The Chicago Cubs made a bold move last offseason, trading for star outfielder Kyle Tucker with hopes of turning playoff contention into a championship sprint. But as the smoke clears from a disappointing finish, their gamble faces a new test: Tucker is officially entering free agency, and his time in Chicago may stop abruptly. His reputation is paramount, and there is robust demand for his services; the Cubs’ biggest challenge might not be retaining his talent, but outbidding a crowded field of rivals. 

As per David Brown, MLB insider, the franchise leading the charge for Kyle Tucker’s services is none other than the Los Angeles Dodgers. “The Dodgers have been linked to Tucker ever since the postseason began, and it makes a lot of sense for both sides,” Brown stated. “Tucker, who is said to be seeking at least $400 million, figured to drive the free-agent market. The Dodgers have more money than any other team, plus a willingness to spend it. They also have a need in the right field, evident since Mookie Betts moved to shortstop.”

Kyle’s value is clear. Regardless of dealing with a fractured hand in June, the 29-year-old rounded off his 2025 season hitting .266 with 22 homers, 87 walks, 25 steals, and a strong .377 OBP. That versatility makes him a force at the plate and on the bases, and an asset any clubhouse would pay up for. Reports from The Athletic and Bleacher Report have already pegged Tucker to land a massive 10-year deal, likely in the range of 400 million USD or more. 

However, the Cubs are still trying to stay in the mix. What would it cost to keep Kyle Tucker on the team? The Cubs fans need to know how big the threat of the Dodgers is, whether Craig Counsell’s team can match other teams that are prepared with large money, and if the stars’ free-agent decision will focus on winning instead of long-term security.

The answer is that he has multiple options, and Dave Roberts’ team is ready to provide him with the biggest stage, the biggest checkbook, and an open position in the lineup. Craig Counsell made the first vital move; however, in free agency, money matters most specifically when the Dodgers are the bidder.

With the uncertainty around Kyle Tucker’s future, the team could be forced to look for additional roster upgrades elsewhere.

The Cubs are advised to target an AL East catcher amid Tucker’s uncertainty

All talk in the Cubs is now related to Kyle Tucker. However, nobody is providing much focus to transforming anything in the charging position. Based on the data, there does not seem to be much reason for concern. Together, the Cubs catching corps as a whole 30 homers and 99 RBIs while playing all-around solid defensively. Carson Kelly, himself, is responsible for 17 of those homers and 50 of those RBIs.

However, Kelly, who joined the team last offseason for a two-year, $ 11.5 million deal, had seen a drop in his offensive performance, specifically in the second half of this year. Although the star still had a career season with the bat, Kelly was highlighting a regression to his career-averaged hopes by the end of the season.

At this time, the team is advised to focus on Adley Rutschman. Chris Landers of Fansided thinks, “The Cubs have the luxury of being just about locked in at every position on the diamond — except, that is, for catcher, where Carson Kelly started off strong before disappearing down the stretch this season. It’s a spot crying out for an upgrade this offseason, and while the free-agent market is thin on impact names (outside a declining JT Realmuto), the trade market features one heck of a buy-low opportunity in Rutschman”.

Lander also added, “OK, so how figures to still be pretty steep in this case; Rutschman is under team control for two more years, and the Baltimore Orioles don’t figure to be overly eager to dump him for pennies on the dollar. Still, the two-time All-Star will likely never be cheaper to acquire and to extend than he is this winter, and it seems like Baltimore is at least open to moving on if the price is right.”

The Rutschman, 27, had a dip in productivity last season, posting a .220 batting average and a .673 OPS with just 9 home runs. Before 2025, though, the switch-hitter produced 20 homers and 19 home runs in 2023 and 2024, respectively. He is also regarded as a rigid defensive player and a smart pitch caller. Rutschman has two more years of franchise control, earning about the same salary—$5.5 million—as Kelly currently gets.

Finally, the Cubs find themselves at a crossroads: their gamble to retain Kyle Tucker hangs in the balance, while a new opportunity to strengthen the roster with a talent such as Adley Rutschman emerges. Whether Chicago can pull off a key outfield reunion or pivot to upgrade behind the plate, this offseason will likely define the franchise’s long-term direction. One thing is obvious: big decisions are coming, and Cubs fans will be watching every move.