The Cubs surely surprised everyone in the last offseason when they pulled off a blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker, sending out a big haul to land one of the game’s top outfielders. And guess what, it looked like the perfect move. Tucker was playing at an MVP level and helping power Chicago to the top of the National League. But the past couple of months have told a different story. Notably, his average has dropped from .280 to .261 since the All-Star break, and yet to hit an HR since July 19!

Now, that’s the point where he was even booed at Wrigley Field, before it came out that he’d been battling a hand injury. It just made his future with the Cubs a whole lot more uncertain. But the idea of retaining him was always in dilemma, and nothing concrete. Yet the fans have kept some optimism alive. And according to Jon Heyman’s latest report on Thursday, the odds of Tucker signing an extension with the Cubs are pretty slim.

“It’s pretty unlikely that they’re able to sign him… I’m not gonna say it’s zero or 10 percent or that low, but I would say, let’s be realistic, it’s gotta be less than 50% at this point,” Heyman said via 670 The Score.

Well, even with the hot start and the injury he’s been playing through, Tucker’s numbers have taken a serious hit. His OPS+ (.815) is the lowest (except 2022) it’s been since he became a full-time player in 2020. Also, his home run rate is down to just 3.4%, his worst mark since that year.

Then there’s the financial side. Just last month, Jon Heyman pointed out that it would be a shock if Tucker ended up getting anything less than $500 million on his next deal. And for context, the biggest contract in Cubs history is Jason Heyward’s $184 million deal. So it feels like a stretch to imagine the Cubs would touch that figure for Tucker.

Now, when you throw in the hand fracture he suffered back in June and the fact that he’s started to hear boos from the Wrigley crowd, the outlook for Tucker’s long-term future in Chicago doesn’t exactly look promising.

An intense sweepstakes is probable for Tucker

Now, with the probability of Kyle Tucker staying with the Cubs getting reduced, he will most likely hit free agency after this season. However, concerns are there that Tucker just won’t be able to turn things around this season, given how rough he’s looked. But MLB insider Robert Murray doesn’t think this slump will have any impact once he hits free agency.

“When teams evaluate Tucker in the offseason, they’ll see the five-tool player that Tucker is,” Murray said.

Well, a player like Tucker is just more than a periodic slump. He can hit for average, hit for power, run, field, and throw. And having that kind of consistency across the board is rare in today’s game. Sure, teams will notice the slump, but it’s not going to scare them off. In the end, the overall track record is what matters, and that’s exactly the point Murray is making.

Tucker, with his career .272 BA and 143 HRs, is too good not to get an intense sweepstakes.

“I’m not going to let any contract or money stuff kind of dictate what I do out on the field,” he said. But the projected $600 million contract by Heyman could still be achievable. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. retained with the Blue Jays, Kyle Tucker might be the biggest crowd-puller in the upcoming offseason.