The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Brian McTaggart: Astros Have 'Momentum Building' For Kyle Tucker Trade At MLB Winter Meetings

Episode Date: December 12, 2024

Following Juan Soto's historic contract, the value of Kyle Tucker has increased drastically. The Houston Astros right fielder is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, and general manager Dana Brown could look to benefit from trading Tucker before he hits the open market. "Definitely seemed like there is momentum building," Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, said while attending the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas. Tucker and the Astros agreed on a $12 million contract last season after the 27-year-old lost his arbitration case the year prior. "There's always been a belief that Tucker was going to explore free agency," McTaggart said. Framber Valdez will also be a free agent next season at age 32. The left-handed pitcher held a 15-7 record, 2.91 ERA and 4.5 WAR in 2024, but Brown said he will "listen on anybody" when asked if he would consider a trade of either Valdez or Tucker. "I think it's less likely that [Valdez] gets traded," McTaggart said. The Astros still remain in the race to sign Alex Bregman, who is now a free agent. Houston offered the third baseman six years at about $156 million, and agent Scott Boras has stated that he is still communicating with Brown about a potential deal, but many remain pessimistic as Bregman is reportedly seeking a number closer to $200 million. "I find it hard to believe that the Astros would go above six years." The Astros have their ace, third baseman and right fielder dominating the headlines from Winter Meetings, and there is a chance that the 2025 season's lineup would feature a lot of new faces in key positions, but could the Astros still win the division with a restructured roster? "They're not the 2019 Astros," but they "could still be a pretty good team," McTaggart said.

on the Astros, and you know what, why not? We don't need to speculate anymore. We've got the insider with us. Let's go. He's with us every Thursday at 1 o'clock during the baseball season, and we're happy to have Brian McTago joining us in the winter meetings. Brian, first of all, you are missed. Secondly, how crazy has it been speculation-wise?

You've been going to these things for a long time. Is this the most activity in terms of heard this, heard that, that you have been around in a long time when it revolves around the Astros? Yeah, around the Astros, I would say yes. I mean, you know, typically there's all kinds of, you know, stuff thrown out or nonsense. And but yesterday, you know, wondering the floor of the hotel, the lobby. And every time I turn around, I'm, you know, talking to a different agent or someone with another team. And everyone's like, what are you hearing?

What are you hearing? And everyone's trying to find out what everybody else knows, other reporters as well. So when there's buzz like that, there means usually something is going on. and it definitely seemed like there's momentum building towards Kyle Tucker being traded now. And, you know, Bregman's still out there as well. You know, two different, two separate situations. But the Astros are Dana Brown thought they were close to getting something done the other day. So the way continues, though, nothing's done yet.

All right. Back to the speculation on Kyle for a second. I always said, and maybe there wasn't a moment in time, but obviously when you had the arbitration of a few years back and the Astros lawsuit, there were some resentment on the Kyle Tucker side. And also Kyle Tucker knows the landscape of what the Astros have done. Do you think there was a conversation ever between Kyle and Jim or Dana in the last, say, six months? It said, look, I know you're looking for the mega deal.

You know that we don't offer the mega deals that when the season settles down and everybody's done in their offseason, we're going to go to the winter meetings and really try to see what we can do and finding you a new place for 2025 to help you figure out what you're going to do for the long term or do you think this was always just something that was kind of brought up and passing conversation

but because there are more media there, more people talking about it, this all of a sudden has gained some steam. Yeah, I don't know if they ever had those conversations. I mean, they tried to extend Tucker previously and, you know, it didn't happen. So I think there's always been a belief that Tucker was going to explore free agency

and it came to that point, the Astros weren't going to resign him. And now you see Juan Soto again, that crazy money. And Kyle Tucker next year could be one of the biggest free agent names on the market, you know, a guy with 50 Homer Power with more tools and Soto all around. And so he sees that and he's going to, you know, want $400,500 million. And the Astros see that as well. And, you know, the Astros are just like, let's get something for him.

And, you know, I don't blame him. They could get a couple of big league players, a couple of prospects maybe, not have to pay him 15 plus million in arbitration this year. And they won't lose them next year. I mean, they lost, you know, Krea, they lost Springer, didn't get anything for them. You know, I can't remember if they got qualifying offers or not. Maybe they got a draft pick. But, you know, their farm system is in the position where they say, okay, we'll let Tucker walk and we'll just plug this guy in. They're just not there.

They need to, and they have so many questions on the big league club. They could sort of fill both of those questions by trading one guy and free up some payroll. It makes a lot of sense. Where do you think that puts us, Brian, just in kind of as far as an era of this Astros team, there was obviously a very hard rebuild. Then there's the championship era. Is this seeming like a soft reset and they want to contend in a couple of years? Like philosophically, where is this driving this organization the next couple of years?

Well, I don't think they'll ever rebuild under Jim Crane. I mean, he sort of said that. I would say maybe a retool. I mean, you know, they could trade Tucker, get a couple pieces and still sign a couple of more players. It still won the division. I mean, the division's not great. I mean, it took what 88 wins to win the division last year. So, you know, Rangers just resigned the Evaldi and, you know, angels have made some moves.

So still, there's a lot can happen. But it's not like trading Tucker and, you know, you're falling into the abyss now. They could still be really good next year. They're not the 2019 Astros, and they might not be, again, unless they, you know, go through a rebuild process. But I would call it more of a retool. It might look different. It might not feel fun for Astros fans if Tucker and Bregman aren't there anymore. But, you know, there could be a different, a new face at third, a new face and right, a new face in center, a new starting pitcher.

And that could still be a pretty good team, especially if you build it around pitching a little bit. Brian McTaggart, MLB.com with us here on Sports Talk 790. A man has kind of been somewhat forgotten, at least with all the talk that's been going on. What do you think about Framber Valdez? Do you think there's much of a market for him? Could he possibly be moved? Or do you think he is still in an Astros uniform come opening day? When we met with Dana Brown Monday in Dallas, he did bring up Frommers name.

I guess, you know, I'm sure you know, as a guy they would consider trading as well. It is something they consider, you know, sort of the same boat as Tucker. If they do, and they want to compete, I mean, you're going to have to go get a starting pitcher or two because he's your race, he's your horse. I think it's less likely he gets traded. But also a guy that, you know, if he has a really solid 20, 25, he's going to make a ton of money on a large contract. And probably the Astros wouldn't have a ton of interest in bringing him back. So they could trade him and get something as well. But, you know, baseball is about pitching.

And he still looks pretty good at the top of your rotation. trade Tucker, you know, you free up that $15 million or so, he's going to make an arbitration. Baldez is probably going to make $18 million, so he's going to cost a lot as well. So I don't think you necessarily have to trade both, but, you know, I think there's a chance, but a little less likely that Bramberg gets traded at this point. Brian, when it comes to Brehman, what's you waiting for right now? Do you think Scott Boris is a type of person that says, all right, we're calling a deadline in, make your best offer, let's go, or is there any sort of waiting game that we're in right now?

Well, we're still in the waiting game. I don't know where Alex's mind is. I don't think he's a guy that wants to wait forever and get into January and February, not knowing where he's going. I heard yesterday when I was in the lobby that the Red Sox were the team to watch at that point, which makes total absolute sense, putting him at third base there and playing, you know, with the Green Monster. You know, that would be tough for Astros fans to see.

But, you know, I don't know if the Yankees are involved. but, you know, I think we'll have a Bregman decision sooner than later. It's not going to drag on. You know, I still think there's a shot he could wind up here, probably a small shot. Dana Brown said Tuesday they were, you know, optimistic. They could get something done with Bregman. I mean, I'm not sure where that comes from. So, you know, maybe the market's not there for him and his offer value comes down

and the Astros can raise theirs a little bit and there's some kind of match. But I still think that's unlikely. When Dana tells you stuff like that, do you think it's just a straight situation of we gave him an initial offer? You reported last week 6156. Are they holding back a little bit of money or are they saying we think we've been able to figure out what your value is? If you can't find something better than 6156, then we're always here for you. I think there might be a little wiggle room in that. I mean, he was asked if they made him another offer beyond the 656 and he didn't say.

but I think the Astros put a lot of thought to what his value is, what he's worth, knowing that there might be a team or multiple teams that could offer him more, but maybe the market's not there for him. And maybe if the Astros up their offer by another year, they get close to a match and something can get done. Still, I find it hard to believe the Astros would go longer than six years to a player who's in his early 30s, even if it is Alex Breggman, somebody that, everybody loves and has been a cornerstone player.

I just don't think the money is going to match up. All right. Last question. If Breggman moves, which I anticipate that happening, what do the Astros do right away for satisfying third base? Well, at the same time, maybe still looking for some first base help. Yeah, well, I think we go back to Tucker. You know, if they trade Tucker, maybe they get a third baseman and an outfielder from another team. You know, we've all seen, you know, Jorge Polanco, somebody. they're interested in to come in and play third base.

He's not Alex Bregman, and whoever they put in right field is not Cal Tucker. But they can still add more pieces on top of those guys. So, you know, I think the Astros need to make a decision at some point sooner or later on Breggman, whether they think he's going to sign or not and say, okay, we're going to do this. And they did start having post-life without Breggman, post-Breggman conversations at the winter meetings. I think they realize this is a long shot. And I think they're sort of starting to formulate plans to move on. And if they trade Tucker, they might get a third baseman in return and close the door on Bregman.

And they start in 2025 with some new faces. Did the Astro Suite provide delicious snacks and alcoholic beverages for the reporters? No. It is not that exciting. I mean, we go in there. There's a, you know, a gaggle of media. We all sat on chairs. It was like a big suite. we all sat on chairs, like sort of a U-shaped angle, and Dana Brown sat in the middle, and it was, you know, everyone's kind of sitting back with their legs crossed and their notepads out and just, you know, peppering questions to Dana.

And then after about 10 minutes or so, we leave, but no, no snacks, no drinks. It was a few years ago. We were leaving, and Jeff Luno offered us a bottle of wine that was sitting on the floor that he didn't want. But I passed on that. I was good. Hey, safe travels back. Thank you for the information. And if we don't, we may call you one more time.

I mean, seriously, Bragman moves, Tucker gets moved. You're on the scene. We know you know people. We're going to have to call you one more time. You understand that, right? I will be here and I will answer. You know that. You're the best.

Brian McTaggart, MLB, Doc. Oh, I forgot to ask Brian. Do you hear about our new quarterback, Mr. McTaggart? I was about to say I couldn't believe this didn't come up. I know, I know. I know. I know. I forgot.

I did. Very, very exciting. Very, very exciting. I mean, he's been a rough couple of years for U.H. quarterback, so, you know, give Willie Fritz some time. I think he knows what he's doing, and if they can add a couple of receivers in the portal, let's go. Let's, you know, Big 12 is wide open.

They can win it. Just say what everybody's thinking. We're the next Big 12 champions, period of the story. I like it. We are. Arizona State was picked last. They won. Hey, it is completely wide open.

My money's on the cooks. Oh, it's always on the cooks. Thank you, friend. We appreciate it. Brian McTaggart. MLB slash Cougar Objective Reporter.