The Chicago Cubs ended their season with a Game 5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers after nearly coming back from a 2-0 deficit. This offseason, the Cubs will focus heavily on trying to bring star outfielder Kyle Tucker back to Chicago. However, based on his recent comments, a return doesn’t look promising.

“We’ll see what happens. Don’t know what the future is going to hold. If not, it’s been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether it’s playing next year or not with them,” Tucker said.

One of the biggest questions this season has been the type of deal Tucker might command. While some have linked him to as much as $500 million, his projection has cooled somewhat after the season-ending loss.

“It starts with Kyle Tucker, who is headed to free agency and will likely get a monster deal (some speculate a lot more, but I think it’s reasonable to expect in the $300 million area),” CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder wrote.

If a return to Chicago doesn’t work out, Tucker could instead sign with the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Kyle Schwarber.

“However, if Schwarber gets away, or they decide to open up the payroll even further, Tucker would be a great fit on a veteran roster built to contend right now. Nick Castellanos is a free agent after the 2026 season, which could make it easier to move him in a salary dump or simply cut their losses and release him if he gets off to a slow start, further emphasizing the need for a corner outfield bat,” Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote.

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Acquiring Tucker would be huge for the Cubs, filling the void left by Castellanos in the outfield. While Castellanos has had a solid tenure in Philadelphia, he appears to be regressing.

The Phillies landing Tucker would be a major splash, potentially giving them an edge in the NL East for years to come. It will be interesting to watch how this plays out over the winter.