Chicago Cubs: Good Riddance Kyle Tucker?

The Chicago Cubs raised some eyebrows with the way they kicked off their annual Cubs Convention last week. Their 2025 highlight reel hyping the kickoff of the fan event featured one glaring omission– there were no Kyle Tucker highlights.

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There’s no denying that Tucker was an instrumental part of the team’s success, especially in the first half of the season when he served as a linchpin for an overwhelming Cubs offense.

By the end of the season, though, Tucker had grown ice cold and fans who were previously rabid about getting the right fielder extended before he headed out into free agency were suddenly not so concerned about losing him.

Cubs-Tucker disharmony revealed?

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Tucker’s production flat-lined after July 1, opening the way to a career-worst extended slump from July to mid-September that led to boos from the normally mega-loyal Wrigley Field fans. Then, just days after seemingly snapping out of his slump, he suffered a calf strain that dragged on for more than three weeks, hobbling him throughout the playoffs and forcing him into a DH-only role.

There were signs that the Tucker-Cubs relationship was not so harmonious, like when Tucker opted to leave the team for calf treatment in Tampa Bay on the day the Cubs clinched a playoff spot. Everybody was tight-lipped, though, and not a single negative word was slipped to the public.

However, now, in the aftermath of Tucker’s ridiculously “Dodgery” 4-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, dribs and drabs of the real Tucker-Cubs story are making their way out.

One unsubstantiated online comment from an anonymous source claiming to be a Cubs employee described Tucker as having “no passion.”

Character and toughness questions

Whether that online assessment has any weight at all, it’s clear that the Cubs chose to not really pursue Tucker into the deep waters of free agency. Part of that had to do with the huge contract he was expected to land. Another part, though, probably had to do with how he finished his lone season with the team and the doubts he generated regarding his durability, his mental toughness, and his chemistry with the organization.

Reading between the lines, the Cubs gushing over incoming free agent Alex Bregman’s character and leadership could be interpreted as an indirect jab at Tucker’s lack of those intangibles.

The topic of Tucker’s character and passion was such a floating point of discussion that the four-time All-Star, himself, was asked to address it at his debut Dodgers press conference.

Tucker addresses the rumors

“I mean, I don’t read into it a whole lot. I know what I try to do out on the field and what I bring to the clubhouse. I try and do my best out there regardless of how I feel or what the situation is. I’m going to try and go out there and win games,” Tucker told reporters.

“I just try and block out noise and anything like that. I’m fired up. I’ve been playing in the playoffs for a while now. There’s nothing that really beats that and the excitement that comes with that, so I’m excited to continue that out here.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, at that same press conference, even went so far as to assert that he had spoken to Tucker’s former managers and coaches to affirm the outfielder’s character and passion for the game.

“I do think that Kyle’s mindset on the micro, the day-to-day, just winning a baseball game, that is in line with what we do,” Roberts said.

Whatever the case, those paying attention to the Cubs in 2025 know what Tucker did and did not bring to the table. When he was healthy and locked in, he was an incredible boost to the offense. When he wasn’t– like for nearly half the season– he pulled the team down around him. His defense, advertised as elite as a former Gold Glove winner, was subpar (-2 OAA). And, all in all, he just seemed to be fragile, both physically and mentally, prone to long stretches of on-field depression and regression that he was slow to snap out of.

Maybe in Los Angeles, as a background player on a team full of colorful stars, he can produce the way he did in Houston. For the Cubs, though? Good riddance. Alex Bregman should prove to be an infinitely better fit for what the team needs.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-kyle-tucker-character-questions-dodgers