Things are bad enough for Chicago Cubs fans right now. They’re one loss away from being swept out of the playoffs by a division rival — in the first-ever postseason meeting between the two foes.
The Brewers, a team that has long been considered the Cubs’ “little brother,” are one win away from having bragging rights for the foreseeable future. And the Cubs don’t seem to have any answers.
Chicago has now failed to score four runs in 13 straight playoff games. And despite being built on pitching and defense, Cubs starters have combined for just 3.1 innings, nine hits, and ten runs allowed through two games of the Division Series.
Now Cubs fans are being kicked while they’re down. ESPN insider Jesse Rogers reported that the Cubs are not planning to re-sign outfielder Kyle Tucker this offseason — and never were.
“No. They were never going to. Anyone that said different was wrong,” wrote Rogers on social media, replying to a fan who asked about Tucker’s upcoming free agency.
Nothing like getting embarrassed by the Brewers in the playoffs, proving the front office needs to do more to make this team a real contender… only to find out that the front office is doing the exact opposite.
Failing to re-sign Kyle Tucker isn’t the issue by itself. If the Dodgers want to throw $400 million at him, fine — that’s a bidding war the Cubs can reasonably bow out of. You don’t pay a guy just to pay a guy, especially when you have promising outfield prospect Owen Caissie waiting in the wings.
The problem is the implication that the Cubs “were never going to re-sign him.” If that’s true — then why trade for him in the first place?
Chicago gave up a massive haul to get Tucker: Isaac Paredes, who hit 20 home runs with an .809 OPS for Houston this year; top prospect Cam Smith; and right-hander Hayden Wesneski.
Smith, the Cubs’ 2024 first-round pick, made it to the majors in less than a year. As a 22-year-old rookie, he tallied 33 extra-base hits and a 1.0 fWAR season. He’s only going to get better — and now he’s part of the Astros’ long-term core.
So you’re telling me Jed Hoyer traded all that away for one year of Kyle Tucker — knowing it was just a one-year rental? That’s foolish and short-sighted. We said at the time that the deal only made sense if the Cubs extended him.
Good for Jed, I guess. He got the Cubs back to the postseason and earned himself a nice contract extension. But he also shot the team in the foot — and cheaped out at the trade deadline — hurting Chicago’s chances both now and in the future.
Maybe the Cubs will use the money that could’ve gone to Tucker to sign frontline starting pitchers this winter. There’s still time and opportunity to improve this roster. But based on how Hoyer has operated over the last calendar year, Cubs fans have no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt.