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Cam Smith Sends Kyle Tucker Message Ahead of Cubs-Astros Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 5:52 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs travel to Houston for the weekend in what will surely be one of the biggest baseball spectacles this season.

The storyline around top prospect Cam Smith and Kyle Tucker each facing the teams that drafted them and traded them will be talked about at length over the weekend.

Mostly, however, it will surely make for entertaining baseball as the two teams, who each look poised to make a run at their division, both come in at 48-33 entering Friday's games.

Smith, who was the most prized piece of the Astros' return for Tucker, sent a clear message on his trade partner before Friday's game.

"It's baseball, it's a business," Smith said in response to whether he has spoken to Tucker, who is also represented by Excel Sports Management. "We haven't really chatted much, obviously we share the same agent, but he's doing his thing in Chicago, I'm over here," he said.

Smith instantly became the Astros' starting right fielder, and joined Mark Teixeira in 2003 and Paul Molitor in 1978 as the only players to play a different position in their first ever starts.

On the other side, Tucker has been absolutely as advertised, and with his .922 OPS, 16 home runs and .287 average, looks well on his way to a handsome payday from either the Cubs or any other team.

Tucker's 2025 season seems to mirror Juan Soto's 2024 season with the Yankees, as both stars have rose to their potential ahead of their impending free agencies.

The eyes of the baseball world will be on Daikin Park in Houston Friday as fans will be curious to see the reception towards Tucker, who led the Astros to a 2022 World Series win, in his former home.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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