The Chicago Cubs were already feeling pressure to get a deal done for Kyle Tucker during the offseason.
With the latest news on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. last week, signing a $500 million extension, that pressure is higher than ever.
Many around Major League Baseball seem to understand that too, including agents, who spoke with Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, saying that Tucker is now the headliner of next free agency and his value only increased because of the deal Guerrero took.
“Kyle Tucker’s value just increased and he should thank Vlad Jr.,” another agent said. “He’s not going backwards. That’s your target area. Maybe he doesn’t get that, but that’s on the board.”
Mooney added that the pressure is on the Cubs to extend the slugger to the biggest contract in franchise history. Tucker could be looking at a $600-plus million deal, and would be worth every penny of that given what he's done throughout his career.
“And the pressure is on the Cubs to sign Tucker to the biggest contract in franchise history...
“From the agents’ perspective, Guerrero’s deal widened the divide between the superstars who are getting paid handsomely and the middle-class players who are getting squeezed out. That leaves Tucker on deck as a huge winner in the wake of Guerrero’s extension,” Mooney wrote.
There are some uncertainties about the Cubs getting a deal done, as they haven't been willing to give that type of contract out in the past.
However, if this team wants to continue to compete at the level it has over the past few weeks, they need to keep Tucker around.
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