7 Trade Packages for Kyle Tucker’s Astros Amid MLB Rumors | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Trade suggestion: San Diego Padres get OF Kyle Tucker, RHP Lance McCullers Jr.; Houston Astros get 1B Luis Arraez, RHP Jason Adam

Why it works for the Padres

If the Padres want to catch up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, they would be wise to go big. This trade would do the trick.

Although Fernando Tatis Jr. squares right field, Tucker would fit nicely into Jurickson Profar’s vacated shoes in left field. It wasn’t his primary position as a big league player, but he has 72 games of experience.

Otherwise, an offensive foursome of Tucker, Tatis, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill would be downright intimidating. Intimidating enough, in fact, to rival the Dodgers trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Why it works for the Astros

To be honest, I was considering a straight Tucker for Dylan Cease trade. But since it would essentially be a cash-neutral swap of the impending free agents, that doesn’t quite work.

With Arraez and Adam, this deal would give Houston two players it could use immediately. Arraez, in particular, is needed in a first base slot that is a major concern for the Astros.

This is also about money. With $51.2 million in salary going out and $19.9 million in salary coming in, this deal would free up a ton of cap space for the Astros to subsequently bring Bregman back.