Not all off-season trades live up to the hype; some exceed it. This off-season, acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros has been a turning point for the Chicago Cubs. Ever since signing with the Cubs, he has consistently reminded us why he’s one of the most valuable players in the league. As this season, the team has been shaping up pretty well, standing at 19-13. Even though they lost four of their last ten games, that’s still a decent stretch. And one key contributor has been their star outfielder, Tucker.

The discussions around Tucker and his contract extension have significantly increased ahead of the trade deadline. Whether he will return to the Cubs or explore other major league teams remains to be seen. It’s taken over the headlines. Interestingly, based on the words of Cubs’ hitting coach, Dustin Kelly, the Cubs wouldn’t let Tucker go easily.

In a recent interview with North Side Territory, Kelly left no crumbs in laying it all out about Tucker and how minimalist he is: “With Tuck, it’s kind of what you see is, you know, just this very like locked-in, low-key playing the game at a certain pace. That is him, to a certain extent. He’s got a low heartbeat.” Tucker’s composure is rare. He doesn’t get off-balance mentally—whether it’s a key defensive play or any intense at-bat, Kelly always finds Tucker calm and composed.

Kelly also acknowledged the high-stakes games Tucker has played in and lauded his confidence. He added, “There’s nothing that a pitcher has that can beat him. There’s nobody that is going to be able to get him out in those certain situations.” Tucker has a knack for studying pitches and reacting accordingly. There is a reason a potential $500 million price tag is being floated if the Cubs want to extend him—his name and playing style demand it.

It might amuse you that behind the scenes, Tucker has a goofy personality and loves to “crack jokes.” Kelly revealed how much the Cubs’ players and Tucker adore each other. Sure, Tucker is locked in on the field—but once he steps into the Cubs’ clubhouse after each game, he shares a different kind of bond with his teammates. There’s a mutual admiration, and the team genuinely enjoys Tucker’s company and sense of humor.

Kelly couldn’t hold back in praising Tucker’s recall of pitchers and how they plan to attack him. He added, “He knows that he’s not going to get pitched the way that report says he’s going to get pitched. It’s not going to be 42% fastball. You know, he’s going to see a 3% slider or the 3% curveball.” It’s simple; Tucker knows exactly when and how pitchers will come at him—he understands the dynamics and adjusts in real time.

Right now, Tucker is in his prime, and the Cubs are truly embracing it. As it seems, they’re willing to go to great lengths to keep him.

Are the Cubs willing to spend big to keep Kyle Tucker?

It’s not every day that a coach goes all in on their player. And everything Kelly laid out about Tucker rings true. The rightfielder knows his value and is also aware of the fact that no pitcher can beat him. The Cubs’ offense has never looked this good since Tucker’s presence in the lineup.

Undoubtedly, he is the most hyped player this season, whose name is on everyone’s lips. With so many teams in the league eyeing him, the question remains: will the Cubs pay him for what he is worth? Or will they watch him play his elite game in another jersey?

As Tucker approaches free agency, he’s projected to land one of the largest contracts this season after Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. If you have been keeping tabs, you’d know how the Cubs are not known for investing big in their players. Back in 2018, they could’ve had Bryce Harper in their lineup as the front office didn’t act in time. And now he is making waves with the Philadelphia Phillies. Such instances lead to speculations that the Cubs will be doing the same as they did with Harper, or will they shake things up for good?

The ball is in Tom Ricketts’ court. It’s up to him and the front office for what they decide eventually.