Any news involving Kyle Tucker is crucial for the Chicago Cubs, especially given how quickly the left-handed slugger has proven his value since joining the organization.
In his brief time with the Cubs, Tucker has displayed why he’s considered one of the top five talents in Major League Baseball, sporting an impressive .302 batting average along with six home runs.
Throughout his career, Tucker has built a reputation as a consistent hitter. Thanks to that reliability, he’s positioning himself for what could be a historic contract — possibly exceeding $500 million.
Originally selected fifth overall by the Houston Astros in the 2015 MLB Draft, Tucker has lived up to the hype, earning three All-Star selections, a top-five finish in MVP voting, and posting a career OPS+ of 141.
Ideally, the Cubs would lock Tucker into a long-term deal before he hits free agency, preventing a bidding war with other teams. However, MLB insider Robert Murray recently reported that, as of now, the Cubs and Tucker haven’t started any talks about an extension.
“Sources familiar with the situation say the Cubs and Tucker have yet to engage in extension discussions,” Murray wrote. “Perhaps negotiations will take place this summer, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated, but all indications suggest Tucker is on track to test free agency.”
Murray also highlighted the potential size of Tucker’s future deal, stating that if the outfielder maintains his current performance and stays healthy, a contract in the range of $500 million or more is entirely realistic. One prominent league source even labeled Tucker as one of the most complete players in today’s game.
With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recently securing an extension from the Toronto Blue Jays, Tucker is now poised to be the top name available on the free agent market next winter — a fact that will only drive his price higher. That rising value is something the Cubs would have been wise to address sooner rather than later.