David J. Phillip/AP Photos
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and Astros general manager Dana Brown “missed each other,” as Hoyer put it, at the GM meetings in San Antonio last month. So, they hopped on a phone call soon after.
That’s when Brown mentioned that three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, who is entering a walk year, could be available.
That conversation kicked off the negotiations that brought Tucker to Chicago. The Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes – who the Astros called about after the Cubs acquired him at the trade deadline – right-hander Hayden Wesneski, and 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith to Houston in return.