Time to trigger the fire sale, this isn't a move a team that truly believes they can contend this year would make.
They contended last year with Tucker missing over half the season. And who knows, maybe Paredes would have actually came through in the playoffs when the stadium was rocking with a chance to step on Detroit’s throats in that 2nd game. Anything would have been better than Tuckers performance.
Yes, we won the trade. If not this upcoming year, then the year after and many more years after that.
The obvious thing - it loosens $$$ pressure a bit. Paredes can play 1B, 2B, 3B. Cam Smith is a 3B, but very young, and has also played SS. As fast as he has risen, the Astros prefer to slow-track their minor leaguers. A superstar MiLB year and maybe he gets invited to 2026 camp? A September 2026 callup maybe? I see him as Pena insurance as much, if not more than a Bregman replacement.
Sucks but this is good business and hopefully keeps us contending. Though...now there's a HUGE hole in RF that needs to be dealt with this offseason.
I like the trade, and I am very happy with the return. It would have been a spectacular return if Suzuki was included as originally rumored but I can understand why the Cubs wouldn't go there, that would have been a fleece job in our favor. With Suzuki the trade would've immediately filled 2 voids (Corner INF, RF) but I will accept SP depth as an adequate substitute. Post-trade has left us with two immediate voids: whatever infield position between 1B/3B that Parades doesn't play, and somebody to take Kyle's spot in RF. This all assumes Bregman is out the door. Brown's work isn't done yet.
I expect Astros to win the total WAR from this trade and surplus value. That said, unless Cam is wrapped up in a trade for another MLB player or is already MLB ready, I think the Astros took a step back this season and a step forward next season. Good move, but I think it puts more pressure to make other good moves to support the OF.
