Chicago Cubs linked to future Hall of Famer Phillies star in wild trade proposal

The Chicago Cubs, by all indications and by the assessment of everyone in the know, are going to lose right fielder Kyle Tucker to free agency.

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Unless you somehow bend your mind to imagine a scenario where the Cubs and the frugal Ricketts family ownership somehow outspends the Dodgers and Yankees, then it should be a fairly safe assumption that the four-time All-Star outfielder will be playing elsewhere in 2026 and beyond.

So, then, with that in mind, the Cubs’ thoughts have to turn to replacing the multi-tool star.

Chicago Cubs: Replacing Kyle Tucker

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The easiest solution is to shift Seiya Suzuki back to right field from DH while also giving rookie Owen Caissie every opportunity to steal the position away from the Japanese star, who will become a free agent after next season, anyway.

But what if Chicago wants to make a relatively painless switch-out, exchanging an outgoing star with in incoming star?

Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report has tapped into his creative side in a recent article, exploring a Cubs-Phillies trade that could very well break baseball fandom’s collective mind, one involving eight-time All-Star first baseman/outfielder Bryce Harper for Cubs top prospect Caissie and their top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins.

Per Rymer:

“Harper has 10-and-5 rights, so he’s only going to get traded if he approves of where he would be going. To this end, he famously loves Wrigley Field and has even said the Cubs were his No. 1 choice when he was a free agent six years ago.

Harper is owed $153 million over the next six years, which is a mere fraction of what Kyle Tucker could get in free agency this winter. Harper could effectively take his place in the lineup, while the Phillies would get salary relief and two MLB-ready prospects who could help in 2026.”

Bryce Harper problems in Philadelphia?

The feeling is that the Phillies will break open the bank to keep free agent DH slugger Kyle Schwarber and starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (or spend heavily trying to replace them), as well as direct funds to help fortify the bullpen. The 33-year-old Harper may be seen as an expendable asset. As a matter of fact, there has already been buzz about Philadelphia possibly shopping him around– something which has not been received well by Harper, himself.

“I have given my all to Philly from the start,” Harper told Matt Gelb of The Athletic, commenting on the rumors. “Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this. It’s all I heard in D.C. (with the Nationals). I hated it. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Harper, in the past, has talked up his love of Wrigley Field and Chicago. He also admitted that the Cubs were his no. 1 choice when he became a free agent after the 2018 season.

“Going into that offseason, they were the No. 1 team on my list,” Harper said. “Without a doubt…For me, it was definitely real, wanting to possibly come here and play…Just the vibes of Chicago and Wrigley Field and the ivy…The crowds show up. With the bleacher creatures out there, it was always fun listening to what they had to say behind me in right field. A summer day in Wrigley, man, it’s one of the best baseball atmospheres in the league.

“It was definitely something that I talked about — wanting to play in Wrigley, wanting to play in Chicago.”

The Cubs would pass on Harper, though, and he’d go on to sign a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies.

Replacing a star with a star

Offensively, Harper would probably be a fairly even swap for Tucker. Harper should deliver on 20-30 home runs and a .270+ batting average. Defensively, though, there’s a question as to whether he could go back to playing every day right field and, with Michael Busch at first base, there wouldn’t be much use for him there. Of course, there’s always designated hitter as Suzuki may be gone after 2026.

He’d also be making an average of $25.5 million over the remaining six years of his contract– significantly less than the $40+ million Tucker is expected to get for the next ten years or so. From that aspect, the trade does make some sense.

But it makes a whole lot more “Cubs sense” for Chicago to avoid a six-year commitment– at a total of $153 million– when they can use existing asset Suzuki and Caissie, who would be making the league-minimum salary, as Tucker replacements.

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