As the season rolls along for the Chicago Cubs, they have had the opportunity to enjoy their new superstar, Kyle Tucker. For Chicago, this marks their first time in a long time having an MVP-caliber player on their team. However, the Cubs’ superstar may be playing his last season in Chicago thanks to some recent comments.
Tucker Says He’ll “Deal with That a Little Later”
The one big thing the Chicago Cubs want to do this summer is make the playoffs. However, the next big thing is extending Tucker. What Chicago wants is pretty simple. Just like the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Cubs would love it if they could extend Tucker instead of risking free agency. The Jays weren’t just able to pull off an extension; they were also able to rip off Guerrero two when it comes to the amount of money. Look at Juan Soto.
That’s the one thing Chicago wants to avoid: Juan Soto. Soto hit free agency and was won by another team, although not necessarily the highest bidder. Yet, at the same time, if Chicago allows Tucker, or Tucker allows himself to hit the market, then the Cubs may be unable to keep up with teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and the New York Mets (they still don’t have the highest payroll).
When Tucker was asked about his contract, he decided to sidestep the question and instead said that he would address it later. Hopefully, later means later in the summer for the Cubs.
One Good Thing: Kyle Tucker Compliments Fans
The good thing for Chicago is that, despite not wanting to answer the question of the hour, Tucker went out of his way to compliment the fans at Wrigley. Tucker said it was nice to hear that the Cubs fans want him to stay. Perhaps this isn’t the most excellent comment in the world for Chicago, but such things can certainly sway players in free agency. Such comments aren’t like Pete Alonso and the Mets (I mean he really loves that team), but such comments from are usually good for a team.
The one thing that can sway free agency, other than money of course, is connection. Unfortunately, Tucker probably has a bigger connection to Houston than to the Cubs. However, at the same time, a good impression can go a long way in free agency.
Can Chicago Afford $600,000,000? Also, DON’T BE STUPID!
Kyle Tucker is undoubtedly going to be a costly acquisition for any team. However, Tucker, wait for it, isn’t as good as Soto with the bat. Tucker excels at walking and avoiding strikeouts, just like Soto. Nevertheless, being older, having less power, and having a history of injury could deter teams from going up to $600 million in free agency. Last season, was an amazing start for Tucker. However, other than that, should teams pay that much for the 28-year-old Tucker?
Teams should really consider if getting Tucker for such an expense is worth it. This includes the Cubs, which gives another reason to extend the star Tucker before he hits free agency. Overall, the question remains for Chicago if Tucker is even that great. He’s great, don’t get me wrong, but is he really worth such a contract, especially since $600 million for 10 years is actually a bigger contract than Soto’s?
All in all, as the season continues, the Cubs are the priority. Chicago wants to make the playoffs. However, the future could be much different if Tucker is extended. A good future? Probably not.
