There's a reason Kyle Tucker rumors were everywhere during the MLB winter meetings.

One wouldn't necessarily think that the Houston Astros would be willing to move the three-time All-Star outfielder, but general manager Dana Brown has been clear from the start that nothing is off the table this winter.

When the meetings began on Monday, Brown stuck to the company line when he was asked directly about Tucker's trade candidacy. As recorded by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com:

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, four teams are solidly in the mix for Tucker, either because they're already talking to the Astros or because they simply have the pieces to get a deal done.

It's also possible to imagine a mystery team (or two...or three) getting involved, even if it is an entirely speculative exercise for now.

In any case, let's assess Tucker's trade value before pondering seven potential trade packages for him.

What Is Tucker's Trade Value?

Though Tucker has gotten his share of accolades since he joined the Astros in 2018, it still feels like he's underrated.

The 27-year-old was one of only five hitters to top 5 rWAR annually between 2021 and 2023, in which time he averaged a .870 OPS, 30 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

Tucker fell 0.3 rWAR shy of another 5-rWAR season in 2024 even though he was limited to 78 games by a fractured right shin. Among hitters with 300 plate appearances, he had the best OPS+ this side of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.

As to why the Astros are willing to entertain trading Tucker, part of it has to do with how he's ticketed for free agency after 2025. The bigger part has to do with their payroll.

The Astros are a luxury tax payor this year, which puts them in line for stiffer penalties if they pay again in 2025. Currently, they're projected at less than $8 million in average annual value below the $241 million threshold.

That is with moves still to make, such as potentially re-signing Alex Bregman.

If the Astros trade Tucker, they would offload a $15.8 million projected salary for 2025. Baseball Trade Values puts his surplus value on top of that money at $31.4 million, indicating they should be able to save money and get ample talent back in a trade.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Astros are prioritizing corner infielders and starting pitching in a Tucker trade. At the same time, both his reporting and more from Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic bring up all sorts of possibilities.

The New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies are in the race for Tucker, per Sherman. Before we get to them, let's first pitch trade packages for three other win-now clubs who also look like fits.

Note: All farm system and prospect rankings are according to B/R's Joel Reuter.

Mystery Team: Toronto Blue Jays

Trade Proposal: Toronto Blue Jays get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get SS Arjun Nimmala (Blue Jays No. 1, MLB No. 81), 3B Orelvis Martinez (Blue Jays No. 3)

Why It Works for the Blue Jays

If the question is where the Blue Jays go after whiffing on Juan Soto, "Go get a guy who had a higher OPS in 2024" is a pretty good answer.

This is an actual fact about Tucker vis-à-vis Soto, as the former had a .993 OPS to the latter's .989 OPS. Tucker is otherwise the better baserunner and defender, and the latter is something the Blue Jays value arguably to a fault.

As Tucker would join Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette as free-agents-to-be in Toronto, this would be the Blue Jays going all-in on 2025. It wouldn't be a bad gamble, especially knowing that the club's starting rotation is already one of MLB's best.

Why It Works for the Astros

This is where this concept begins to break down. The Blue Jays are short on tradeable assets in general, and this would be a weak return for Houston.

Nimmala and Martinez aren't value-less, however. Nimmala has upside as a power-hitting shortstop. Martinez is still serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs, but he had previously been one of MLB's top prospects.

Otherwise, this deal would be about the savings for Astros. They would have roughly $15 million to reinvest into Bregman or whoever.

Mystery Team: San Diego Padres

Trade Proposal: 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 are going to catch up to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, they'd be wise to swing big. This trade would do the trick.

Though Fernando Tatis Jr. has right field squared away, Tucker would slot nicely into Jurickson Profar's vacated shoes in left field. It hasn't been his primary position as a big leaguer, but he does have 72 games' worth of experience out there.

Otherwise, an offensive foursome of Tucker, Tatis, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill would be downright intimidating. Intimidating enough, even, to give the Dodgers' trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman a run for its money.

Why It Works for the Astros

Honestly, I did consider a straight-up trade of Tucker for Dylan Cease. But since it would be a basically cash-neutral swap of impending free agents, it doesn't quite work.

In Arraez and Adam, this deal would net Houston two pieces it could plug in right away. Arraez, especially, is needed at a first base slot that has been a huge problem for the Astros.

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

Mystery Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Trade Proposal: Los Angeles Dodgers get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get 3B Max Muncy, RHP Bobby Miller

Why It Works for the Dodgers

Seriously, how funny would it be if the Dodgers beat the Padres to Tucker?

The idea is more of a reach, if for no other reason than the Dodgers just added a left-handed-hitting outfielder via a one-year, $17 million deal with Michael Conforto. But since they're reportedly still in on Teoscar Hernández, we know they still want an outfielder.

If Tucker ends up being that guy, the Dodgers' Ohtani-Betts-Freeman trio would become an utterly unrivaled foursome. By rWAR, these guys are the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth most valuable hitters dating back to the 2021 season.

Why It Works for the Astros

Muncy doesn't care who the Dodgers trade for, so long as he sticks around. But that obviously wouldn't be the case here.

Instead, he would go to Houston to fill an immediate need for the Astros. He could play third in Bregman's stead, or perhaps shift to the other side of the infield to shore up first base.

The Astros would otherwise get a pure upside play in Miller. He is coming off a brutal season, in large part thanks to a bad shoulder. But in 2023, the 25-year-old was a rookie sensation whose stuff rated as some of the best in baseball.

Actual Suitor: San Francisco Giants

Trade Proposal: San Francisco Giants get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get 1B LaMonte Wade Jr., INF/OF Tyler Fitzgerald

Why It Works for the Giants

Buster Posey, the catcher-turned-president of baseball operations, doesn't see the Giants as being in the baseball business. For him, they're in the memory making business:

It's a good mindset to have when putting a roster together, and the Giants have been busy in this regard. They extended Matt Chapman in September and their signing of Willy Adames gives him a proper companion on the left side of the infield.

A trade for Tucker would be meant to give the Giants a superstar and lineup anchor. Possibly only for one year, sure, but that one year could create many memories if the result was the Giants making the playoffs.

Why It Works for the Astros

This package may not look like much at first, but it's worth a closer look.

Wade is an on-base machine, having posted a .373 OBP in 2023 and a .380 OBP in 2024. Fitzgerald hit 15 homers in 96 games this season, and he has the right-handed pull power to take aim at the Crawford Boxes at Minute Maid Park sorry, Daikin Park.

This is otherwise another savings deal for Houston. Wade is slated to earn $4.7 million in 2025, while Fitzgerald is not yet arbitration-eligible.

Actual Suitor: Philadelphia Phillies

Trade Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get 3B Alec Bohm, OF Griffin Burkholder (Phillies No. 8)

Why It Works for the Phillies

According to Sherman, the Phillies have "found a deal difficult to make" with the Astros. Which may be true, but it makes sense that they would want to try.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wants to shake things up after back-to-back years of diminishing returns in the playoffs. The outfield is certainly primed for new blood. Unless anyone is still high on Nick Castellanos, it is a star-less unit.

A trade for Tucker would change that. And with him alongside Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies would be yet another team that would be able to boast of an intimidating foursome.

Why It Works for the Astros

A Tucker-for-Bohm concept might be too obvious. But it works, and not just because Bohm could replace Bregman at third base in Houston.

Bohm, who's an All-Star third baseman in his own right, is also younger and cheaper. He's 28 and projected to earn a modest $8.1 million next season, and he would be under Houston's control through 2026.

Burkholder would be a throw-in, albeit one with real upside. He went in the second round of this year's draft, but he offered first-round talent by way of his five-tool potential.

Actual Suitor: Chicago Cubs

Trade Proposal: Chicago Cubs get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get RF Seiya Suzuki, INF Matt Shaw (Cubs No. 2, MLB No. 36)

Why It Works for the Cubs

The Cubs have a whole bunch of 20-homer hitters, but no good bets to hit 30-plus in a season.

It therefore makes sense that they would be a "strong player" for Tucker, to use Sherman's words. And even if trading for him would constitute a risk after a consecutive 83-win seasons, the Cubs are in good position to take such a chance.

The Milwaukee Brewers have won back-to-back NL Central titles, but Adames is merely the latest in a long line of painful departures. If ace closer Devin Williams is next, the Cubs' path to the top of the division would look that much smoother.

Why It Works for the Astros

Suzuki is one of the guys the Astros are targeting in Tucker talks, according to Rosenthal and Rome. As well they should be.

Suzuki has had durability issues in his three major league seasons, but he's upped his OPS each year. He finished this season with a .848 OPS and 21 home runs, with red bars all over his Baseball Savant page.

Because Suzuki is owed $19 million over the next two seasons, Houston would not save money in this deal. But that money would effectively be buying two players, as Shaw is ready for a shot in the majors after raking (.867 OPS) in the high minors this season.

Actual Suitor: New York Yankees

Trade Proposal: New York Yankees get OF Kyle Tucker; Houston Astros get RHP Luis Gil

Why It Works for the Yankees

The Yankees made a $760 million bid to retain Soto, but it was $5 million and one luxury suite short of what the cross-town Mets got him to accept.

Hence why the Yankees are "seriously" pursuing Tucker, according to Sherman.

We've been over how he had a higher OPS than Soto this year, and then there's how his swing would be perfect for Yankee Stadium. According to Statcast, Tucker would have 11 more home runs on his career line if he'd been calling the Bronx home all this time.

Tucker would also boost the Yankees' baserunning and defense, but this would ultimately be about replacing Soto as Aaron Judge's partner in batting crimes. And this time, perhaps the Yankees would push harder to get an extension done.

Why It Works for the Astros

Per Sherman, the Astros are "said to be very interested" in Gil, who's fresh off winning the AL Rookie of the Year.

He has his warts, including a league-high 77 walks from this season. But he also allowed just 104 hits in 151.2 innings, with 171 strikeouts to boot. His fastball might be the best out of any starting pitcher.

Moreover, the 26-year-old Gil is still pre-arbitration eligible and under team control through 2028. As such, this trade would both fill an immediate need and open up valuable payroll space for the Astros.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.