CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker, the Chicago Cubs’ star outfielder, is poised to ignite a fierce bidding war as he enters free agency following the 2025 season. As The Athletic’s Jim Bowden noted, early-season projections pegged Tucker for a contract between $500M and $650M, driven by his four consecutive All-Star appearances and five-tool prowess: hitting, power, defense, arm strength, and speed. Despite a second-half dip due to a finger injury and calf strain, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter projects a 10-year, $350M deal, making it the fifth-largest outfielder contract ever, trailing only Juan Soto ($51M AAV), Aaron Judge ($40M), and Mike Trout ($35.5M). The sports card above details his 2025 output: a .266/.377/.464 slash line, 22 HRs, 73 RBIs, 25 SBs, and 4.5 bWAR in 136 games.
Tucker’s Impact and the Cubs’ Dilemma
Acquired from Houston in a December 2024 blockbuster for Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith, and Hayden Wesneski, Tucker fueled the Cubs’ 92-win season and NL Wild Card berth. His pre-All-Star dominance (.280/.384/.499, 17 HRs) cemented his MVP candidacy, though injuries led to a .242 average post-break. Tucker’s reserved postseason comments—“We’ll see what happens. I don’t know what the future’s going to hold”—signal detachment, leaving Cubs fans anxious.
Chicago’s front office, led by Jed Hoyer, faces a daunting task. The Cubs have never signed a player to a $200M+ deal, let alone a $350M-$498M pact as floated by some (e.g., a proposed 12-year, $498M extension). With $20M in salaries expiring and payroll flexibility, Chicago could compete, but Hoyer’s cautious approach—citing the 2026 CBA expiration—suggests reluctance to outbid big spenders.
The Bidding War: Dodgers, Phillies, and Beyond
The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off a 2025 World Series run, are favorites to land Tucker, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and Jon Heyman, who note their need for a corner outfield upgrade after Michael Conforto’s struggles. Tucker could slot into right field, shifting Teoscar Hernández to left, bolstering a lineup with Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman. The Phillies, eyeing a Kyle Schwarber replacement, and the Giants, under Buster Posey’s aggressive spending, are also in the mix, per SI.com. X posts buzz with speculation: “Tucker to Dodgers for $400M+ feels inevitable,” one fan wrote, while another urged, “Cubs, break the bank!”
Recommendation: Cubs Must Go All-In
Despite Tucker’s injury-marred second half, his 143 OPS+, 25 SBs, and Gold Glove defense at 28 make him a cornerstone worth pursuing. The Cubs, with Dansby Swanson’s loyalty and a young core (Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch), need Tucker’s bat to stay atop the NL Central. Exercising Andrew Kittredge’s $9M option and Shōta Imanaga’s $57M deal stretches the budget, but losing Tucker risks a void no free agent can fill. Hoyer must convince owner Tom Ricketts to shatter the $184M ceiling set by Jason Heyward, offering a 10-year, $350M deal to keep “King Tuck” at Wrigley.
