Cubs Confront a Tucker-Less Future: Bold Trades and Signings to Fill Wrigley’s Right Field Void.vc
Chicago, October 27, 2025 – The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season was a triumph—92 wins, an NLDS run, and a resurgent Wrigley faithful—until the specter of Kyle Tucker’s free agency cast a shadow. Acquired in a 2024 blockbuster from Houston, Tucker’s .839 OPS, 26 homers, and Gold Glove arm powered the Cubs’ playoff push, but his projected $401 million megadeal looms beyond Chicago’s reach. With Tucker’s opt-out clause triggered and his post-NLDS silence (“We’ll see what happens”) signaling an exit, Jed Hoyer faces a brutal reality: Replace a 3.9 WAR superstar or risk a 2026 collapse. From blockbuster trades to free-agent splashes, the Cubs must swing big to fill the right field void. Wrigley’s roar demands it—will Hoyer deliver?
Tucker’s Brilliance and the Looming Exit
Tucker was Chicago’s 2025 linchpin: .251/.385/.454, 20 steals, 87 RBIs across 142 games, despite a calf strain sidelining him briefly in September. His 3.9 WAR and top-5 DRS in right field stabilized an outfield with Pete Crow-Armstrong’s dazzle and Ian Happ’s consistency. But at 28, Tucker’s market is scorching—Newsweek projects a 10-year, $401M deal, with the Dodgers and Yankees circling. Insiders, including ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, doubt a Cubs return: “They’re not likely to retain him,” Rogers tweeted, citing Tucker’s .176 home BA and .639 OPS at Wrigley. Hoyer’s end-of-season detachment—“We’ll see”—mirrors Tucker’s own, fueling speculation he’s gone.
On X, fans lament: “Losing Tucker stings—Hoyer, don’t let us sink!” while others urge action: “Trade for Jazz or sign Teoscar—do something!”
Bold Move #1: Trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Randy Arozarena
Hoyer’s first swing? A trade to land a dynamic outfielder. Miami’s Jazz Chisholm Jr., 27, offers Tucker-like spark: .249/.325/.473, 22 HRs, 35 SBs in 2025, with a $7.75M arbitration salary through 2027. A package led by catcher Moises Ballesteros (MLB’s No. 48 prospect) and a mid-tier arm could pry him loose. Alternative: Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena (.254/.325/.419, 20 HRs), whose postseason pedigree (2020 ALCS MVP) fits Wrigley’s October hunger. Cost? Pitcher Cade Horton and a low-level prospect. Chisholm’s speed and Arozarena’s clutch gene keep the lineup potent, dodging the $40M AAV Tucker demands.
Risk: Chisholm’s occasional clubhouse friction; reward: a 2.5 WAR jolt at a fraction of Tucker’s price.
Bold Move #2: Free-Agent Splash – Teoscar Hernández or Anthony Santander
If trades fizzle, Hoyer hits free agency. Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, fresh off a .280/.345/.520, 33-HR All-Star campaign, projects at 4 years, $80M—a bargain compared to Tucker’s $401M. His righty power (.865 OPS) thrives in Wrigley’s jet stream, boosting a lineup that slumped to 18th in HRs (162). Plan B: Orioles’ Anthony Santander (.235/.308/.506, 44 HRs), a switch-hitting slugger at 3 years, $60M, whose 3.2 WAR fits Chicago’s budget under the $210M luxury tax. Both add 2.5–3.0 WAR, preserving outfield DRS.
Bold Move #3: Internal Solution – Seiya Suzuki, Owen Caissie, and a Righty Bat
No Tucker, no problem? Shift Seiya Suzuki (.277/.357/.466, 20 HRs) to right, where his arm shines (top-10 DRS), and promote Triple-A star Owen Caissie (.285/.380/.520, 22 HRs) to left or DH. Add a righty platoon like Randal Grichuk (2 years, $20M; .252/.309/.464, 25 HRs) for balance against Wrigley’s lefty struggles. Cost: $5–7M in arb salaries, yielding 2.0 WAR from youth and veteran grit.
| Move | Target | Cost | 2026 WAR Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade | Jazz Chisholm Jr. | Ballesteros + prospect | +2.5 WAR |
| Free Agent | Teoscar Hernández | 4 yrs, $80M | +3.0 WAR |
| Internal | Suzuki/Caissie/Grichuk | $5–7M arb | +2.0 WAR |
The Stakes: Rebuild or Reload?
Tucker’s Wrigley struggles (.176 BA, 7 HRs vs. 15 road HRs) make his exit less catastrophic, but his 3.9 WAR is irreplaceable without action. The Cubs’ 2025 rotation—Shōta Imanaga (3.73 ERA), Justin Steele, Cade Horton—keeps them competitive, but a right field hole drops them to NL Central also-rans. Hoyer’s December 8–11 winter meetings are make-or-break, with pitching (Dylan Cease rumors) and third base also in play. “We can’t just patch this—we need a jolt,” Hoyer said.
Conclusion
Kyle Tucker’s looming departure is a gut punch, but the Cubs aren’t out. Trading for Chisholm, signing Hernández, or unleashing Suzuki and Caissie can keep Wrigley rocking. Hoyer’s bold moves aren’t optional—they’re the lifeline to 2026 contention. Cubs fans, hold tight: The right field void is a challenge, not a coffin. Swing big, Chicago.
