As longtime Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart explained on MLB Network, Houston has lost a number of major players to free agency in recent years like Carlos Correa, George Springer and Gerrit Cole, and the team no longer has the kind of farm system to make up for those losses.

In a free agency lacking star hitters, a potential Kyle Tucker trade has instantly taken top priority at the Winter Meetings. Here's why Houston is considering the deal.

Six weeks into the offseason, the Houston Astros have been among the least active teams in baseball. They've yet to sign a major-league free agent and the only 40-man roster player they've acquired in a trade is extra outfielder Taylor Trammell.