the mood on a team that had begun to slide into irrelevance.

What does this say about the teams’ long-term plans?

Rome: The Astros plan to compete in 2025, a sentiment both Brown and manager Joe Espada reiterated during the winter meetings. A core of Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Hunter Brown, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader — coupled with playing in a rotten division — gives at least some hope that both men are right.

Altuve is under contract until 2029. Alvarez, Diaz, Brown and Hader are enshrined through 2028. The concept of a core is there, but Houston needs to add legitimate title contention to them. The team could clear up to $48.5 million from its books next winter, giving it a clear path to invest in free agency and complement those players.

Trading Tucker will weaken the Astros in 2025, but adding Paredes and Smith to the organization provides more hope for subsequent seasons. Paredes is under the club’s control for three more seasons, while Smith is a 21-year-old prospect who reached Double A last season. Both should be an integral part of Houston’s plan to continue beyond 2025.

Mooney: The Cubs are in win-now mode.

If Jed Hoyer’s multi-year rebuild doesn’t result in a playoff appearance next season, big changes could be on the horizon. Although the front office is on the hot seat, the organization can also call this trade a major organizational victory.

The Cubs entered this offseason with eight players named to MLB.com’s ranking of the sport’s top 100 prospects, which included Smith. This surplus allowed them to confidently pursue Tucker and finally make the bold move fans had been waiting for.

Smith’s rapid rise to headlining prospect – he was the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft – also reflects well on the organization’s initiatives in scouting and player development.

Sharma: Yes, that was a high price to pay for a year of Tucker, but the Cubs didn’t empty their farm. They still have talent that they expect will be part of the team in 2025 and beyond. Pete Crow-Armstrong has already locked down center field and Michael Busch has had a strong season as their full-time first baseman. Kevin Alcántara arrived at the end of last season and Matt Shaw’s debut is expected to come early this year.

This is just the beginning. Even with the loss of Smith, the Cubs are still ranked in the top 100 in baseball. Your system is finally in a healthy state. They are able to use their strength to make smaller moves — like acquiring Nate Pearson before the trade deadline or adding Eli Morgan earlier this offseason — as well as big wins, like signing Paredes at the deadline and the change of him and the prospects of Tucker.

Winning in 2025 is a must. But the Cubs didn’t do anything in the Tucker trade that would have seriously jeopardized their efforts to be a consistent winner in the years to come.

What’s next for Houston?

Rome: Acquiring Paredes will solve one of Houston’s corner infield vacancies – but which one is a mystery. Paredes’ primary position is third base, but last season Houston had plans to play Paredes at first base and pursue him at the trade deadline.

That club still had Alex Bregman at third base. Bregman remains a free agent and the Astros are still suitors for his services, but this trade could affect the viability of a reunion.

According to multiple league sources, Houston has reached out to the St. Louis Cardinals about a possible move for Nolan Arenado, but it is unclear whether Arenado would waive his no-trade clause to join the Astros.

That Houston has even expressed interest in Arenado and the $74 million owed to him suggests the company is at least willing to spend significant sums. The club may have no other choice given its diverse needs. Brown has indicated that in addition to repairing its infield, the team needs a leverage reliever and a starting pitcher.

A left-handed outfielder is also needed now that Tucker is no longer on the roster.

What’s next for the Cubs?

Mooney: Cody Bellinger has been a regular at the team’s training complex in Arizona this offseason, wondering if – or when – he will be replaced. The Cubs already had Bellinger’s primary positions in the outfield and first base and wanted to reallocate his salary to other areas. Now that Tucker is coming, a move from Bellinger seems like a foregone conclusion.

Sharma: With Bellinger moved, the pitching will continue to move forward, both in relief depth and starters. With Paredes gone, there is a hole at third base. Will the Cubs feel comfortable enough with Shaw’s development to use him there early in the season? Maybe they’ll pursue a stopgap solution that can buy them some time as Shaw’s advanced bat continues to grow and his defense proves at least playable at third, which has always been the question.

(Top photo by Kyle Tucker: Bob Levey / Getty Images)