Only Nick Krall and other members of the Cincinnati Reds’ front office know whether the team was ever in the mix to trade for superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker. While the Reds were never explicitly tied to Tucker in reports, given their pressing need for an outfield bat, it would be surprising if Cincinnati’s front office didn’t at least reach out to Houston Astros GM Dana Brown.
Reds fans will see plenty of Tucker next season, but unfortunately, it will be in a Chicago Cubs uniform. The Cubs bolstered their position as NL Central contenders by acquiring Tucker from the Astros earlier this week.
Reds could explore a trade for Astros even after missing out on Kyle Tucker
The Cincinnati Reds could find help for their outfield in 2025 from another Astros player: Chas McCormick. While McCormick had a rough season in Houston that included a demotion to Triple-A Sugar Land, he’s known for excelling against left-handed pitching and providing above-average defense—qualities that could appeal to Krall and his team.
In 2024, McCormick battled injuries and appeared in just 94 games, hitting .211/.271/.306 with five home runs and 27 RBIs. However, his three prior seasons were much stronger, as he posted a .259/.336/.449 slash line and averaged 17 home runs per year.
Notably, McCormick has continued to perform well against lefties, even with his struggles in 2024. He boasts a career .864 OPS and a 142 wRC+ against southpaws. Defensively, he’s accumulated 15 defensive runs saved (DRS) and 27 outs above average (OAA) over four seasons while playing all three outfield positions.
McCormick could be an ideal platoon partner for Jake Fraley in right field. With two years of team control remaining and a projected arbitration salary of just $3.3 million, he’s a cost-effective option. He also retains minor-league options, making him a flexible addition that wouldn’t require a huge prospect haul.
Krall has noted that teams this offseason are more focused on acquiring major league-ready talent rather than prospects. A trade package centered around Connor Phillips might work to acquire McCormick. Like McCormick, Phillips had a down year in 2024, and both players could benefit from a change of scenery.
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