The Chicago Cubs Were Never Going To Re-Sign Kyle Tucker

The Chicago Cubs made a blockbuster move to acquire star Outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. Acquiring him in the last year of his contract, the Cubs knew if they wanted to keep him in the “Windy City” long term, they’d have to sign him to a long-term contract.

Will the Cubs Pay the Price?

Tucker’s next contract will most likely be a 10-year deal, paying him $30 million per year. This deal would be the largest contract the Cubs have given a player in franchise history, topping Jayson Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million deal, which he signed with the team in 2015. It was expected around the league that Chicago would extend Tucker, especially with the package they sent to the Astros.

Tucker had an up-and-down season in his first year with Chicago, but managed to put up solid numbers overall. He batted .266, with 22 home runs, and an .841 OPS. Since he was benched in August for a mental reset amid recent struggles, Tucker played better, hitting over .300. With the Cubs facing elimination, the question was posed on social media about whether or not Chicago would re-sign Tucker.

New Reports On Tucker

Jesse Rodgers of ESPN said on X last night that the Cubs were never going to re-sign Tucker. Rodgers made it crystal clear that Chicago acquired Tucker, knowing that they wouldn’t re-sign him. The question still remains: Why did they give up multiple assets to just let him walk? My guess is as good as yours. I’d say that there was immense pressure on the front office to make the playoffs, and Tucker would help them achieve that goal.

Looking at the National League, no matter how many moves the Cubs made, they were never going to be a serious World Series contender. Their pitching was too thin to compete with teams like the Dodgers, Padres, and even their division rival, the Milwaukee Brewers. Adding Tucker gave the fanbase something to be excited about, and he helped them reach the playoffs. Their plan could also be to build a more well-rounded team and invest heavily in pitching. The starting pitching market is deep for this year’s free agency, headlined by Michael King, Framber Valdez, and Dylan Cease.

Who Are the Top Suitors?

If the Cubs are out, I’d expect Tucker to sign with a big market team. The New York Yankees are a top suitor for Tucker, but it will be complicated to fit him into an already crowded outfield. If they signed Tucker, they’d have to let Trent Grisham walk, and figure out how they’d fit in Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez. New  York was aggressive in their pursuit of Tucker in the offseason, but couldn’t pry him away from Houston.

A dark horse for Tucker could be the Tampa Bay Rays. With new ownership coming in next year, they could make a huge splash, adding Tucker to an exciting young team. Not to mention, he grew up and currently lives in Tampa. Their payroll is so low that paying Tucker a high value annually wouldn’t break the bank like it would for other contending teams.

I also can’t rule out the Dodgers from making a run at Tucker, as they’re always in play for every top free agent, it seems. Similar to the Juan Soto sweepstakes last season, they’ll most likely meet with Tucker and make an enticing offer. It will be interesting to see who steps up to the plate and pays Tucker the money he deserves this offseason. Scott Boras has no problem waiting for the right offer to come, and he will make sure that his client gets every dollar possible.