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August 19, 2025, Chicago, Il, USA: Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker looks on from the dugout in the fifth inning while not staring in game one of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. Chicago USA – ZUMAm67_ 20250819_zaf_m67_003 Copyright: xChrisxSwedax

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August 19, 2025, Chicago, Il, USA: Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker looks on from the dugout in the fifth inning while not staring in game one of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. Chicago USA – ZUMAm67_ 20250819_zaf_m67_003 Copyright: xChrisxSwedax
When it’s not your time, it is simply not your time. For Kyle Tucker, this old saying is hitting a little too close to home. After going 0-for-4 in a 7-0 loss and getting boos from Wrigley Field during the series against the Brewers, manager Craig Counsell decided to bench the outfielder for the next two games. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on the radio, “I think Tucker’s hurt….but Tucker’s not the same.”
Rookie Owen Caissie played in Tucker’s place in the next matches. Caissei seized the moments, going 3-for-6 with his first career home run and four RBIs. And the Cubs swept the doubleheader with 6-4 and 4-1 wins.
These recent events changed the narrative of Tucker’s approaching free agency in the coming winter. The popular Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue revealed this in a recent fan poll perfectly. They posed a question: “Would you sign Kyle Tucker to an 8-year, $380 million deal right now?” The results were quite revealing. A large majority of fans voted (58.84%) “No. Too much money and there are better, cheaper options.” On the other hand, only 41.16% voted “Yes. He’ll bounce back.”
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There are possibly two reasons for this dramatic change of heart. The first is, “Kyle Tucker has been a mess lately,” according to Josh Timmers of Bleed Cubbie Blue. Tuckers had a .182/.333/.239 slash line since the All-Star Break with just one home run. During that time, he had walked multiple times, but his power bat was completely silent. He has hit so many easy ground balls during this time. In the words of Tucker, “I don’t know how many times I’ve rolled over to first or second.”
The second is the emergence of Owen Caissie, which may be another reason why the Cubs can move on from Tucker. As Timmers pointed out, “Maybe you just think Owen Caissie is going to be better for less money?”
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What’s Really Going On With King Tuck?
Whatever the reason for this slip is, it’s not very clear-cut for Kyle Tucker as well. As he said, “I don’t know, I can’t really point to one thing. If I could, I would have already fixed that.” But we can’t ignore the impressive track record of the four-time All-Star. Tucker’s last four seasons went like-
2021 season- .294/.359/.557 slash line with 30 home runs and 147 OPS+
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2022 season- .257/.330/.478 slash line with 30 home runs and 129 OPS+
What’s your perspective on:
Is Kyle Tucker's slump a temporary setback, or is it time for the Cubs to move on?
Have an interesting take?
2023 season- .284/.369/.517 slash line with 29 home runs and 142 OPS+
2024 season- .289/.408/.585 slash line with 23 home runs and 179 OPS+
And in this season, despite that recent slump, his overall slash line is .261/.374/ .447 with 18 homers up to 20th August. Just take a look at his numbers and do you still think this slash line will not going to have any impact on the upcoming free agency?

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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Jun 28, 2025 Houston, Texas, USA Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker 30 jogs onto the field before the game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Houston Daikin Park Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xTroyxTaorminax 20250628_tjt_at5_0015
So, what’s behind this sudden collapse? What the clubhouse thinking? The front office thinks it’s a mechanical issue. “If you look at his swing early in the year versus now, it’s less connected and therefore less powerful,” said President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer. And the manager believes Tuck is mentally affected, too. “But we’ve seen the mental struggle, too. …We try to help… support…motivate, in any way we can. But like the mechanics thing, there’s no perfect answer.”
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There is still time left in this season, and when the front office decides Tuck’s future, they will have a few more pointers than we have now. Before that, we can only hope King Tuck will find his rhythm back as soon as possible and help the Cubs for a deep playoff run when they were still behind seven games to the group leader Milwaukee Brewers. What do you think will be the King Tuck’s price tag?
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"Is Kyle Tucker's slump a temporary setback, or is it time for the Cubs to move on?"