Chicago Cubs News: Kyle Tucker remaining at DH is final nail in coffin

The Chicago Cubs are down one game to nothing in their NLDS tangle with their division rival Milwaukee Brewers. On Saturday, the North Siders were battered into submission 9-3, with the game essentially being over after a six-run Brewers first inning.

They hope to make a comeback and even-up the series on Monday with Shota Imanaga taking the mound and a fully rested bullpen behind him.

They’re also hoping to jump start an offense that smacked three solo home runs in game one, but has mostly been unable to generate any sustained push this postseason.

One thing is for certain, though– Kyle Tucker will continue as the designated hitter, likely throughout the rest of the playoffs.

Tucker will stay at DH

“Tucker’s DH-ing,” Counsell confirmed, when asked about the right fielder’s playing status. “It could change. Right now, I don’t see any reason for it to change.”

This means that Seiya Suzuki, who manned the DH spot for most of the season, will continue to play right field in Tucker’s place. In the big picture, the switch-up is really not such a big deal since Tucker has been mid, defensively, over the course of the season while Suzuki has looked good on defensive since given the glove.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell is not concerned with the Suzuki-for-Tucker right field swap.

“He’s playing well, I think he feels good out there,” Counsell said of Suzuki. “I think he knows this is his job now.”

Tucker, who had been on the shelf for more than three weeks late in the season while nursing a left calf strain, came back for the last three games of the regular season and has so far DH’d every game of the postseason. At this point, according to reports, the four-time All-Star is not even prepping himself for defense.

What this says about Tucker’s Chicago Cubs future

In the short term, none of this is an issue. Suzuki profiles as a lesser defensive player than Tucker, but he’s been playing well and he’s certainly an upgrade over a hobbled Tucker.

But, when it comes to the long term impact of this turn of events?

Well, this just may be the final nail in the coffin of fans’ hopes to have Tucker back after the end of this season.

With free agency looming and a monster contract predicted for the right fielder, it was already doubtful that the Cubs would win a bidding war for Tucker’s services against some of the free-spending teams already rumored to be interested in signing him.

But now? Forget about it.

The Cubs will likely pass on Tucker free agency bidding war

This time, however, the Cubs aren’t necessarily wrong when it comes to their frugal ways.

Realistically, given Tucker’s instability throughout the second half of the season, how can any team be justified in offering him that 9-10 year, $400-$600 million contract said to be coming his way? There’s no denying the man’s talent and record of success, but the Cubs have seen him flat-line his way through a career-worst extended slump that lasted nearly two months. They’ve also seen him nurse this recent calf injury for over a month now. This postseason, he’s also performing poorly– hitting just .214 with no home runs and no RBIs.

With Suzuki playing a sound right field and rookie DH Moises Ballesteros showing major league-ready hitting chops, the need for Tucker has diminished– especially if Tucker, himself, is diminished. The Cubs also have their top prospect, Owen Caissie, waiting in the wings for a corner outfield spot.

At this point, Tucker’s free agent price tag will have to come down. His value has been lessened by two straight years of injury and/or inconsistency. It’s doubtful, though, that his price will go down enough to make him attractive to a Cubs team now skeptical of his long term viability as an elite-level every day player.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-kyle-tucker-dh-free-agency