The Houston Astros traded star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs on Friday. While that may seem like a signal that the franchise is wrapping up a dynastic run. It shouldn’t be taken that way.
The Astros will have new names in their lineup in 2025, in place of Tucker and third baseman Alex Bregman, who is most likely leaving via free agency. But if you think the Astros are dead, think again.
Houston has been to the playoffs every year since 2017. They’ve won the American League West four straight seasons, and seven of the last eight years. The Astros have been the AL representative in the World Series in four of the last eight seasons. They won 88 games last season. Even without Tucker and Bregman, players with five All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves. and two Silver Slugger awards between them, Houston has talent to once again be the top hombres in the west.
Tucker was on pace for a career season last year when he suffered an injury in early June that kept him shelved for three months. He played 78 games and managed 23 home runs. Most impressively, his OPS was 993 on the strength of a .588 SLG and .408 OBP, both career bests. He will turn 28 in January, and has many great years ahead.
The Cubs gain a middle-of-the-order dynamo in Tucker: a legit MVP candidate, even in the NL where superstars abound. But, the Astros won’t be without options in 2025.
Astros Projected Lineup for 2025
This projected lineup for the 2025 Houston Astros assumes they sign a first baseman and elevate top outfield prospect Jacob Melton to fill the void left by the Tucker trade.
- Jose Altuve … 2B
- Yordan Alvarez … DH
- Christian Walker … 1B
- Isaac Paredes … 3B
- Yainer Diaz … C
- Jeremy Peña … SS
- Jake Meyers … CF
- Jacob Melton … RF
- Mauricio Dubón … LF
You can fill in a left-handed bat at first base if you want (Jon Singleton is still on the roster, but he’s not shown he can be a run producer and is already in his early 30s).
Instead of Walker, the Astros could swing a deal for a first baseman, like Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson, or even poach Pete Alonso (longshot). But this lineup will need an additional capable lefthanded bat to complement Alvarez. If they re-sign Bregman, Paredes can play first base.
It’s important to note that Alvarez, Peña, Paredes, and Diaz are all entering their age 28 (Yordan), 27 (Peña), or 26 years (in the case of Paredes and Diaz). Meyers is a Gold Glove caliber center fielder and won’t be 29 until next June.
The Astros have young players to match nicely with the ageless Jose Altuve, who was 15th in MVP voting last season, and shows no signs of slowing down.
The Astros have 2- solid arms in the bullpen. They will need to solve problems with their starting rotation. Cristian Javier won’t be available post-Tommy John surgery until maybe May. Ditto José Urquidy. The team shouldn’t expect much from those two arms. Apparently, the front office is willing to trade ace Framber Valdez. But, if they can flip him into a left-handed bat AND a pitching prospect, that would seem like a plus.
The AL West does not have a de facto favorite. The Texas Rangers blew their wad winning the 2023 World Series. The Mariners are still a few players away from being the class of this division. Who knows what the Angels are up to? The A’s will be playing in a Triple-A ballpark next spring.
The AL West is wide open, and until some other team comes along to muscle the Astros away, Houston is still King of the Mountain.
