The Chicago Cubs may be reaping the benefits of Kyle Tucker’s multi-tool excellence right now, sitting atop the NL Central, but there’s a big bill coming their way– and there’s no guarantee that Cubs ownership will want to foot that bill.
Tucker, a three-time all-star right fielder, came to Chicago this past December in a deal with the Houston Astros for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and no. 1 draft pick Cam Smith. It was a bold move for a usually conservative front office, sacrificing so much for a player in Tucker who would be eligible for free agency after the coming season.
“Bold,” though, could be replaced by “dubious” or flat-out “insane,” given ownership’s frugal reputation and the likely price tag for extending the 28-year-old Tucker, which has been estimated to be in the range of $400-$500 million for 9-10 years.
Bryce Harper Breaks Cubs Fans Hearts
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs Bruce Harper
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
Recent comments by Philadelphia Phillies 8-time all-star right fielder Bryce Harper should give Cubs fans a sour stomach, not just for what could’ve/should’ve been, but for what might be coming their way when it comes to meeting Tucker’s price.
Harper, in an interview with The Athletic prior to the Cubs-Phillies series in Wrigley Field, revealed just how eager he was to become a Cub after he became eligible for free agency at the end of the 2018 season.
“Going into that offseason, they were the No. 1 team on my list,” Harper said. “Without a doubt…For me, it was definitely real, wanting to possibly come here and play…Just the vibes of Chicago and Wrigley Field and the ivy…The crowds show up. With the bleacher creatures out there, it was always fun listening to what they had to say behind me in right field. A summer day in Wrigley, man, it’s one of the best baseball atmospheres in the league.
“It was definitely something that I talked about — wanting to play in Wrigley, wanting to play in Chicago.”
Ricketts Passed On Bryce
However, the Cubs never met with Harper, never even extended an offer. And while it was true that the team had a lot of money on the books at the time and a lot of contract renewal decisions soon to be made, the fact is that they passed on what could’ve been a key franchise acquisition of an MVP-level talent who was aching to come to Chicago.
“We spent a lot of time thinking about what Bryce Harper’s worth as a free agent, sitting with Theo [Epstein], talking about that,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts told CNBC in a recent interview. “That’s one that we kicked around that, obviously, we never executed on.”
Could The Chicago Cubs Pass On Kyle Tucker As Well?
Harper eventually signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies– an AAV deal which would’ve been a favorable one for the Cubs in today’s climate and in line with what shortstop Dansby Swanson is currently making.
So, what hope do we have that, this time around, with less money on the books and significantly more financial flexibility, the Cubs will pull out the checkbook for another MVP-level right fielder?
Chicago’s big whiff on signing Alex Bregman this offseason and utter lack of interest in bidding on a top-of-rotation free agent starter doesn’t give one much hope.
To rub some salt into an opening wound, Harper also acknowledged Tucker’s greatness, as well as the dump truck of money coming his way.
“He’s one of my favorites in the league,” Harper said. “He’s a big-moment player, a red-light kind of player. It’s a lot of fun to watch the way he does it. He’s very impressive…
“He’s got a really good opportunity next year to make some pretty good coin.”