The Chicago Cubs have reached a contract agreement with their superstar trade acquisition, successfully avoiding arbitration.
This is positive news for the Cubs, who acquired Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros earlier this offseason. While it’s not necessarily a major issue, going to an arbitration hearing can strain the relationship between a player and the team, something the Cubs likely want to avoid given their recent acquisition of Tucker and their potential plans for a long-term deal.
Tucker has been one of the most impactful offensive players in the American League in recent years, and he’s still just 27 years old. He’s already earned three All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and a World Series title in 2022. Despite missing months due to a leg injury, he hit 23 home runs with a .289 average last season for the Astros, who won the AL West.
For his career, Tucker has a .274 batting average and led the American League in RBI with 112 in 2023. With Cody Bellinger’s departure, Tucker is expected to be a key figure in the Cubs’ lineup, alongside Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson.