Chicago Cubs: Ice cold Kyle Tucker market creates opportunity for solid backup plan

The Chicago Cubs made an uncharacteristically bold move last offseason when they pulled the trigger on a three-for-one trade with the Houston Astros for right fielder Kyle Tucker.

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In the deal, the Cubs gave up third baseman Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and their 2024 no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith. The big and bold part of the swap, though, centered around the fact that Tucker was heading into the last year of his contract and would be set to demand a massive payoff as a free agent.

With numbers like 10-years for $400-$500 million floating about, every curious Cubs observer wondered if the frugal Ricketts ownership would actually open up their tightly-guarded checkbooks this time around. If not, there would be some pretty pointed questions regarding the decision to trade away so much for just one year of Tucker, even if that one year DID result in a playoff berth.

Not surprisingly, everyone involved in this dynamic played their role true to form. Tucker walked into free agency. The Cubs slowly backed away from the idea of re-signing him. The baseball world moved on, just taking for granted that Chicago was not going to spend that kind of money on anyone, ever.

Kyle Tucker’s harsh reality

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Tucker’s path to mega-riches, though, hasn’t gone according to plan.

With heavy-hitters like the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Giants reportedly interested, the 28-year-old four-time All-Star was considered the jewel of the 2026 free agency class. Little by little, however, teams have walked away from the pursuit. Even with the Blue Jays and Mets recently entering the chase, the Tucker market has grown cold.

Actually, judging by recent reports, the entire run on Tucker may be down to just the Blue Jays at this point. But even that Toronto tie may be untying as the defending AL champs have already spent $277 million on pitching acquisitions and have now, reportedly, entered the fray for free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

Chicago Cubs backing into the mix?

None of this is to say that some of the teams “out” on Tucker may double back to be “in” on him as his price tag comes down. There’s even talk that the Cubs could be one of those looking to catch the right fielder on the contract rebound– although that talk has entirely come from media as of right now. The Cubs, themselves, have not so much as whispered Tucker’s name since it came time to actually lay money on the table.

But is it really so ridiculous to think that the Cubs could double back and make a play for Tucker at a reduced price?

The humorous pre-2025 season suggestion from Cubs president Jed Hoyer that Wrigley Field and the Cubs fans will sell Tucker on staying in Chicago suggests that, maybe, they’ve never been really serious about paying to keep him. But if they lose out on their reported pursuit of Bregman and whiff on acquiring the front-of-rotation pitcher they’re said to be targeting, Tucker may be a safe, comfortable fall-back (assuming he’s still on the market).

In a good financial place for big-ticket purchase

With a good amount of money left to spend this offseason (reportedly between $35-$50 million) and big-money contractual obligations on the books to only Dansby Swanson and Phil Maton past next season, the Cubs are actually in a very good place to spend on a long-term signing like Tucker.

The question is whether they will.

Some have suggested that the team soured on Tucker over the last couple months of the 2025 campaign , perhaps frustrated by slow-healing injuries to the thumb and calf and the extended slumps resulting from both. His weak close to 2025 may actually be an underlying reason behind the market growing cold on him as a whole.

But there’s also no denying that, when right, he served as a linchpin for a raging Cubs offense that battered opposition pitching into submission. A healthy, productive Tucker made everyone around him better.

Nobody– especially the Cubs– may want to risk tying themselves to Tucker for ten years anymore. But six years at around $180 million? That’s reasonable and doable.

If the Cubs crap out on plans A and B this offseason and want to avoid an ugly fan backlash, they may have no choice.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-kyle-tucker-free-agent-alex-bregman