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Jed Hoyer Makes Questionable Comments on Kyle Tucker's Cubs Future

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 4:50 PM ET

Under no circumstances should Jed Hoyer have a job if Chicago Cubs star Kyle Tucker walks in free agency. Unless the ownership group is too cheap to allow Hoyer to re-sign him to a massive long-term extension, it should be viewed as a failure if Tucker doesn't have Cubs blue on next season.

Tucker has been better than ever during the 2025 season, which is remarkable to consider.

While he posted a 179 OPS+ last season, he appeared in less than 80 games. In 67 games this season, he has a 157 OPS+, which would be the best of his career if he stays on the field for more than 78 games.

In this span, he also has 13 home runs, 12 doubles, and 43 RBIs.

When speaking to reporters about the situation, Hoyer admitted that he wants to keep these talks internal. That could be a really bad sign or a very good sign. Only time will tell, but from Tucker's perspective, he has no reason to take a deal right now.

"Obviously, we gave up a lot to get him, and you know we’d love to keep him long term," he told Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman. "As far as conversations go, I keep that in house, but certainly he's a player who's going to have options at the end of the year, but we'd love to love to keep him and hopefully the best sales pitch you can have is a winning team and an awesome place to play and, so that'd be the hope."

If the slugger wants to return to Chicago, he has to understand that unless the Cubs come in with a $650-plus million offer now, there's no reason for him to take it.

Getting into a bidding war with other teams should be his and his agents' plan.

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

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