It's been a fun season of Chicago Cubs baseball thus far, but there's one big question hanging like a dark cloud over the franchise.
The Cubs acquired superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros in December. And as soon as they had Tucker on the roster, the Cubs had to start worrying about the possibility of losing him in a matter of months.
Tucker, who is off to a fantastic start in a Cubs uniform, will become a free agent in November unless he signs an extension. And even a player who loves his surroundings has plenty of incentive to field offers from all interested teams instead of signing an extension ahead of time.
Though there can be no telling whether the Cubs have a shot at extending Tucker before they actually get it done, one baseball reporter spoke to Tucker recently and seems to believe Chicago stands a decent chance.
During an appearance on MLB Network on Wednesday evening, insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post said that based on his knowledge of the situation, Tucker is at least likely to consider the Cubs' pitch if they make him a competitive offer.
"He didn't want to talk about any potential talks (with the Cubs)," Heyman said. "I understand that, but he did say he is really enjoying himself as a Cub. No surprise there. So I do think he will listen."
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"I think the expectation is they will come to him this summer. He is a superstar... They really want to keep him. It's not going to be easy... This is a guy I think will consider them if they make him the right offer."
What the "right offer" is, and whether the Cubs have any intentions of coughing it up, remains to be seen. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got $500 million from the Toronto Blue Jays, it's likely the Cubs will have to at least get in that neighborhood to keep Tucker, if not match it.
For the time being, Cubs fans will have to try to enjoy watching a first-place team with Tucker batting in the second slot in the lineup. But the fear of Tucker's free agency will undoubtedly linger in the back of their minds.
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