When the final out was recorded at American Family Field, a quiet fell over the Chicago Cubs dugout. The scoreboard read 3–1. The Milwaukee Brewers were moving on. The Cubs — once again — were going home.
And then came the words that cut deepest of all.
“I’ve given everything I have for this team,” said Kyle Tucker, standing at his locker, voice low but steady. “Whatever happens next, I’ll always be proud of what we’ve built here. Cubs fans deserve more, and I know we’ll get there — whether I’m here or not.”
For a player who rarely shows emotion publicly, it felt like a farewell.
A Season of Grit and Regret
The Cubs’ 2025 season ended one win short of the NLCS — a brutal conclusion to a resilient run that saw them claw back from a 0–2 deficit to force a decisive Game 5. Despite their fight, the bats fell silent again on Saturday night, and so did the promise of a deeper October.
Tucker, the team’s star right fielder and former Houston Astros All-Star, had been at the center of both the hope and the heartbreak. Acquired in a blockbuster trade before the 2024 season, he was expected to be the missing piece in Chicago’s lineup — and for stretches, he was.
Through the first half of the season, Tucker looked every bit the MVP-caliber player the Cubs traded for. But injuries and inconsistency dimmed that brilliance in the second half. After the All-Star break, he hit just .225 with five home runs and 21 RBIs, hampered by a lingering left calf injury that limited him to designated hitter duties through the postseason.
Still, when healthy, few in baseball matched Tucker’s all-around game.
“He means a lot to this team,” said Michael Busch, the Cubs’ first baseman. “His consistency at the plate, his ability to get on base, to score — he’s one of the most complete hitters out there. Any lineup’s better with him in it.”
Uncertain Future, Heavy Price Tag
Now, with Tucker’s contract expiring, his time in Chicago appears to be nearing its end. The Cubs — who gave up three top prospects to acquire him — face a difficult question: Can they afford to keep him, or will they let another contender take the swing?
Industry insiders believe Tucker’s free-agent value will fall somewhere between $300 million and $500 million over 9–10 years, with teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Phillies expected to bid aggressively.
For a franchise trying to stay competitive without overextending financially, matching that kind of deal would be a monumental commitment.
“Tucker’s not just a bat,” said one NL scout. “He’s a culture guy. But he’s going to get paid like a generational hitter — and that’s the market now.”
A Goodbye Without Saying Goodbye
Whether Tucker dons a Cubs uniform again remains unknown. But his words — and the weight behind them — suggest he already knows the answer.
As he packed up his gear in the quiet Milwaukee clubhouse, teammates approached one by one for handshakes and hugs. There were no grand speeches, no public displays — just quiet respect for a player who gave everything he had.
“Cubs fans deserve more,” Tucker said again before leaving the room.
It wasn’t bitterness. It was belief — the kind that still fuels Wrigley Field every spring.
Whatever comes next, Tucker leaves behind a legacy of professionalism and purpose. And for Chicago, his departure — if it comes — won’t just mark the end of a contract. It’ll mark the end of an era that could have been.
