Cubs’ Offseason Crossroads: Can They Keep Kyle Tucker from Dodgers’ Clutches to Fuel 2026 Playoff Dreams?.vc
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a thrilling 2025 season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2017 with a Wild Card spot and a tough NLDS fight against the Milwaukee Brewers. But after losing in Game 5, the Cubs are now focused on the offseason, with big decisions ahead to get back to October in 2026. Jed Hoyer, the team’s president, said at his end-of-season press conference, “We want to keep pushing to compete every year.” The biggest questions? Whether superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker will stay, and how to fix a shaky pitching rotation that held them back in the playoffs.
Kyle Tucker: Will He Stay or Join the Dodgers?
Last year, the Cubs traded three top players—Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith, and Hayden Wesneski—to get Tucker from Houston for just one season. He delivered big: a .266 average, 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a key role in leading the Cubs to a 2.5-game lead in the NL Central by July. But his second half was rougher (.225 average, injuries like a hand fracture and calf strain), and his playoff performance was quiet (just one extra-base hit). Now a free agent, Tucker’s likely to get a massive $300M-$400M contract, per insider Jon Heyman, but the Cubs might not match it.
The worst news? The Los Angeles Dodgers, who’ve won two straight World Series, are chasing Tucker hard, per Heyman’s New York Post report. If Tucker joins LA’s stars like Ohtani and Betts, their outfield gets scarier, and the Cubs lose their best hitter to a rival. Other teams like the Yankees, Phillies, and Giants are also in the mix, per MLB.com. Tucker’s goodbye after the playoffs—“If not, it was an honor”—sounds like he’s ready to leave, and Chicago’s history of avoiding huge contracts (nothing over $184M) makes it tough to keep him.
Pitching Problems: Depth Hurt the Cubs
The Cubs’ pitchers were a mixed bag in 2025. Young star Cade Horton (3.15 ERA, 185 strikeouts) and Shota Imanaga (2.91 ERA, All-Star) were awesome, but injuries to Justin Steele (elbow surgery, only 12 starts) and Javier Assad (oblique, 18 starts) forced weaker pitchers like Colin Rea and Ben Brown into big roles. The result? A decent 3.77 ERA (8th in NL) turned into a 4.95 ERA in the playoffs, per Yahoo Sports, costing them a deeper run.
To fix this, Hoyer wants a top pitcher. Dylan Cease from San Diego is a hot target, predicted to sign for $125M over five years, per Bleacher Report. Despite a 4.55 ERA in 2025, his 215 strikeouts in 168 innings show he’s a strikeout king, and his “unlucky” stats (high BABIP, home runs) suggest he could be better in 2026. The Cubs have talked to the Padres before, per Jon Morosi, but San Diego might re-sign him. Other options include Houston’s Framber Valdez or trades for Minnesota’s Joe Ryan or Seattle’s Logan Gilbert, per The Athletic. The bullpen also needs help—picking up Andrew Kittredge’s $9M option or signing someone like Tanner Scott could work, per Spotrac.
Here’s what the 2026 rotation could look like with Cease:
| Spot | Pitcher | 2025 Stats | 2026 Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shota Imanaga | 2.91 ERA, 178 K | Ace, likely stays |
| 2 | Dylan Cease | 4.55 ERA, 215 K | Could be a 3.60 ERA star |
| 3 | Cade Horton | 3.15 ERA, 185 K | Young stud, keeps growing |
| 4 | Justin Steele | 3.85 ERA (100 IP) | Great if healthy |
| 5 | Javier Assad | 4.10 ERA (18 starts) | Solid depth |
What Happens Without Tucker?
If Tucker leaves, the Cubs have options. Pete Crow-Armstrong exploded in 2025 (31 HR, 35 SB), and prospects Owen Caissie (.286, 22 HR in Triple-A) and Kevin Alcántara (.266, 17 HR) could step into right field, per MLB Pipeline. Seiya Suzuki might move from DH to the outfield, opening DH for catcher Moises Ballesteros. A reunion with Kyle Schwarber (.250, 38 HR), a free agent, could add power, but his $20M price tag is steep, per MLB.com.
Why the Dodgers Are a Nightmare
If Tucker signs with LA, their outfield (Tucker, Pages, Hernández) becomes a powerhouse, per Bleacher Report, replacing Michael Conforto’s weak .229 season. With $66M in payroll room, LA can afford Tucker’s $30M-$40M per year, per RosterResource. For the Cubs, losing Tucker to the team they’re trying to beat—after trading away so much to get him—would hurt, per Athlon Sports. It’s like the Braves losing Acuña and Harris to injuries, only worse if it’s to a rival.
What’s Next?
Hoyer must act fast. Keeping Tucker means a $300M+ deal, but the Cubs rarely spend that big. Signing Cease or another pitcher is critical to fix the rotation, especially with Imanaga’s option likely locked and Steele’s health in question. Crow-Armstrong’s breakout and prospects like Caissie keep the lineup strong, but losing Tucker to the Dodgers could make the NL a tougher climb. Chicago’s close—they led the Central by 6.5 games at one point—but without bold moves, 2026 could slip away.
