Tucker

[kevinorie]

After seeing what Vladdy Jr. got, there's little to no chance Ricketts pays for Tucker beyond this season. What package of players does he bring back at the deadline? Barring a team that appears 99% destined to play in the World Series, there's little reason to hold on to Tuck beyond that point. Knowing he's headed to free agency, I can't imagine the return matches up very well with the initial investment.

[Cuzi]

If the Cubs dont extend Tucker after what they traded to get him, and especially if they trade him at the deadline, I hope the fanbase is at least intelligent enough to black out the stadium. It's unacceptable to sit here as a top market, charging top dollar, to continuously sit out on top tier players because it's "too expensive."

Edited April 10, 2025 by Cuzi

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I miss October baseball. It’s been five years. Keep Tucker all year, keep the door open for a return. Collect draft pick compensation if he walks. Enjoy what could end up being one of the best offensive seasons from a Cub in any of our lifetimes,

 

This team should be buyers at the deadline. Get to the playoffs and see what happens.

[Brian707]

Tucker isn't coming back to the Cubs next season. Tom Ricketts is poor. They will say they made their best effort like always but won't even come close to the asking price in reality.

[Bertz]

This fanbase is so weird

[Cuzi]

6 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

Tucker isn't coming back to the Cubs next season. Tom Ricketts is poor. They will say they made their best effort like always but won't even come close to the asking price in reality.

Cool. Then stop supporting the team like Cardinals fans are beginning to do.

[kevinorie]

I'd love to extend him. That should be everyone's preference. But if upper management KNOWS it's not gonna happen, the discussion has to be had.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I’d rather watch Kyle Tucker rip dongs for 2-3 extra months then trade him for the next Caleb Kilian and Alexander Canario.

[kevinorie]

The fan in me sees it the same way. The adult in me sees us moving Paredes, Wesneski and Smith for a pick. And that's an upper management problem, if they allow that to be the end result.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

We’ll all be dead one day. Might as well enjoy as many dingers as we can while we’re here.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The front office made a significant investment in trading for Tucker knowing full well his contract situation.  The idea that they need to consider trading him at the deadline when the main things that have happened since are 1) the Cubs getting off to a good start 2) Tucker hitting very well for 2 weeks and 3) Vlad getting a big contract implies a lack of conviction from the front office that doesn't really make sense.  

If you're of the mind that Tucker needs to go in July you're likely weighing one or more of a few things differently than the front office.  They are either more comfortable with Tucker leaving and banking the comp pick to hedge the price they paid, they value a competitive season where the team has the chance to make the playoffs and win the world series, or (most likely) they have more optimism about keeping Tucker beyond this year. 

[Jason Ross]

I really thought that if the Cubs got off to a bad start that we would see some whispers of "Trade Tucker at the deadline?" talk from fans. 

I did not, however anticipate that that being in first in the NL Central as Kyle Tucker leads the charge would also result in "trade Tucker at the deadline?" talk from fans. 

[kevinorie]

A World Series is hard to win, even with the most talented roster in MLB. Making that deal and parting with those involved, it would be unacceptable for 2026 to roll around and the only thing the Cubs have to show for their deal was a pick. I want to watch Tucker in uniform for the Cubs all season, heck I want to pay him 500 mill. Letting him walk after this season though is irresponsible.

 

Maybe a better framing of this conversation...what does everyone think a reasonable/competitive offer from the Cubs will look like for Kyle Tucker?

[Jason Ross]

12 minutes ago, kevinorie said:

A World Series is hard to win, even with the most talented roster in MLB. Making that deal and parting with those involved, it would be unacceptable for 2026 to roll around and the only thing the Cubs have to show for their deal was a pick. I want to watch Tucker in uniform for the Cubs all season, heck I want to pay him 500 mill. Letting him walk after this season though is irresponsible.

 

Maybe a better framing of this conversation...what does everyone think a reasonable/competitive offer from the Cubs will look like for Kyle Tucker?

Lance Brodkowski, on Marquee the other day, had sources from the Kyle Tucker camp that suggested 10/$475m is what would keep him in Chicago. I know the initial reaction from many will be "Omg it'll never happen", but I don't share the feeling. 

1. The Cubs are generally on the cautious side of prospects when it comes to trading. It would not follow that they would just use prospects for what would be considered, a one year rental. At least, a rental without a chance to resign him.

2. Jed Hoyer spoke this offseason about how they would sign big contracts at time some point, but it takes a long time to get these deals together - that they don't happen over night. Then they traded for Kyle Tucker, 11 months before he became a FA. Sounds like a lot of time, huh?

3. Jed Hoyer just recently said Tucker is a "good player to build a lineup around. He's a good player to build a team around". Hoyer is usually pretty careful in his words. That probably is on purpose.

4. If Kyle Tucker's camp is leaking numbers - that's not a "no". You do that when you're willing to talk. We haven't heard Tucker and his camp laying down a deadline "I won't negotiate mid year" or anything. Leaking numbers is good. 

5. 10/$475m isn't crazy bad. I think eventually the team who signs him flattens that 10 into 12 to spread the AAV. Also considering this is the "leaked" number is usually the high water mark, getting him down around $450m feels like it' pretty doable for all sides.

Do I think the Cubs will sign him? No. But I expect the Cubs internally love Tucker the player. They have said they would be willing to sign a big name. They aren't idiots and knew what Tucker would cost. And neither camp is acting like it's a no. I do think the Cubs will put forth a real competitive offer to Tucker. 

I think a reasonable offer is something at 12 years and between $425-450m. I think Tucker would sign that contract.

[Brian707]

1 hour ago, Cuzi said:

Cool. Then stop supporting the team like Cardinals fans are beginning to do.

That's an idiotic response. 

 

Keep believing a pipe dream

[Bobson Dugnutt]

12 minutes ago, kevinorie said:

A World Series is hard to win, even with the most talented roster in MLB. Making that deal and parting with those involved, it would be unacceptable for 2026 to roll around and the only thing the Cubs have to show for their deal was a pick. I want to watch Tucker in uniform for the Cubs all season, heck I want to pay him 500 mill. Letting him walk after this season though is irresponsible.

 

Maybe a better framing of this conversation...what does everyone think a reasonable/competitive offer from the Cubs will look like for Kyle Tucker?

But I don’t think “look like a slam dunk on paper to win the World Series in July” is a reasonable expectation. Not any year, really, but particularly in a year where the Dodgers are built the way they are.

If they’re 8 games out of a playoff spot, sure, see what you can get I guess. I’d still prefer to keep him all year regardless. But they look like one of the better teams in the NL. The playoffs are unpredictable. Add some arms at the deadline and see what happens.

and honestly? If we get to the playoffs and have series as memorable as the Cardinals in 2015 or nationals in 2017 but ultimately fall short of winning it all, that’s still worth it to me.

[Cuzi]

11 minutes ago, Brian707 said:

That's an idiotic response. 

 

Keep believing a pipe dream

What's idiotic is supporting a team raking in top 4 revenue and refusing to do what it takes to be a top 4 franchise.

Edited April 10, 2025 by Cuzi

[Hot Sauce]

4 minutes ago, Cuzi said:

What's idiotic is supporting a team raking in top 4 revenue and refusing to do what it takes to be a top 4 franchise.

We all have a different idea of what being a fan looks like, where we draw the line for our support, or if there is even a line at all. There is no right, wrong, or idiotic when it comes to being a fan. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

2 hours ago, kevinorie said:

After seeing what Vladdy Jr. got, there's little to no chance Ricketts pays for Tucker beyond this season. What package of players does he bring back at the deadline? Barring a team that appears 99% destined to play in the World Series, there's little reason to hold on to Tuck beyond that point. Knowing he's headed to free agency, I can't imagine the return matches up very well with the initial investment.

There is no team 99% destined to reach the World Series, not even the Dodgers. The key is to get there and then roll the dice.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

39 minutes ago, kevinorie said:

Maybe a better framing of this conversation...what does everyone think a reasonable/competitive offer from the Cubs will look like for Kyle Tucker?

I didn’t answer this part in my last post but I think 12/450 feels competitive. That puts his AAV between Vlad and Judge I believe.

[kevinorie]

I agree. I suppose that was my point...that if they KNOW they are not willing to go however far it may be to retain him, I hate to see our return on investment end up as a compensatory pick. Understandably, that comes with a couple of extra months of fun baseball to watch as a fan if you don't trade him. Probably just thinking too much but it's a conversation I thought worth having.

[kevinorie]

Sorry, should've quoted Brock in my last post.

[Bertz]

If Tucker ultimately demands a contract that starts with a 4 or a 5, then it means he continues to put up an MVP caliber season this year.  I have a really hard time seeing this trade being anything but a rousing success if they get an MVP caliber season out of the deal.

Does the team still "lose" based on some sort of WAR in vs. WAR out framework?  Sure.  But that sort of simplistic framework ignores quite a bit.  E.g. the Cubs are probably going to get more WAR out of Owen Caissie than the Padres got out of 3 years of Yu Darvish, but no one would be dumb enough to say the Padres made a bad deal there.

[Derwood]

This narrative that trading Cam for Tucker (and not retaining Tucker) is somehow the worst thing that's every happened is so weird. The Mets trading us PCA for Javy is like 10x worse (as Baez is infinitely worse than Tucker and PCA is infinitely better than Cam)

[kevinorie]

I hope you're right with the ONKC scenario. If not, that was a bad deal...not in the sense that when dealing for prospects you KNOW who is going to work out and who isn't, rather you HAVE to get something playable for Darvish. My hope is, ONKC is that "playable".