Rafael Devers trade impacts potential market for Cubs slugger

Already-high expectations in Chicago were raised further when the Cubs made the bold move to trade for right fielder Kyle Tucker during the offseason. To date, the acquisition has been an unquestioned success. 

The Cubs sit at the top of the NL Central entering play on Wednesday, with a 45-28 record. Through 320 plate appearances over 72 games, Tucker is batting .284/.394/.515 (161 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases. He's already totaled 3.1 WAR, which puts him on pace to record a career-high if he can continue this over the season's final months. 

That kind of production will also surely put Tucker atop the free-agent market this coming winter, as he's only signed through the end of this season. 

While there's hope the Cubs will find a way to retain their new star slugger, most around baseball expect the 28-year-old to reach the open market, where his services will ultimately go to the highest bidder. 

Among the teams expected to have an interest in signing Tucker were the San Francisco Giants, but Sunday's acquisition of Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox may have a direct impact on that thinking, as The Athletic's Jon Greenberg writes: 

"The Giants were looked at as a contender for Tucker, but now they have Devers' contract, which pays him between $27.5 million to $31 million between now and 2033 (with deferrals). The Red Sox could be a possibility, but as longtime baseball reporter Tom Verducci said on 670 The Score on Monday afternoon, the Devers trade might just force Boston to sign Alex Bregman to an extension."

Removing the Giants (and Red Sox) as potential suitors would be significant for Tucker. Two of baseball's biggest markets and highest-spending organizations not getting involved in a bidding war would not be ideal for the top free-agent bat available on the market. The development could bode well for the Cubs, however. It also doesn't hurt that Tucker is represented by Excel Sports Management, the same agency that negotiated Dansby Swanson's deal with the team. 

Historically, the Cubs have not been an organization that agrees to substantial contracts. With his track record on the field and his relative youth, Tucker could be looking at an 8-10 year contract at this point. With an average annual value of even $30 million, that would be a $240M-$300M commitment. 

Keeping Tucker in Chicago long-term might still be a long shot, but it also might have gotten a little easier after the Giants trade. Of course, Tucker is not the only outfielder the Cubs will look to extend in the coming months. Left fielder Ian Happ will reach free agency following the 2026 season, while the team has already shown an interest in extending center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong long-term.