Astros: Looking deeper into why they could want Carlos Gonzalez

Reason Two: Bridging the gap till Kyle Tucker is ready.

Jeff Luhnow is trying to build a team that wins now and later. The minor leagues are supposed to provide a constant influx of minor league talent. As we will see in a few seasons, it will be difficult for the team to offer the contracts to all the young core players. This adds another veteran presence in the lineup during this window, for at least this one season.

As much as we want Kyle Tucker to get up to the big leagues, team control will become a factor as we see players sign elsewhere. By signing Gonzalez, this would allow the team to keep Tucker down in Triple-A all season, without starting his arbitration clock. Tucker could get a September call-up, but they would have less of a need for him.