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The Astros won’t be helping the Yankees fill their Juan Soto void.
Houston sent stud outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs instead of the Yankees leaving the Bronx Bombers to continue their offensive search.
Chicago is sending Houston slugging third baseman Isaac Paredes, reliever Hayden Wesneski and infield prospect Cam Smith, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Tucker represented the best possible replacement for Soto due to his speed, power and defensive combination, but the Yankees were unwilling to include young flamethrower Luis Gil in the deal.
The franchises have bad blood due to the 2017 sign-stealing scandal, with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman calling it “horrific” and the reason why he didn’t truly view the Yankees as having a 15-year World Series drought before returning to the Fall Classic this past year.
The Yankees now will have to wait until free agency next winter to see if they can add Tucker in what would be the reverse scenario of Soto, in which they acquired the free agent to be and then lost him.
Tucker should land a massive contract next winter and the Yankees, in theory, are well positioned to offer him a big contract next offseason since they had $760 million to offer Soto.
But Tucker won’t help them in 2025 and the Yankees could now turn to Cubs outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.
The Post previously reported that Bellinger’s contract became a sticking point in negotiations, with Bellinger owed $52.5 million over the next two seasons and a $5 million buyout for 2026.
The Yankees have also expressed interest in free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, who played for the Diamondbacks last season.
Those talks have cooled, though, with one issue being the picks the Yankees would have to forfeit for Walker since he has a qualifying offer.
The Yankees could use a bat or two this winter, while their pitching staff is solidified after adding former Braves ace Max Fried on an eight-year, $218 million deal and trading for Brewers closer Devin Williams.
