Astros: What does the future hold for Kyle Tucker?

Did the success of Astros’ phenom Yordan Alvarez alter the future of Kyle Tucker? Will he get the call-up this season or has he now become expendable?

Astros‘ prospect Kyle Tucker has been all over the map when it comes to performance level in different environments. He was on fire at AAA last season, but when called up to Houston, the spark was dead. In Spring Training this year, he was mediocre at best. He had a horrid start to the season in Round Rock, but has turned it around since and is playing like a top prospect again.

But is that enough? The landscape has changed significantly since Alvarez seemingly leapfrogged Tucker. Alvarez is all of the sudden the talk of the town, the new rookie star, the future of the Astros. Is there room for Tucker on the Houston Astros’ roster? Has Alvarez made him expendable? Possibly trade bait?

The Astros are rumored to be in hot pursuit of a starting pitcher and maybe even some bullpen help. Toronto Blue Jays’ Marcus Stroman and Detroit’s Matthew Boyd are a couple of names being bandied about in recent rumors.

Both teams are going to want a top prospect in any type of deal and Tucker’s name has already been mentioned. Will GM Jeff Luhnow be willing to bend a little and finally offer up Tucker? According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the answer is apparently “no”, for now.

Maybe Luhnow should reconsider and just pull the trigger. Get that big name pitcher, or two, that will take the Astros to their ultimate goal, another World Series Championship. Dangle one of your top prospects out there and get it done.

After all, Alex Bregman just signed a shiny new contract and will be here through 2024. George Springer, Michael Brantley, and Josh Reddick won’t be free agents until 2021, and I’d be surprised if one or two of those don’t get an extension. Alvarez is obviously here for the long-term. So where does Tucker fit in? Tucker is currently playing very well, for now. Let’s strike while the iron is hot.