The Cubs might be shopping Kyle Tucker by the trade deadline if their 2025 season goes south.
Chicago made a splash by trading for Tucker this offseason, sending Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith to Houston. But according to Yahoo’s MLB writers Russell Dorsey, Jake Mintz, and Jordan Shusterman, the Cubs might flip Tucker if they’re not in playoff contention by July.
“The impressive collection of talent on the roster once again fails to translate to wins,” they wrote. “Tucker is good, but as the Cubs struggle to stay in the postseason race, the discussion around him changes from how he can help the Cubs win to whether they should trade him at the deadline.”
What makes this scenario plausible is Tucker’s contract situation. The Cubs couldn’t lock him up with an extension after acquiring him, and he’s set to earn $16.5 million in 2025 before hitting free agency next winter.
That’s where things get interesting. If Chicago falls out of contention, they’d likely want to recoup assets rather than watch Tucker walk for draft pick compensation.
The three-time All-Star outfielder is coming off another stellar season with Houston, where he hit .289 with 23 home runs and 49 RBIs in just 78 games in 2024. Those numbers explain why Yahoo’s writers also labeled Tucker as Chicago’s make-or-break player for 2025.
“How he performs will have a big impact not only on the Cubs but also on how many hundreds of millions he commands on the open market next winter. He’s a big deal, plain and simple,” they noted.
The Cubs are clearly betting on Tucker’s elite production to help them contend this season. But if things don’t go according to plan, don’t be surprised if his stay in Chicago ends up being shorter than expected.
