Kyle Tucker Loses $200M in Huge Setback as Cubs Star’s Chicago Loyalty Fades Away, Says Insider

It was not long ago that Kyle Tucker was one of the most talked-about baseball players who would end up as a free agent coming off-season. He was to command a $600 million deal, and honestly, the Cubs outfielder had all the tools to get that deal done. But that’s the thing about baseball—not all seasons are the same, and right now Tucker’s slump might be costing him the deal he was so looking forward to. A $200 million loss!

Tucker’s market value has come down so drastically because his bat went silent this summer. He managed just one homer in July and a strikeout surge in August. Plus, his OPS is .600 across July and August. So for a player who wants a deal that’s north of half a billion dollars, these struggles couldn’t have come at a worse time.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Tucker’s dip is already reshaping how his free agency will look.

Passan said on Marquee Sports Network’s Cubs Weekly Podcast, “I want to acknowledge that Kyle Tucker’s swoon through July and into August has a chance to demonstrably affect what that final number might be. Right now, they think the over/under has gone down to $400 million.” That’s a sharp drop from the $600 million that Tucker was supposed to get. And while some Chicago Cubs fans think that a lower number makes re-signing him simple, the real kicker is that Tucker’s loyalty to Chicago might be on shaky ground now. There is plenty of industry buzz that he is leaning towards free agency and then locking into an extension.

This leaves the Cubs to wonder whether they will be willing to or able to meet the adjusted rate. However, for now, Passan still says that the Cubs are the front-runners when it comes to being Kyle Tucker’s favorites. “I’ve said ‘yes’ in the past, and I will still say ‘yes’ now. But I think the Cubs are going to have a limit that they’re not going to want to go past.” But honestly, for a franchise that already let Bregman walk over the financial boundaries, fans will wonder if Tucker is next!

Will the Cubs’ spending habits cost them Kyle Tucker?

The Chicago Cubs are once again in the middle of a high-stakes free agency. And somehow the fans have an inkling of how this one ends. And now even Jeff Passan is asking the fans not to get their hopes too high. Passan made it clear that as long as Jed Hoyer runs the front office, there is always going to be a line in the sand. Because Hoey doesn’t like crossing it, no matter how high the stakes are. The last Alex Bregman offseason was proof.

This is because Chicago appeared to be serious about signing Bregman but offered nothing substantial in return. Not the most money, nor years, nor even the average salary. So eventually, Bregman ended up moving to Boston. And this is where Passan thinks that the Tucker deal will end up, too. “I think that the Cubs are going to have a number they’re not willing to go past, and if they do lose Kyle Tucker, that’s going to be the reason—because they were steadfast in their position and refused to move off of it despite market forces doing what they needed to do.”

Now, even at a reduced price of $400 million, Tucker still would break the Cubs’ spending record. They are still stuck with Jason Heyward, and he has a $184 million deal from 2015! So for fans who once launched the “extend Tucker” campaign, this creates a tough tangent. Is this a chance to buy low or a red flag? They have a young core, and Tucker’s decision could shape how their next decade goes.

Let us know what you think.