Everyone in Major League Baseball seems to agree that Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker is the top player available in the 2026 free agent class. However, the Cubs have made it known that they would love to sign and retain Tucker for years to come with an extension, but it might not be that easy.
The Cubs’ president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, joined Score Middays, a Chicago sports radio show on 670 The Score, on Wednesday to discuss his team’s performance so far in 2025 and how the organization plans to keep their star outfielder there for an extended period.
“As far as long-term stuff, obviously, we would love to keep Kyle long-term, I mean, who wouldn’t want a player like that,” Hoyer said on the Score Middays show. “I would keep any conversations we are having internal.
I think it’s hard to negotiate in season, I’m not sure what’s going to happen with that.” Tucker has been one of the best players in MLB this season, hitting .314 with seven home runs and five more walks (20) than strikeouts (15).
He made All-Star appearances the previous three seasons with the Houston Astros. When Hoyer was asked if he thinks there’s a way to convince Tucker from reaching free agency, he noted that Wrigley Field is a “special” place to play.
“My hope is that Wrigley and Chicago become really special to him [Tucker] and he realizes there is not a better place to play in baseball,” Hoyer told Score Middays.
“He’s not going to have a shortage of suitors given his talent level, and we are obviously well aware of the situation, but I think talking about it, you know, I’ve got a great relationship with his agency, and obviously if we do have those conversations we’ll keep them tight to the vest,” Hoyer said.
While a Tucker extension with the Cubs is possible, there’s also a strong chance the 28-year-old will test the open market and listen to offers from all 30 MLB clubs this winter.
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