MILWAUKEE – When Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer swung the trade to bring Kyle Tucker into the fold last offseason, the goal was to transform the offense and make a run at the World Series. If those goals were met, the fact that Tucker was around for only one year would have been worth it.
On Saturday night, Tucker stood in front of his locker in the visitors’ clubhouse at American Family Field, facing an uncertain future in the wake of the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Brewers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. He did transform Chicago’s lineup, but the North Siders’ quest to be the last team standing is over.
“It sucks,” Tucker said. “But I’m very proud of this group.”
The question now, of course, is whether Tucker’s one-year experience with the Cubs will carry any weight as the days tick toward his free agency. The star outfielder will be arguably the best all-around hitter on the open market, positioning Tucker to land a lengthy, lucrative contract even after an injury-marred 2025.
Other potential top free-agent hitters in this winter’s class – some weighing opt-out clauses – include Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette and Cody Bellinger.
Tucker was asked if his ideal outcome would be to sign a long-term deal with the Cubs.
“We’ll see what happens,” Tucker said. “I don’t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it was an honor playing with all these guys and I wish everyone the best of luck, whether it’s playing next year or not with them. It’s a really fun group to be a part of.”
In the winner-take-all Game 5, Tucker went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, including one against lefty Aaron Ashby with two on and no outs in the sixth inning. It was an opportunity for Tucker to swing momentum Chicago’s way, with the Brewers clinging to a 2-1 lead at the time.
After Tucker struck out, Chad Patrick took over for the Brewers and retired Seiya Suzuki (flyout) and Ian Happ (strikeout) to end the Cubs’ potential rally. That 0-for-3 showing represented Chicago’s only chances with runners in scoring position in the loss.
“That was the inning,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s really the only inning you could talk about. We just didn’t do much. We had six baserunners. You’re going to have to hit homers to have any runs scoring in scenarios like that.”
Throughout this season, the Cubs’ offense functioned its best when Tucker was healthy and productive. He went 2-for-4 in Chicago’s clinching win over the Padres in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series. In Games 3-4 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field, Tucker was 4-for-6, with three walks and a home run.
“He meant a lot,” Cubs first baseman Michael Busch said. “The consistency of at-bat. Getting on base and driving [in runs]. He’s just as complete of a hitter as you can get. I think putting him in any lineup, he’s going to be right up at the top. I think he’s one of the best hitters in the game. He can change that lineup just with putting him in there.”
Hoyer sent Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski and Isaac Paredes to the Astros on Dec. 13 to land Tucker, knowing it might only be a one-year arrangement.
In 136 games, the 28-year-old Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, 73 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (87) as strikeouts (88). He dealt with a hairline fracture in his right hand in June and later missed three-plus weeks in September due to a left calf strain, but he returned in time for the playoffs.
Tucker entered July with a .291/.395/.533 slash line and earned a spot in the starting lineup for the NL All-Star team. He was putting up MVP-caliber production, and the Cubs’ lineup was one of the best units in baseball over the first three months, averaging 5.4 runs per game.
“The depth that he provides in our lineup is so obvious,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “[He’s] somebody you can count on each and every day to show up and have professional at-bats and do things that help the team win ballgames. So, you know, any time you can have a player like that on your team, you obviously want that.”
For what it’s worth, Tucker raved about the relationships he established in such a short time with the organization.
“I feel like we’re just kind of one big family,” Tucker said. “We’re not just here to show up to work. We’re hanging out outside the field and becoming close. I don’t know that there’s many teams that are like that or not, but this team definitely built a lot of relationships on and off the field this year.”
Tucker also believes the ballclub – with a foundation of young talent mixed with core veterans – has the ingredients for multiple postseason runs.
“I think this team is really, really talented,” he said. “A great group of guys. And I can definitely see this team having a lot of success in the future.”
Does that give the Cubs any kind of advantage in free agency?
“I don’t really know right now,” Tucker said. “I was more worried about the game tonight and everything. I’ll kind of get through this today and worry about that a little later.”
