The Chicago Cubs are off to a strong start in 2025, sitting at 14-10 and leading the NL Central. After an aggressive offseason, they’ve positioned themselves well early in the season. But as they look ahead, one big decision looms — the future of star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
MLB insider Jon Heyman reports that the Cubs could attempt to lock in Tucker with a contract extension before he reaches free agency, a move that’s uncommon for a player of his caliber. “They’re not close right now,” Heyman said. “There’s no indication that negotiations have started. But talks are expected, and while it’s unusual to extend a star in a walk year, it’s not unheard of.” He pointed to rare cases like Francisco Lindor with the Mets, Garrett Crochet with the Red Sox, and Mookie Betts with the Dodgers.
Chicago clearly wants to avoid a repeat of the Juan Soto-Yankees situation and is aiming to secure Tucker long-term. Despite recent history of holding back on major free agent spending — as highlighted by Matt Chapman’s free agency experience — the Cubs traded for Tucker knowing this extension was inevitable. Letting him walk would be a major misstep.
The Cubs may have to start negotiations near the massive deal Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just inked with Toronto: 14 years, $500 million. Tucker is two years older than Guerrero, so the Cubs could structure a shorter deal — perhaps around 12 years — but the overall financial value could be similar. Unlike the Blue Jays, the Cubs could use deferred payments to ease the immediate financial impact, which might help them secure the deal.
Locking up a hitter of Tucker’s caliber would give the Cubs a cornerstone to build around — and they’re well aware that opportunities like this don’t come around often.
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