The Cubs were able to end a four-year playoff drought with a strong regular season, and then dispatched the San Diego Padres in the wild card round. But no matter how the rest of their series with the Brewers goes, star outfielder Kyle Tucker has logged a disappointing run for the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs with the Cubs.

After joining the Cubs in a surprising blockbuster trade over the winter, outfielder Kyle Tucker is set to be the most coveted free agent in the sport this winter. He could command a contract in the $400 million range, though his season took a harsh turn with injury after an All-Star start.

He missed extended time at the end of the regular season and has posted a dismal .176 batting average in the playoffs so far. And according to ESPN insider Jesse Rogers, the Cubs have already decided that they won’t be signing Tucker to a new contract after this year.

“No,” Rogers wrote on X, in response to a question about whether the Cubs would re-sign the star outfielder. “They were never going to. Anyone that said different was wrong.”

Though the Cubs have historically avoided major long-term contracts like the one it would take to keep Tucker, there has been reason to believe they would seek to retain him. For one, the Cubs gave up several controllable players to the Houston Astros in order to land him. And for another, he helped drive one of their best regular seasons in years.

But Rogers pointed out that the Cubs would prefer to wait until they enjoy some sustained success before they make a major commitment that would push them into World Series contention.

Some fans are surely still hoping that the Cubs find a way to keep Tucker on the roster, but the team might have already made up its mind on the matter well before a new contract offer came due.

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