The Chicago Cubs need to do everything in their power to re-sign Kyle Tucker in free agency this offseason. They took a risk by trading for the expiring superstar last offseason, but they’re fighting an uphill battle to bring him back to the roster next year.
The Cubs have never given out a contract worth over $200 million in free agency, and Tucker is projected to land much more than that in free agency.
Baseball America recently projected he would sign a huge 11-year contract worth $360 million. This number feels a bit low for 11 years, but a price tag like that would likely put him with a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Cubs likely won’t be able to land a deal for Tucker worth nearly $400 million. But the Dodgers could.
The Dodgers need to add an outfielder to their roster after the Michael Conforto experiment went horribly wrong this season. Adding Tucker to replace Conforto would be the best-case scenario for the Dodgers.
There’s a chance the Cubs could step out of their comfort zone and enter a bidding war with the Dodgers and other big-market suitors, but it doesn’t feel likely.
If the Dodgers find a way to land Tucker, the rest of the league will be fighting even more of an uphill battle next season.
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