Should the Chicago Cubs go ALL IN on Kyle Tucker?

Should the Chicago Cubs go ALL IN on Kyle Tucker?

Free agency is officially underway. So, let’s get to the biggest question for the Cubs. Is Kyle Tucker coming back? You are Locked on Cubs. Your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every day alongside Samber. I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the app, create an account, use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. This whole show is going to be about Kyle Tucker. Later this week, we’ll uh get into what the Cubs can learn from just an epic uh World Series. Also, awards season starts this week. Free agency begins this week. So, we have to begin with the Cub’s biggest free agent who in 136 games, Kyle Tucker slashed 266, 377464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, 25 stolen bases. Cubs made one of the biggest moves in all of baseball last off season when they acquired him from the Astros way back on December 13th. Reach Parades, Hayden Wiseski, and prospect Cam Smith. And Tucker had a turbulent season of sorts with the Cubs, but he was also a major reason for their success. And Tucker is now officially a free agent. as we get closer really to a reality uh we wondered about on the day the trade was made that Tucker might only be with the Cubs uh for one year. Sam, it’s time to reflect a little more on him and really figure out whether or not they want to uh but also if they even should bring him back. Yeah, it’s uh first of all, it’s just been a crazy weekend here. Um, I’m still coming down from the Bear game and from a cold Oh, a Bear game. I thought No, no, no, no cold. No cold. World Series, all these things. Now we go into Tucker. Uh, who Good segue. Yeah. Who? Um, I, you know, let’s I think that’s a great place to start. Are the Cubs gonna want him back bad enough to compete with the other teams that do want him? Because one thing that I’ve realized these last couple of years in the off season is if there is a team where let’s say it says team X is all in on player Y, the Cubs are out, right? The Cubs are out. Yeah. They’re not going to be competing with that team. Exactly. And it doesn’t matter what player it is if we’re talking about a highlevel player. Um, you know, they didn’t even meet with Juan Sodto. I don’t did they ever get a Yamamoto meeting? Not that I remember. Yeah. Um, if they were So, so like for example, if the Dodgers decide, hey, we really shouldn’t have won that World Series and the big reason why is offensively we weren’t potent enough. and they say, “We we want to add Tucker to your same reason why you want the Cubs to go big. This is the last year before the the new rules might kick in, so maybe they overpay for a guy like Tucker.” Well, we’re out then. So, I think I think the best question is is are there going to be any teams that are all in on Kyle Tucker? What does allin look like? Um, is that is that 200? Is that 250? Um, I can’t see the Cubs paying any more than than that for this player, considering the fact that that he’s been banged up injury-wise. Um, I I said on my solo show a couple weeks back, the comp I make for Kyle Tucker, uh, is Chris Bryant for the good and for the bad. Now, I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as the Bryant deal by any means, but, um, it’s one of those two things can be true, Matt. I want the Cubs to spend a ton of money, so I’m not gonna let them off the hook if if Tucker goes elsewhere. But if they say, “Hey, we want to spend a ton of money, just not on this player,” I think there actually is a fair uh uh point on that. I know I’m not sure you agree with me. That’s okay. Well, I I I guess I’ll address your first question because because there have been reports linking both World Series teams to Tucker already. Yep. Plus the Yankees, Red Sox, and Giants. So that’s five teams right there. The Cubs would make it six teams. Depending on what happens with Schwarber, you figure the Phillies get in the mix. So really to me, I think there’s seven teams that that could legit legitimately bring Tucker in and and have them play in 2026 and beyond. But the question that I’m really struggling with right now with all of this is can their can the Cubs and their offense really repeat what they did without Tucker? Like if if if he’s not here, who steps up? and and and they’re they’re they were a top six offense in baseball. I have accepted uh the the not the not only the eb and flow of him individually but of the team because I just keep going back to this Sam because it it was a turbulent season for him. It was he had two injuries. He had one in June, a finger injury he suffered, and one in September, a calf injury. But I’m really, really struggling with the fact that the first 97 games, Yeah, you’re right. Clear MVP candidate in the league. He was named a starter to the All-Star team. And yeah, his last 39 games was was poor, especially that 25 game stretch in in mid July to mid August when he hit 163 with two with two doubles and all singles. But I I’m just really struggling with how they repeat their performance without him. I agree with Jed Hoyer. When the Cubs were at their best in 2025, so was Kyle Tucker. Absolutely. Their record was 14 and 12 without him. Um, so that that’s what I’m really really having a hard time with. But you could let him walk and bring somebody else in. You know, that’s an option. Well, what if I were to tell you they let Tucker walk and added their offense? I think if they let Tucker walk and their starting lineup on opening day is is they just move Suzuki to right bias to DH. Yeah, that’s probably not going to be a good enough offense long term. I agree with you on that. I agree with you on that. But although I am starting to warm up to that if you load up on pitching like crazy. Yeah. I just don’t you know you you watch you watch these playoffs. I mean, you’d have to load up on pitching crazy like Dodger style, you know what I mean? And and and look at who they still have to do in their lineup. I It’s It’s It’s a hard one. I’m not going to be mad. Let me Let me I will not be mad if they bring back Kyle Tucker by any means. I just think look at the teams that you just mentioned. Yeah. Do you really see the Cubs out bidding those teams? If those teams want Kyle Tucker, like do you really see that? It’s hard to. It’s hard to. And so we’ll start uh we’ll continue to to maneuver through this because I I do think there’s certain prices where they they just eliminate themselves which is um which is embarrassing. But I at this point I I know I know that that’s what their position is. So I just But here’s the thing. You use the word embarrassing and you’re right, but I don’t think it’s I think it’s embarrassing as a generalization, which is true, but for this specific player, is this the specific player you want to go all in on? I I I I was all on board for a long time, Matt. That second half of the season, I mean, it was really a problem. I mean, it almost went to the point where it got like like you felt like you were missing something. So, it’s a very complicated thing. I I I I think I’ve just uh tempered on it because I just don’t see it. I just don’t see it. Unless the market decides we don’t like this guy, that’s where the Cubs come in. And and that’s frustrating. Um but I Yeah, maybe that’s a better word. Yeah. I I I just again I I I’ll repeat it for a third time nine minutes in and nobody can make fun of me in the comments because it’s my birthday. Happy birthday. I think it’s a shame that the Cubs continue to go bargain hunting, but I don’t think it’s a shame if they decide that Kyle Tucker isn’t the right fit for them at a $250 million price. Is that Oh my gosh, they better. If that’s the price, that would be I I’ll I’ll move mountains. So, let’s keep this let’s keep this convo going then uh right after this. That That’s a ridiculous price. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. It keeps every game excite exciting, especially when your team’s making that late push. Folks, uh Chicago Sports right now having a little bit of a moment. The Bulls Bulls are five and 0. As I say this, I believe they go to Madison Square Garden, the nation’s most famous arena tonight to play the Knicks. And the Bears just won one of the most exciting, crazy games I’ve seen uh in a long time. Don’t know if I should be happy or a little bit uh taken aback by that defensive collapse. Um I gave out the Titans a plus 10 and a half. They covered uh losing by seven. Uh there’s just nothing better than FanDuel. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So, head to fanduel.com to sign up and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Shout out to the Everydayers. You can become a Locked On Cubs Everydayer by joining us for every episode throughout the week, which is five days a week through the winter meetings. And uh and even after that, we’re only three or four days a week for about an an 8week stretch. So, we’ll be here all off season long. And um yeah, this is this is a a major topic. You know, when when the the Astros intel began about a year ago and and it was almost a year to the day where I floated his name on our airwaves. Yeah, you did. I just thought, okay, if you acquire this player, which they did, then wouldn’t he be the one you would want to invest and go all in on, right? Especially at a time where uh the the the economics of the game are are a little bit in flux, right? And I’m starting to cool off on on, oh, the 27 season is, you know, not going to happen. I think it is even if it’s just 60 games or whatever. Um, but they’ll play. I guess you you would you you need to explain to me why he wouldn’t be the guy to invest in. Is it is it I I get it. He had 163 for 25 games. But Sam, we we sat here and and we wondered if if they put someone of a star caliber in the lineup, Yeah. what would happen, right? We wondered that for three years. 22 we took over, 23 and 24. And I just of a I’m of the position that that we found out what happened if if a star caliber player is in the lineup, at least the first 97 games, we found that out. But what do you say to this? And because he did affect the other parts of the lineup, did he not? PCA had a career year. Seiya had a career year. Her had a career year. Bush had a career year. Kelly had a career year. Hap was Hap. Swanson was Swanson. This is the player they should go to lengths for. And he was down the hallway for a year. I’m going to read you a couple of statistics. Um 2025, Kyle Tucker batted 266 with 22 home runs and 73 driven in with an 841 OPS. In 2023, Cody Bellinger uh hit .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBI’s, and an 881 ops. That year, Cody Bellinger didn’t get the big money. The Cubs slid in late and brought him back. Uhhuh. I think Kyle Tucker’s a better player than Cody Bellinger. I also don’t think he Everything that you said I fully agree with. Let me make this clear. Where I’m where we’re off lengths is I’m not sure he projects as a superstar player the rest of the way. Just not. I thought defensively he was bad. if I if bad strong mediocre at best I don’t like the way he’s aging back-to-back years really banged up physically seemed like that really impacted his play again if the Cubs hand out so we before I get so you’re saying hey do the Cubs want to invest in a player that played in 136 this year and only 70 or so the pre previous year yeah and last year half the almost half the games he was bad no it was it was 39 games. Okay. Any Okay. All right. All right. The the second half of the season. And let me list Let me list his stats through the first 97 if I may. Yep. Yep. Okay. Cuz half the season that’s that’s an exaggeration. No, that was the wrong that was the wrong phrase. I meant 281 385 504 with an OPS of 8.89. Right. I get it. He was poor the last 39, especially that middle 25. You hit like a pitcher. But what about the first 97? What about the totality of the campaign in which they won 92 games, they reached the playoffs for the first time in several years. What’s the price you’d go up to? So I cuz we might be saying the same thing. Tell Kira I say hello. We might be saying the same. We might be saying she says happy her and Bennett say happy birthday. Thank you. I just heard a door open. Now, we might be saying the same thing. Where do you say the price is ridiculous? How much per year? Would you give him 35 30? I I would. Yeah. You’d give him 35 million a year. I would. Yes. Oh, no. No. No. I would I would do that for eight years. That comes out to eight for 280. I would do that today. Wait a minute. You just made fun of me when I said 250 million. Correct. Because that’s a reasonable price. Oh, I see. That’s why I did. So, you’d go eight for 280 for Tucker. Yeah. And I think the Cubs are caught up on the years, Sam. So, I Are they even willing to go eight? Are they willing to go nine? They’re not willing to go above that, I don’t think. Let me tell you what I’d offer him. I’m getting my phone for a calculator. By the way, the Cubs willingness to go to sign a player this off season for more than five years, I will admit it does seem low, but I think they need to abandon that thinking. I go seven I go I’ I I I be like seven for 210. Wow. Yeah. I just don’t know if you get this player for that. I know. I just I’d rather now. But let me tell you something. I would overpay for a Schwarber even though he’s he’s way older than Tucker. Yeah, you go four or five years and the Cubs need if if they’re adding slugs specifically like him. You think a lefty would be the best way because I I would rather get Suarez at that point? No, I because even though Schwarber the buzz and interest, don’t get me wrong, it’d be great for the show. Kyle Schwarber hits big home runs. You know, he So now you’re arguing that Schwarber is more clutch than Tucker. Is that what I’m hearing? Oh, well, that’s not an argument. That’s a fact, isn’t it? Well, what’s I mean, let I mean, I don’t remember how many big absolute massive hits. I mean, Tucker, you know, he’s once the World Series. What’s his What’s his uh Well, once the World Series, he’s one of the more complete players when he’s on a four-time all-star, man. I don’t like what I saw that second half. It was eye opening to me. Okay. Something was weird about it. And and I Well, he had two. He had not one but two injuries. I want Tucker back. I just don’t want him back at the all-in price. I’m not giving him eight for 280. I don’t care about price. What happened to you? No, you’re right. Why do you Why do you Why does Price upset you now? Are you I’ll tell you why. Because please because if they give him eight for 280 and he turns out to be a Jason Hayward type contract, we’re going to hear for the next seven years that the Cubs can’t spend and the rules are going to change and that contract could be a hamper. Look at the Rockies. If he’s a star for the first three of three of the eight years, then I then I’d write the check right now. And that’s what it would be. You year seven and eight, he will be Jason Hayward. But I don’t think I I don’t think it’s a he was not a star player for the totality of this year. And 841 OPS, 23 home runs, and 72 RBI’s is not a star season. It was a B season. It was a good season. If we’re going to give up 200, 250, 300 plus, if we’re going to give up eight for 280, I want a guy that can hit 30, 35 home runs, hit about 280, 290, and his OPS should start with a nine. So, and that that’s a fair barometer when you talk about OPS starting with the nine. I don’t I I won’t mince that part of it. So, would you go five would you go 30 M for five years for Schwarber then or would you give him a sixth year and say, “Hey, if you if you’re that if you’re that into him, you give even give him a six year.” I wouldn’t give him a sixth year. Okay. You go four or five years, right? Yeah. Yeah, I would. How many home runs did Schwarber hit last year? 50 something. Oh, yeah. He hit 50. Yeah, Tucker at 23. No, he hit 22. 22. Schwarber at 56 last night. What are we talking about here? All right, let’s keep let’s keep this conversation going. This Wow. I really hope people got this far into the episode. He He He almost over He almost hit triple the amount of homers this guy hit. All right. Well, then a week from today, we better be doing a Schwarber episode at this rate. Stay tuned. This episode is brought to you by Game Time. The NFL season is back and honestly, there’s nothing better than being in the stadium surrounded by fans cheering on your team. But let’s be honest, getting tickets can be a hassle between cues, login screens, and prices jumping at checkout. It’s frustrating. That’s why I use Game Time, the app that gives the advantage back to fans. Game time is fast, easy, and backed by the Game Time guarantee. You always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included, so the price you see is the price you pay. I pulled up Game Time, and in just a couple taps, I saw amazing deals. I’m talking about your favorite NFL games as low as $100. The app made it super simple. I could even see the exact few view for my seat before buying. So, please download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code lockdown MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code L O C K D O N M LB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download Game Time today. Make sure you’re subscribed to Locked On Cubs on your preferred audio platform or YouTube. That way you don’t miss any of the great Cubs content we’ve got for you. Yeah, don’t get me wrong. If if if the new if Jeff Passen breaks the news, you know, first day of winter meetings that the Giants spent 300 plus on Tucker, I’m not going to be going outside and doing uh doing laps and protest. Um, but if if the number starts with the two and it’s not the Cubs, that that’s that is where it it intrigues me on on the opposite end end of the spectrum being like, well, wait, all these dudes had great years with clearly a a a star caliber player. and you’re saying, “Yeah, he didn’t have a star here.” But I just feel like it there there is evidence at times overwhelming that he did make everybody better, that he did answer the question we always wondered about. And um so yeah, I mean that’s that’s you know, I I understand it’s a spirited discussion. I I’m I’m you know, I’m glad it is. But I think I think I think where you and I are are are misaligned is you’re and I guess I didn’t realize you wanted Schwarber. Well, no, but you’re you’re paying for the idea of what Kyle Tucker could be. And and I just I am not as conf though he was one of the top seven hitters in baseball the last the last five years. I know. But he he came off a year where he played 79 games, right? And then this year after about that amount of games plus add another 15, he he just, you know, he just wasn’t good. Like man, I I forgive me if I’m still bitter. Like if we had the Kyle Tucker in the first half, we probably get a chance to play the Dodgers in the CS. Yeah. You know, and I just Well, well, and I guess to to add to your point, what about the atbat against Ashby? Yeah. I’m not gonna make it come, you know, to one. I think having it come down to one at bat’s unfair. Okay. Um that’s unfair. But it’s just I just if the Cubs get him back at a price that doesn’t hurt them long term. I’m all for it. I just have trepidation about the contract. It feels like a It feels like a Bryanty, Haywardy type of path right now. Um to me what did Bryant I think Bryant was seven for 180 something like that. Yeah. Yeah it was. You know that’s a bad deal. He’s barely played right much less performed well. And I don’t think Tucker will be like that at all. Like again if if if passing breaks the news in a couple weeks the Cubs just went out and went all in uh uh for Tucker, I’m not going to be angry about it because I think it gives the Cubs a real chance. I think what I’m just saying I just have doubts about this guy as a superstar level player. I think he’s more of a a high-end I think he’s more of a an allstar level guy. I’m not sure he’s a superstar level player uh at 22 and 73 in the power numbers and 840 with the OPS and and again I have to emphasize I would say an underwhelming year defensively. Well, it was it was and uh yeah, maybe maybe we shouldn’t put off on getting into Tucker alternative options that would really invigorate the team then because Schwarber is doesn’t bring anything defensively. Alonzo doesn’t really bring anything defensively. Suarez doesn’t either. Those would all be three frontline slug options though that you would really get excited about. Uh, I wouldn’t sneeze at any of those additions. I’d sneeze I’d sneeze a little. I’d sneeze a little bit of Suarez. I’d sneeze. I’d have a little bit of a of an itch at sneeze. Well, those are the only three names that that are really like big names in free agency. And Al and Alonzo is a tough ad because what do you do with Bastos? He’d have to be ready to catch. I know. And and I and that’s where I know we’re going in circles a little bit, but I think there’s a chance that they do that that they roll the dice with the DH right field rotation of Casey Bistera. By the way, I just totally contradicted my own point because it’s you have to if you go after Alonzo, it’s the same question if you go get Schwarber, right? What do you do with Bastos? Maybe maybe there’s a blockbuster out there, you know what I mean, with Bayisteros in it or Casey or one of these guys. And you know, they have a lot they have a lot of options, but one thing we know about the Cubs, they want to be in the high 80s, low 90s and solid every year. And you know, they shouldn’t want to be in the in the high 80s. And they’re going to go for it like should be 90 plus. Look, I think this this this episode got off the rails. Um, I think I don’t I don’t I don’t I don’t know if I agree. I don’t I am not against the Cubs bringing back Kyle Tucker. I just have a lot more doubts than I did. Uh, I was just very unimpressed for I know you said it was 39 games. To me, it felt like it was the entire month of July, August, September, and in October. I wasn’t very impressed. Right. That amount to do about 39 games. Yeah, it’s a long time. to be thorough. Just wanted to point out the Astros uh went 87 and 75. They missed the playoffs first time in 10 years. Great point. Pretted well, but played in only 102 games. I didn’t know that until earlier today. Wizki pitched in only six games before getting surgery. And Cam Smith hit 236. Yeah. Got quiet. the same amount of games Tucker played, 136, uh, coincidentally, and was relegated to a platoon role the final month of the season. Granted, he’s only like 21 years old. No, I I would make that trade. Want to be thorough there at the end. I’d make that trade 10 times out of 10. I have no regrets about the trade. I just, you know, I I have questions going forward about the level of star. To me, clearly to me, if you’re going to get eight for 280, you absolutely have to be one of the 10 15 best guys in the sport. And I have doubts about that going forward. Fair enough. But I’m not against it. It’s not my money. Would you like to start looking at at position player targets or or what what would you like to do moving forward? I’m getting the sense that you would you would like to explore that. I’d like to explore the fact that I’m upset that the Dodgers won last night. Uh just want to get that out there. I thought Toronto I I know they didn’t hit what a series though. That was one of the best postseason series I’ve seen besides for the the 2016 World Series between the Cubs and Cleveland, but I I I thought it was um it was amazing. as far as your question goes about exploring. Um, yeah, I I I absolutely do. I I I do want to explore some other options, but I but but I I really think there’s a chance that the Cubs, if they don’t get them, like you said, they load up on pitching, and I think, you know, they play to the wind, they play to the weather, you know, cuz because let’s say you do give Schwarber a lot of money, what if what if you can’t hit home runs again to right right center? I know. I I I think Do you think Kyle Tucker wants to come back here by the way? Not necessarily. No. By all accounts, he enjoyed his experience, but but maybe he doesn’t, you know, maybe he didn’t enjoy the conditions. Who would? Feels like a more you look back if you’re him and say, “Yeah, that one year I spent at Wrigley was a fun thing to put on my bucket list type of thing. Glad I did it.” I I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to hit in a place where you have to hit it 110 off the bat at 27 degrees to get to the basket right center field. If you’re going to go all in on pitching though, you better do it. Rotation and bullpen. Steel made a good point on the show. I don’t think I did a good enough job this off season praising what Michael Bush did. I mean, with those conditions. I mean, he really was a 40 plus home run guy. Yeah, it was incredibly impressive what he did. You know, I got to start giving him more credit. Well, that’s then do it. Uh was Tucker at 22 and he How many did he hit? How many did Tucker hit since July 4th? Five. Yeah. So that that last 39 games he he only had he only had 10 extra base hits. Four were homers. Yeah. But that So no, I don’t mean to laugh. No, but you did a great job with your You had a lot of single. You had a lot of singles. No, but let me tell you what I Sorry. Let me tell you what I took away from this episode. That you did a great Oh, you have a pen. That you did a great job of. Okay. The pen’s really close to the camera lens. It’s a bad take. 39 games makes it feel so much less than what it is because it encompassed such a long time. Yeah, I think that was because there was gaps with the injury, right? Yeah. And and injuries is plural. Well, and slash kind of like benching. Yes. Yeah, for sure. Especially the Milwaukee series. So, you made All right. Well, this is a big this is a big week. Um, so by 4 central Thursday, the Cubs will have made a decision on show’s club option and whether or not to extend the qualifying offer on him. Um, so we got a lot going on here. I think procedurally Tucker will get the qualifying offer and uh off season probably won’t begin in earnest for another couple weeks, but yeah, really hoping there’s a month stretch there. Figure mid November and mid December where there’s a lot of activity and hopefully for the sports case and the Cubs uh Cubs sake uh and the show there there will be. So, all right. Any final words? No, I I it it was it was great dialogue. It was. No, it was fun. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Go Cubs.

Full breakdown on the possibility of the Cubs signing Kyle Tucker this offseason. From Tucker’s 2025 season to potential contract terms and much more, Matt and Sam have an animated back and forth as free agency officially begins this week.

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