The Chicago Cubs’ storylines are varied and voluminous this season.
There’s the recent drama surrounding the starting rotation as injury has claimed Justin Steele, Javier Assad, and now Shota Imanaga to some extent. There’s also the bullpen, which has been nerve-rattling inconsistent so far this season. Third base has been its own soap opera. And, of course, there’s the good news story of the Cubs’ offense, which has so far made every other drama a non-issue.
But the most persistent storyline has concerned Kyle Tucker and whether the conservative Cubs ownership will break open the bank to extend the multi-tool right fielder before he hits a hungry free agent market.
Good News On Extending Kyle Tucker?
The Cubs picked up the 3-time all-star this offseason from the Houston Astros in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes, pitcher Heyden Wesneski, and no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith. It was a hefty price to play for one player, but it was even more of a risk considering that Tucker would be eligible for free agency at the end of the 2025 season.
MLB insider Jon Heyman recently expressed his optimism that a Tucker-Cubs deal could be put together in-season.
“Tucker, it seems like he’s willing to talk in season, so that is a great sign to get something done,” Heyman said in an interview with Chicago’s 670 The Score.
The veteran reporter acknowledged, however, that Cubs ownership may get things done without matching the extravagant over-the-top deal many are speculating Tucker could get.
“I had a rival executive tell me they gotta put the 500 million in front of him…They’re not gonna do that,” Heyman asserted. “That’s not the Cubs, but you gotta make him a good offer in-season and give it a shot…
“It feels like Tucker, he seems to be willing to talk in season, he wants to be here, so let’s get it done.”
Chicago Cubs Accepting Big-Money Reality
While nobody knows for certain the extent to which the Cubs are dead set on extending him, recent stories have emerged, painting a picture of an ownership now wrapping its head around the reality that they really need to do their best to sign him
“I’m hearing that the Cubs have wrapped their brain around — now, it doesn’t mean he’ll accept it — have wrapped their brain around ‘Whatever it costs, we’re paying it.’ And they want to keep Tucker,” MLB insider David Kaplan said in a recent episode of the Cubs REKAP Podcast.
“I think they will [settle in around the 10-year, $420M range]…I believe wholeheartedly they will get the deal done with him, if he wants to be here. I believe they are convinced they gotta break the bank for him… I think they are [going to meet the price of doing business]…”
Extending Tucker Is A Good Deal
There’s no debate when it comes to the impact Tucker has had on the Cubs’ lineup. There’s also no debate that the 28-year-old Tucker is the right kind of player to sign to such a big-money, long-term deal– a self-driven, elite-level player, without any history of significant injury, who shows up every day and quietly goes about his business.
For what it’s worth, Tucker, who is said to be happy and comfortable in Chicago so far, has refused to talk publicly about money or contract-related issues.
“Right now … I can’t really give you anything,” Tucker told reporters early last month. “I’m just here to play some baseball and see what happens after that.”
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