The Chicago Cubs made headlines last offseason when they traded for superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker. But with Tucker now approaching free agency, the Cubs face an even tougher challenge — locking him up with a long-term deal. That won’t come cheap.
The largest contract the franchise has ever handed out to a free agent was Jason Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million deal — and Tucker is projected to earn roughly twice that amount. According to MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic, top star could command a 10-year, $427 million contract this winter.
“Despite battling injuries and inconsistency this season, Tucker is still expected to be the highest-paid free agent in this year’s class,” Bowden wrote, noting that most analysts see his market landing between $400 million and $500 million. That projection comes on the heels of massive deals for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($500 million with Toronto) and Juan Soto ($765 million with the Mets).
Even while dealing with injuries, Tucker proved his all-around value. In 136 games for Chicago, he slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and nearly a 1:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio (87 walks, 88 strikeouts). Teams view him as a complete player capable of hitting 30 homers and swiping 30 bases every season.
Tucker remains one of baseball’s purest hitters. And thanks to Soto and Guerrero resetting the market with record-breaking contracts, his price tag has skyrocketed. For the Cubs, the math is simple but painful — either they give Tucker the richest deal in franchise history, or they risk losing their star outfielder entirely.