Cubs “Due” for a “Really Big” Free Agent, Urges Heyman; Hoyer’s $211M Payroll Faces Test.vc
After a 92-win season and NLDS exit, Jed Hoyer’s “gamble” on the Kyle Tucker trade faces its final test as the star outfielder hits free agency.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs’ 2025 season is over, and the pressure is already mounting. After a 92-70 campaign that saw them win a Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres before falling to the rival Milwaukee Brewers in a five-game NLDS, the offseason has begun with a major question.
With superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker headlining a host of Cubs free agents, MLB insider Jon Heyman has implored the team to make a significant move this winter.
“Time for the Cubs to sign a really big free agent,” Heyman stated on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday evening. “They’re due.”
Heyman’s sentiment reflects a growing feeling that the Cubs are ready to spend at the very top of the market. President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer hasn’t signed a true big-money name since shortstop Dansby Swanson ahead of the 2023 season. While the subsequent offseason deals for Cody Bellinger and Shota Imanaga totaled $133 million combined, the team has avoided the single, massive contract.
That may need to change. The Cubs had the 5th largest payroll in baseball last season at $211 million, proving they have the resources. Now, they must decide whether to use that muscle to retain their own star or pursue another.
Hoyer’s Kyle Tucker “Gamble”
The decision to re-sign Tucker is the central drama of the Cubs’ offseason. When Hoyer traded for the star outfielder last winter, it was known he could be a one-year rental.
The cost was steep: the Cubs gave up top prospect Cam Smith, starting third baseman Isaac Paredes, and young pitcher Hayden Wesneski for that single season. Now, after falling short in the playoffs, “Hoyer’s gamble could fail” if Tucker walks.
However, if the Cubs can lock Tucker in long-term, the trade will be viewed as a massive success. A fully formed outfield of veteran Ian Happ in left, the returning Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, and Tucker in right would be one of the best in baseball.
The question is the price. But as Heyman noted, the Cubs are “due” to pay it. The decision on whether Tucker will be the latest big-money free agent to call the North Side home will define Chicago’s offseason.
