The Chicago Cubs took a huge swing and traded for Kyle Tucker in the offseason. He has been great in his first season as a Cub, but if the Cubs cannot extend him, it could end up being his only season with the team.
Tucker is going to be a free agent after the season, and he will have plenty of suitors after putting together his fourth consecutive All-Star season. He has a .280/.384/.499 slash line with 17 home runs through 95 games. He is a huge reason the Cubs are in the National League Central lead.
He is projected to earn a 12-year, $515 million deal. However, he could end up closer to $600 million if there is a bidding war for him on the open market. The Cubs' best chance to keep him is to extend him, as they may not be able to compete with other teams, like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees, in free agency.
An extension would be ideal, but it will not be easy. Tucker and his representation know the kind of frenzy he will cause in free agency, and Tucker gave an update on whether or not extension talks are progressing, and if an extension will get done this summer.
"You never know," Tucker told the Chicago Sun Times' Steve Greenberg.
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Tucker did not seem too focused on getting an extension done. That could be because he knows that he is bound to get paid in the offseason, and even if he wants to stay in Chicago, he could make more money if there is competition to get him. However, he cited his focus on helping the team win games.
"Things can change at any point," Tucker continued to Greenberg. "I’m just kind of riding it out and we’ll see how things go. Just trying to do my job in the field and let other stuff take care of itself."
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