Astros GM: 'We're still going to compete' despite Tucker trade

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown maintained that his team has no plans to rebuild despite trading star outfielder Kyle Tucker.

"The window is definitely still open. ... Make no mistake, we're still going to compete," Brown told reporters Friday after the trade was announced, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome.

To that end, Brown added that the trade will have no impact on the Astros' quest to retain star third baseman Alex Bregman, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.

Tucker has been one of the American League's best all-around outfielders over the last several seasons and until Friday was a staple of the Astros' lineup. The three-time All-Star helped Houston to a pair of pennants as well as the 2022 World Series championship, where he caught the final out.

But with Tucker set to hit free agency next winter, Houston made the decision to deal the 27-year-old to the Chicago Cubs for three players, including corner infielder Isaac Paredes.

Friday's trade could mark the end of the most prosperous era in franchise history. Over the last decade, the Astros have made nine playoff appearances and won seven division titles, four pennants, and two World Series titles. They won a fourth straight AL West crown in 2024 but were swept out of the wild-card series by the Detroit Tigers in a monumental upset that led to questions about their future direction.

Speculation had been growing about Houston potentially trading top starting pitcher Framber Valdez. Brown admitted he's received phone calls about the left-hander but dismissed the idea that he's looking to trade Valdez, which would almost certainly signal a rebuild.

"With Valdez, we are not aggressively trying to move him, but we'll listen," Brown said, per Rome. "If you ask me do you think we're going to trade Valdez, I don't think we're going to trade Valdez."