The Chicago Cubs are acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters, a person familiar with the situation said.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the move was pending a review of medical reports.

The Cubs are sending third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.

Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. He batted .284 with 29 homers, an AL-best 112 RBIs and 30 steals for Houston in 2023.

Tucker, who turns 28 on Jan. 17, joins a crowded situation in Chicago’s outfield, but the Cubs are reportedly looking to trade Cody Bellinger, who also can play first base. They also have talked to Seiya Suzuki’s agent about the outfielder’s no-trade clause.

The Cubs have finished second in the NL Central with an 83-79 record in each of the past two years, and there is increased pressure on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Yankees acquire All-Star closer >> The New York Yankees acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin on Friday.

The Yankees also will send more than $1 million to the Brewers as part of the trade.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.

Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. His fastball averaged 94.7 mph and he threw it on 53.5% of his pitches, mixing in 45% changeups — known as the “Airbender” — around 1.5% cutters.

Skiing

vonn back on slopes >> Lindsey Vonn will return to World Cup ski racing next weekend for a pair of super-G events in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as she continues her comeback at 40 years old.

Vonn teased her return in an Instagram post through her sponsor, Red Bull, on Friday morning. She said, “My body is finally put back together. I hear St. Moritz is pretty nice this time of year.” The U.S. Ski Team then confirmed she will race in St. Moritz.

She’s won five of her 82 World Cup races on the course at St. Moritz. There will be super-G competitions next Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s the coolest thing ever,” said Picabo Street, a two-time Olympic medalist and Vonn’s former teammate. “I’m not surprised at all. I’ve seen her intermittently and she’s stayed in great shape. She is the hardest working person I’ve met in my life — period.”

It will be Vonn’s first major race since February 2019, when she took third in the downhill during the world championships in Sweden. An assortment of injuries, including to her knee, sent her into retirement. But a partial knee replacement last April has her feeling good enough again to give racing another chance.

NHL

Blackhawks recall Nazar >> The Chicago Blackhawks recalled top prospect Frank Nazar from the minor leagues on Friday.

Chicago also placed defenseman Alec Martinez on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 7. Martinez, who signed a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency, has a neck injury.

The 20-year-old Nazar had 11 goals and 13 assists in 21 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League. He said he tried not to think about a possible promotion while he was playing with the IceHogs.

“Just play my game, focus on myself and obviously help the team win, best I could do, and let the rest come,” he said.

Olympics

Coach placed on leave >> The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee placed an employee on administrative leave Thursday after The Associated Press reported that one of its coaches was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, causing her so much distress that she attempted suicide.

Rocky Harris, USOPC chief of sport and athlete services, sent an email to U.S. Biathlon national team members to address the “concerning allegations of abuse” raised by several biathletes in the AP report.

“We want to commend these athletes for their immense courage and strength in coming forward,” the email said. “Effective immediately, we have placed a USOPC staff member on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.”