The Chicago Cubs swung a trade for Kyle Tucker during the offseason, and early on, it was paying major dividends as the outfielder took off. In what is a contract year for Tucker, his potential next contract value soared to $600 million.
“Tucker is expected to be the highest paid free agent in this class. Most analysts believe he will get somewhere between $500 million and $650 million based on the recent contracts of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the Blue Jays ($500 million) and Juan Soto with the Mets ($765 million). Tucker can impact a game in so many ways with his five tools: hitting, power, defense, arm strength and speed. He has made four straight All-Star teams and is putting together another strong season,” The Athletic’s Jim Bowden wrote.
However, Tucker went into a significant slump in June that has somewhat slowed him down and affected his potential huge contract.
“Tucker's play began to deteriorate in June after he suffered a jammed right finger, and manager Craig Counsell gave him a day off last Wednesday, hoping that it would spark a turnaround. It hasn't. Until the slugger rediscovers his first-half form, the Cubs are unlikely to pull closer to the Brewers. They will instead have to fend off hungry challengers in the NL's wild-card hunt,” YardBarker’s Eric Smithling wrote.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has revised his contract prediction, now estimating it in the $400 million range.
“Betts is the most obvious, and he signed a 12-year, $365 million deal that started in his age-28 season. So, yeah, the number is going to be big -- likely in the $400 million range,” Passan wrote.
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Whichever team lands Tucker will have to pay up. Luckily, his value dipped a little; otherwise, it might have been in Vladimir Guerrero’s range. Tucker is aiming for a hot finish to the season before entering free agency seeking a big contract.