Every Chicago Cubs fan wants to know how right fielder Kyle Tucker feels about signing a contract extension during the regular season. Tucker was traded to Chicago on the final year of his current deal, and he’s set to become a free agent once the Cubs are out of games to play in 2025.
Tucker has been a key piece in Chicago’s explosive offense. He’s batting .264/.375/.522 with an OPS of .897, 10 home runs, and 33 RBI. He’s on a Cubs team that is entering their matchup Monday night against the Miami Marlins with a two-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the NL Central.
Kyle Tucker: A little later
During an appearance on ESPN 1000’s “Carmen and Jurko” Monday, Tucker said he gets asked often about his impending free agency. Right now, his focus is on trying to help the Cubs win games, and he’ll worry about a potential contract extension “a little later.”
“Yeah, I get it, quite a good amount of times,” Tucker said of questions about his contract status. “But I mean, I’m just out here trying to play the game and not worry about it too much and deal with that a little later.”
A little later, meaning…the summer versus the fall?
Cubs fans would prefer the former.
Chicago Cubs fans want Tucker to stay
Tucker appreciates that fans want him to stay in Chicago, and he thinks things will “fall into place” if the Cubs continue to win games.
“I mean, it’s nice that, hearing it from fans that, they want you to stay with the team and how much support and love that they’re giving you and everything,” Tucker said. “So that’s been really nice from the fan base side. And I mean, all I try to do is just go out there and win games.
“It’s just like we’re gonna try and do tonight, and try and do my best to help out the team in whatever way I can. But I mean, I just, for the most part, I just focus on playing ball and going out there and just doing my part to win those games and kind of just let the other pieces kind of fall into place.”
Tucker is expected to command a new deal between $400 and $500 million. That contract might be easier for the Cubs to swallow if they make a World Series run this fall.
