Astros open to Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez trade offers

DALLAS – Astros general manager Dana Brown isn’t ruling anything out this offseason, and that includes listening to trade offers for Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez. And if somehow the Toronto Blue Jays approach him with an offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brown is willing to listen about that deal too.

It’s clear, however, that the Astros’ top priority this winter is to re-sign Alex Bregman. Brown is optimistic about re-signing the All-Star third baseman. 

“We’ve been communicating back and forth, so that’s why I feel optimistic (about Bregman),” Brown said Monday during the first day of baseball’s Winter Meetings at the Hilton Anatole. “And I also mentioned I’m optimistic because Alex Bregman likes playing here. We love having him here. We’re pretty optimistic.”

Manager Joe Espada is hopeful about re-signing Bregman.

“I try to stay neutral when it comes to that because I want Alex Bregman back as much as everyone in our city,” Espada said. “But that’s the part of the business that you never know.

“We are definitely making a push, and hopefully we can get this deal done here at some point.”

Open for business

Brown reiterated his past stance that he won’t take anything off the table in the quest to improve the Astros. With that in mind, he was asked if he would consider trade requests for Tucker and Valdez. Both of those All-Stars will be free agents after next season.

Brown says he will listen for trade inquiries on all players. It goes without saying that club icon Jose Altuve, who signed an extension in February, is not one of those players. It’s fair to assume Yordan Alvarez is as close to untouchable as Altuve, considering his team-friendly deal.

Tucker has definitely drawn interest this winter.

“You would listen on all the players,” Brown said. “I don’t think you would turn a deaf ear to any of these guys. I think the big thing is that if you have an opportunity to make the club better that you would at least listen to other clubs and see if there’s something that makes sense for the club in the present and also long term.”

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Tucker, who will celebrate his 28th birthday on Jan. 17, is a three-time All-Star and former Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award winner. 

He has been an All-Star each of the last three seasons. Tucker was limited to only 78 games because of a leg injury this year. He hit 23 home runs with 49 RBIs with a .289 batting average this season.

Ace Framber Valdez

Valdez has been the Astros’ ace the last two years and one of the top two starters for the last three seasons. In the 2022 World Series, he won Games 2 and 6 to lead the Astros to the franchise’s second title. He has finished in the Top 9 in the American League Cy Young Award race each of the last three seasons.

Framber Valdez, 31, was 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA over 28 starts this year. The two-time All-Star struck out 169 over 176 ⅓ innings. 

The Astros could benefit from upgrading at first base. If they don’t re-sign Bregman, at third base. Brown was asked if he would consider a trade for a one-year rental like the Blue Jays’ Guerrero Jr., one of the best first basemen in the majors.

“Look, we have to look to the future,” Brown said. “That’s part of what we do. But we have to operate in the present and try to win in the present. And so anytime you have a good player like Vlad Jr. if there’s a conversation, if a club calls you and they talk to you about Vlad Jr., you’re going to listen. That’s with any player.

“It has nothing to do with Vlad or anybody else. Any type of good player you’re always going to have conversations if another team brings that player up and makes him available. It’s all about how good the player is.”