Last offseason, the Cubs made a blockbuster trade to acquire Kyle Tucker. It was a move that signified Chicago was all in. 

One year later, though, the front office could be asking themselves if it was worth it. The Cubs fell short of a World Series title, and Kyle Tucker will be a free agent this winter. With Tucker set to command a big contract in free agency, there’s a strong chance that he won’t return. 

So, let’s revisit the good and the bad of that massive trade last offseason and take a look at whether it was worth it. 

The Good

For the first time in a long time, the Cubs made a significant move last offseason to improve their team. They traded for a player in Tucker who has emerged as one of the best outfielders in the game over the past few years. 

The Cubs don’t usually get those types of players in trades or free agency. Therefore, it was nice to see the front office actually make a big move. 

Tucker’s presence also really lifted other players in the lineup. He was a large reason why the Cubs had one of the best offenses in the first half. The 28-year-old batted .291 with 17 home runs, 52 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in his first 83 games in Chicago.

Those strong numbers genuinely made the Cubs' offense that much better in the first half of the season. That’s exactly the type of impact the front office believed Tucker could have when the team acquired him last winter. 

The Bad 

Tucker really didn’t live up to his potential in a Cubs uniform. He hit just .225 with five home runs and 21 RBI over his last 53 games, and those struggles continued into the postseason. 

Additionally, the Cubs gave up a lot for only a one-year rental. Chicago sent Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski, and Isaac Paredes to the Houston Astros in exchange for the All-Star outfielder. 

While Wesneski and Paredes aren’t really huge losses, trading away Smith for only a one-year rental could turn out to be really bad. Chicago just drafted him in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he doesn’t turn 23 years old until February. 

Was It Worth It?

Cubs fans have to give the front office its flowers for making such a big move last offseason. It’s not every day that a team is willing to give up that much for a player of Tucker’s caliber. 

However, the only way this trade will be worth it is if the Cubs re-sign Tucker this offseason. The North Siders didn’t win the World Series, and if Tucker leaves after only one season, it was all kind of for nothing.