After a disappointing 2025 season, the Chicago Cubs’ marriage with Kyle Tucker appears to be over. The Dodgers, Giants, and Phillies are all listed as potential landing spots.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs’ blockbuster acquisition of Kyle Tucker appears likely to be a one-year experiment. The star outfielder is officially a free agent, and his nine-figure asking price seems to have him headed for the exit.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Tucker is thought to be seeking a contract of at least $300 million in free agency. That staggering asking price will naturally limit his market, as only a handful of teams are willing and able to hand out that sort of contract.
The Chicago Cubs, it appears, are not one of them.
In the same column for ESPN, Jesse Rogers reported that the Cubs are “likely to let Tucker walk.”
This decision comes after a 2025 season that did not go as planned for either party. A year ago, Tucker was projected to command a contract potentially worth much more than $300 million, coming off a career year. However, his lone season with the Cubs was a disappointment. He battled through injuries and “long stretches of poor production,” which even led to him being benched for a period of time to “clear his head.”
Despite the struggles, Tucker’s “down year” was still productive by most standards. He finished the 2025 campaign with a .266 batting average and 22 home runs in 136 games.
At Tucker’s price, the usual suspects are expected to be interested. He is still young (turning 29 in January) and has a long history of elite production. Passan adds that the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies all make sense as potential landing spots.
While his 2025 season may have hurt his value slightly, it would be “no surprise” if he ultimately gets the $300 million-plus deal he is seeking from a new team.
