Kyle Tucker should get extended, but will he?

    Kyle Tucker has cemented himself as a true five-tool player for the Houston Astros, and it's his talent that has landed him a spot on team USA's WBC lineup and has fans demanding an extension. Cristian Javier was just recently extended through 27 by GM Dana Brown. Brown has stated his interest in extending the stud right fielder, and remains optimistic on a deal getting done. But recent history gives reason to believe that a resolution might not be so likely.

 There's been a pattern throughout the Astros championship runs, that one could easily argue has kept them in title contention. They do not offer lenghty deals. The longest being Jose Altuve's 7-year, $163.5 million contract that he signed back in 2018. Their strategy has worked, with the Astros quickly finding replacements for former stars such as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Correa. Jeremy Peña who replaced Carlos Correa is coming off of a stellar postseason capped off by a World Series ring and a Gold Glove.

 What will make an extension with Tucker tricky as well is the players who are in line to receive a payday alongside him. Jose Altuve, the face of the franchise who has long stated his desire to play his entire career in Houston, will be a free agent in 2025. Alex Bregman will enter free agency that same year. Framber Valdez the year that follows.

 Finding superstar talents is already difficult enough, keeping them all is even harder. Decisions will have to be made, and the longer this goes on, the likelihood will only continue to dwindle.

  Kyle Tucker will enter free agency at age 28, in the prime of his career. He's finished top 20 in MVP voting the past two years. An elite defensive outfielder with the hardware to prove it. With the shift ban starting this season, everybody expects him to be even more impactful offensively than he already is. The pickoff limits and increased bases mean he'll cause even more havoc on the basepaths. A 30/30 season almost seems like a sure-fire thing.

 If he can sustain health and maintains his level of performance, he'd be well in line to receive a monster deal down the line. Fangraphs estimated his value to be at $37.7 million anually, third amongst all right fielders behind Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts.

 Hope shouldn't be thrown out the window, as he's still under contract for three more years, and the Astros could pivot on their stance. At worst, we will be witnesses to King Tuck's greatness in an Astros uniform until 2026. Nonchalant homerun robberies, bat-flips and all. At best, we'll see the first real megadeal in Astros history. Either way, we've been given no reason to doubt the organization that has continued to field World Series contenders the past 7 years.