CHICAGO -- The Cubs made an aggressive push to acquire star outfielder Kyle Tucker over the winter, with this season¡¯s goal of making the playoffs as the driving, motivating force. The fact that Tucker can hit free agency next offseason was a situation that could be tabled until necessary.
That will not stop the conversation surrounding Tucker¡¯s future -- in fact, it will remain one of the underlying storylines of this Cubs campaign until he signs his next contract. And now that the Blue Jays agreed to a reported 14-year, $500 million extension with star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., there is another data point for Tucker¡¯s camp to consider.
¡°It¡¯s what he wanted to do,¡± Tucker said of Guerrero's extension before Monday¡¯s 7-0 win over the Rangers. ¡°I¡¯m sure he loves playing in Toronto and everything, so that¡¯s great for him. But everyone¡¯s a little different. Right now, I¡¯m here to play this year and play for the Cubs.¡±
Tucker added that he will ¡°see where everything goes¡± as this one-year period with the North Siders progresses. He shrugged when asked if he had any kind of soft deadline established between the Cubs and his representatives for any extension negotiations, leaning on a repeated refrain that he is ¡°just here to play baseball.¡±
Out of the gates, Tucker has given Cubs fans a glimpse into why the team¡¯s front office agreed to send highly-touted prospect Cam Smith, slugging third baseman Isaac Paredes and righty Hayden Wesneski to the Astros for only one guaranteed season with the right fielder.
Tucker is currently the MLB leader in total bases (37) and in hits (17), and the National League leader in runs (14), RBIs (16) and OPS (1.165), while also tied for the lead in homers (five). He has a .327/.453/.712 slash line and just picked up the first NL Player of the Week award of his career.
Tucker¡¯s strong start came after he went just 3-for-30 for the Cubs in Spring Training.
¡°I hope when we go to Spring Training with Kyle next year, that he¡¯s not going to have to play [Spring Training games],¡± Cubs manager Craig Counsell quipped. ¡°It¡¯s been fun watching Kyle at the peak of who he is as an offensive player.¡±
That prompted a reporter to ask: ¡°So you¡¯re saying you think he¡¯ll be at Spring Training with you next year?¡±
¡°Yeah, I shouldn¡¯t have said that,¡± Counsell said to laughter.
Prior to the Cubs¡¯ opener on Friday, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer was asked about trying to extend Tucker before next winter.
¡°Should we count my 'no comments' on this question? See how many we get to in six months?¡± Hoyer said with a smile. ¡°He¡¯s a great player -- that¡¯s why we traded for him. Clearly he¡¯s the kind of player you want to build a lineup around, build a team around. I think any conversations we have with him, we¡¯ll keep internal.¡±
For perspective, Guerrero is 26 years old, plays first base and has produced 21.6 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) over his seven seasons in the Major Leagues. Tucker plays the outfield and boasts more speed, but will turn 29 years old ahead of next season. He has produced 23.8 bWAR in his eight MLB seasons, including 20.9 over the 2021-24 seasons with Houston.
Counsell recently described Tucker as a ¡°quiet guy,¡± and the outfielder has indeed displayed a low-maintenance approach both with his daily work and around his teammates. He seems to have the kind of steady personality capable of producing, even as chatter about his contract situation persists and potentially increases amid a Cubs¡¯ late-season playoff push.
¡°Everybody¡¯s got their [situation],¡± Counsell said. ¡°It¡¯s part of being an athlete and being a professional athlete. The first week¡¯s a pretty good example for him. He seemed to handle it pretty well.¡±
Hoyer said Tucker will have the opportunity to see what it is like playing for the Cubs and at Wrigley Field over the next several months. That will be good information for both Tucker and the Cubs, if they attempt to keep him off the open market. As Hoyer said: ¡°Anyone wants a player like that long term.¡±
Tucker was asked if using this season to gain a greater understanding of the Cubs¡¯ organization and Chicago is important for him.
¡°Right now ¡ I can¡¯t really give you anything,¡± Tucker said. ¡°But it¡¯s been great ever since I¡¯ve been over here. Everyone¡¯s been super nice and helpful and everything. The hospitality¡¯s been great and obviously, you guys can walk around this facility, it¡¯s really nice.
¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just here to play some baseball and see what happens after that.¡±