Cubs Kyle Tucker gets jaw-dropping $350M contract prediction, joining Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge

Hunter Cookston

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Cubs Kyle Tucker gets jaw-dropping $350M contract prediction, joining Mike Trout, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge image

Kyle Tucker is heading into the offseason as one of the most sought-after free agents in baseball. A fierce bidding war is expected for the star outfielder, who could command the largest contract of any player this winter. Earlier in the season, Tucker’s value was at an all-time high.

“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.

There was hope within the Cubs organization that they would be able to retain Tucker, but his post-season comments didn’t sound promising.

“We'll see what happens. Don't know what the future is going to hold. If not, it's been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said.

Even after an injury-riddled second half of the season, Tucker’s projected contract remains massive — though slightly reduced from early-season estimates.

“Predicted Contract: 10 years, $350 million. This would be the fifth-largest contract ever given to an outfielder, and only Juan Soto ($51 million), Aaron Judge ($40 million) and Mike Trout ($35.5 million) clock in with a higher AAV on their deals,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.

There’s no doubt Tucker is going to get paid. He has the bat, the glove, and the experience that make him one of the most complete players in the league. The only question left is which team will be willing to pay the highest price for his services.

The Cubs knew acquiring Tucker came with risk — especially as a potential one-year rental. Now, their challenge is clear: they’ll have to outbid the rest of Major League Baseball if they want to keep him in Chicago.

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Staff Writer