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By Nelson Espinal
Contributing Sports Reporter
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Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker is a free agent, hitting the market right in the middle of his physical prime, which should help him secure a massive deal.
Last season, Tucker started on an MVP pace, but an injury set him back, causing him to lose his rhythm and apparently impact his performance.
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He still had a productive year in total. The former Houston Astros star slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs, along with 25 stolen bases and a 136 wRC+.
He manages to produce on every level, adding baserunning value and hitting with some slug while having a strong arm and good coverage out in the outfield.
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Every team could use a player like Tucker considering his well-roundedness, though few will be able to afford his sizable price.
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According to rival general managers who spoke with MLB insider Bob Nightengale, there are only three teams that will likely end up as finalists for Tucker, with a fourth candidate potentially sneaking in.
"Tucker, a native of Tampa, will sign with the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Los Dodgers, GMs predict. The San Francisco Giants are a darkhorse, but considering they still owe Rafael Devers $250 million, are in the second year of a seven-year, $182 million contract with Willy Adames, and the second of a six-year, $151 million extension with Matt Chapman, there’s only so many nine-figure contracts the Giants can seemingly afford," Nightengale wrote in his story.
"They are paying $137 million alone to their top six players next year: Devers, Chapman, Adames, Robbie Ray, Logan Webb and Jung Hoo Lee.
"And don’t forget they are paying a record $10.5 million in salaries for a manager in 2026 – $4 million to fired Bob Melvin, $3.5 million to new manager Tony Vitello, and $3 million to Tennessee for Vitello’s buyout."
The Cubs, who traded for Tucker last winter, will likely make an effort to keep him. Still, considering the finances of those other three teams and their need for an outfielder, it is hard to imagine Chicago outbidding them.
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