The reality of Kyle Tucker’s free agency market is setting in for the Chicago Cubs: the price tag for the superstar outfielder is likely to soar far beyond the team’s historical spending limits, making his departure almost certain.
CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson projected that Tucker will sign a massive deal for 12 years and $408 million, cementing his status as the premier player available in this offseason’s market.
Tucker’s Market Value: A Select Group
Tucker’s projected contract places him in an exclusive tier of baseball’s most valuable players, leveraging his age (turning 29 in January) and his elite five-tool skillset:
- Projected Value: 12 years, $408 million (AAV of $34 million).
- The Comparables: This valuation puts him alongside recent deals for superstars like Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Mookie Betts, all of whom cleared the $30 million annual average value (AAV) mark.
- The Rationale: Though his 2025 season was described as “uneven” due to his second consecutive season with a “disruptive injury” (the hairline hand fracture), his overall talent and youth in a weak free-agent market elevate his ceiling.
The Competition: Cubs Likely Priced Out
The Cubs, whose largest free-agent contract remains the 8-year, $184 million deal given to Jason Heyward, are not expected to compete in the bidding war that is brewing for Tucker.
| Suitor | Rationale | Implications for Cubs |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Possess the financial resources and a desire to retain their status as the league’s dominant force. | A favorite to meet the high price tag. |
| New York Mets | New ownership is committed to aggressive spending to rebuild the roster. | Will likely bid aggressively to make a splash. |
| New York Yankees | A major suitor, especially if they lose out on their pursuit of Cody Bellinger. | Provides a high-revenue, high-pressure alternative that might appeal to Tucker. |
Xuất sang Trang tính
The Cubs’ Reality: With the team already pivoting their focus to pitching and relying on the farm system to replace offensive production, the $400 million price tag exceeds their strategic and historical comfort zone. As the analysis suggests, the lack of a spending ceiling for the market’s best player confirms that the Cubs are “likely going to lose Tucker in free agency.”
Given that Kyle Tucker is the most significant offensive piece on the market, and the Cubs are shifting focus, which current free-agent starting pitcher (like Framber Valdez or Dylan Cease) has the highest projected contract value that would be competitive with Tucker’s AAV and signal the Cubs’ new strategic priority?
