How Kyle Tucker’s MVP-Caliber Season Is Raising the Stakes for Cubs
EN 
ES Kyle Tucker’s arrival in Chicago has been everything the Cubs hoped for – and then some. The 28-year-old right fielder has erupted out of the gate this season with superstar production, looking every bit like the MVP-caliber slugger the Cubs traded for.
Through just a few weeks of the 2025 MLB season, Tucker is dominating at the plate. He leads Major League Baseball with 65 total bases, and his 25 RBIs and 24 runs scored also rank first in the league. Additionally, he’s third in hits (31), fourth in OPS (1.070), and sixth in home runs (7). This kind of production doesn’t just excite fans, it comes with a hefty price tag.
Kyle Tucker Shines in Cubs’ Dramatic Win over Dodgers
On Tuesday, Tucker’s value was on full display in the Cubs’ wild extra-inning win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that thriller at Wrigley Field, he provided heroics both with his bat and his glove. Early in the game, Tucker made a leaping catch at the right-field wall to rob the Dodgers of extra bases.
Then in the bottom of the 8th inning, with the Cubs trailing, Tucker crushed a two-run home run – his seventh of the season – to spark a comeback.
That clutch blast brought the Cubs within one run and proved pivotal as Chicago rallied to an 11–10 victory in 10 innings.
Cubs Ownership’s Hesitation to Re-Sign Tucker
It’s no secret why Tucker’s future is such a hot topic in Chicago: he’s playing on an expiring contract. Tucker was acquired in a blockbuster December trade with the Houston Astros, and he’s scheduled to become a free agent after the 2025 season.
The Cubs gave up a significant package of players (including infielder Isaac Paredes, pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski, and top prospect Cam Smith) to bring Tucker to Wrigleyville.
That bold win-now move by Cubs president Jed Hoyer signaled the franchise’s intent to compete in 2025 – but it also set up a high-stakes dilemma: Can they keep Tucker in Chicago for the long run?
Cubs Face Costly Choice as Kyle Tucker’s Value Soars
Right now, Tucker is earning $16.5 million this season. Given his elite performance, he is positioning himself for a massive payday in his next contract.
Few MLB sources have suggested that Tucker might even approach the $500 million threshold in free agency. That isn’t far-fetched considering the current market – this past winter saw Juan Soto sign a 15-year, $765 million deal and Shohei Ohtani ink a 10-year, $700 million deal in free agency.
Despite Tucker’s immense on-field value, there is a looming question of whether the Cubs’ ownership group, the Ricketts family, will meet his likely contract demands.
In recent years, ownership has often operated with surprising frugality. Their reluctance to hand out mega-deals has been well documented. Chicago notably sat out on pursuing generational talents like Ohtani or Soto when those stars were on the market.
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Team chairman Tom Ricketts has rarely green-lit a contract beyond the $200–300 million range, and the Cubs’ highest expenditure in recent memory was the 7-year, $177M deal for Dansby Swanson – nowhere near the figures Tucker is expected to command.
Tucker will be just 28 when he hits the open market, entering his prime, which makes him an extremely attractive target. If no extension is reached, he’s widely viewed as the top free agent of the next offseason.
Every home run and clutch play he delivers this year only drives his value higher, strengthening his case for a record-breaking contract.
The ball is in the Ricketts’ court, and Cubs fans are watching closely, hoping that ownership steps up to keep their newfound star in Cubbie blue for the long haul.
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