MLB analyst Jim Bowden forecasts a staggering $427 million, decade-long deal for Kyle Tucker, potentially marking the end of his Cubs tenure.
MLB analyst and former Executive Jim Bowden wrote about the top 50 MLB free agents for this offseason. He ranked the free agents No. 1 through No. 50 with contract predictions and best team fits for all 50 players.
The No. 1-ranked free agent on Bowden's list is Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker. This comes as no surprise, considering Tucker is probably the best free agent on the open market this offseason.
Bowden then went on to predict that Tucker would sign a 10-year, $427 million contract this winter. If the All-Star outfielder were to sign a 10-year, $427 million deal this offseason, that would be the fourth-largest contract in MLB history.
That $427 million deal would only trail Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal, Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year, $500 million deal that he signed last offseason.
If that is indeed Tucker’s asking price in free agency, there’s a strong chance that he will not return to the Cubs. Chicago has never paid anyone more than $184 million on a contract, and that $184 million deal came all the way back in December of 2015 when Jason Heyward signed with the franchise in free agency.
Since then, the Cubs have not agreed to a deal worth more than $184 million. Dansby Swanson came close to that number after signing for $177 million a few years back, but it’s highly unlikely that Chicago’s front office will give Tucker what he wants in free agency.
Chicago is simply not going to pay over $400 million for a player. Ownership hasn’t even paid a player over $200 million in the team’s history, so there’s no reason to believe that will change this offseason.
Additionally, Tucker might not even be worth that $427 million contract over 10 years. He definitely gave Chicago a nice offensive boost, with a .266 batting average, 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and 73 RBI across 136 games.
However, the 28-year-old was far too inconsistent in the second half. He only hit .231 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and three stolen bases over his final 41 games. Those types of numbers make it hard to invest over $400 million in Tucker.
If Bowden is correct with where the market might be for Tucker this offseason, it’s safe to say that fans might have seen the last of Tucker in a Cubs uniform.