The Chicago Cubs took a big swing this offseason with the Kyle Tucker trade, sacrificing young talent and hoping the All-Star outfielder would stay with the club long-term. While Chicago will make every effort to avoid losing him in MLB free agency, several big-market clubs could be lurking to create a bidding war.
Appearing on MLB Network, insider Jon Heyman mentioned the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants as potential suitors who could join the Cubs in going after Tucker this winter.
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- Kyle Tucker stats (ESPN): .285/.395/.528, .923 OPS, 15 home runs, 46 RBI i 284 ABs
Tucker, a three-time All-Star selection, is thriving in a contract year. Chicago made attempts to sign him to an extension in-season, but those negotiations went nowhere. As for the other suitors, Boston does have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, and San Francisco did just absorb the Rafael Devers contract. However, both lineups could certainly benefit from adding a perennial All-Star who plays solid defense in the outfield.
While Tucker has earned more than $55 million in career innings before his age-29 season, he’s never been one of the highest-paid MLB players. That will change next season, as many around the league believe that several teams will offer Tucker a contract worth more than $500 million in total value.
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- Kyle Tucker contract (Spotrac): $16.5 million salary in 2025, MLB free agent this winter
His consistent production certainly merits it. From 2021 to 2024, Tucker posted an .888 OPS with a .280/.362/.527 triple-slash line with 532 hits and a 145 OPS+ in 1,901 at-bats. Over those four years, he compiled a 20.9 bWAR. Tucker’s WAR and home run totals (112) would have been even higher if not for a shin injury in 2024 that limited him to 78 games.
Chicago knew the risks when it acquired him. It could also feel even more incentivized to win a bidding war in free agency for Tucker, considering how well Isaac Paredes (.838 OPS) and Cam Smith (.739 OPS as a rookie) are performing for the Houston Astros. With other big-market clubs expected to get involved, though, the asking price could fall out of the price range of Cubs ownership.
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