The Chicago Cubs took a big bet this past winter and it is paying off.
The team has surged to 25 wins and a first-place standing in the National League Central division after the first chunk of the season. And while the Cubs can point to the ascendance of Pete Crow-Armstrong and surprise impact from Carson Kelly as big reasons why, their best player has been Kyle Tucker.
The Cubs’ front office opted to trade away outfielder Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees and bring in Tucker via trade from the Houston Astros, despite the fact Tucker will have the chance to leave in free agency after this season. Tucker has rewarded that decision by surging to 10 homers and 10 stolen bases, becoming one of the few players in the majors to reach those marks by this point in the season.
Fans are surely hoping Tucker’s tenure with the team will last well beyond his debut season and the success he’s enjoying so far seems to suggest it will.
In a recent update for MLB Network, Major League Baseball insider Jon Heyman revealed he had interviewed Tucker this past weekend and provided an update on the star’s outlook on an extension with the Cubs.
“He didn’t want to talk about any potential (contract) talks, I understand that, but he did say he’s really enjoying himself as a Cub,” Heyman said. “No surprise there, so I do think he will listen (to an extension offer). I do think the expectation is they will come to him this summer and try to figure it out.”
Tucker is set to be the most coveted player of the free agent class at the end of the season if he becomes available, so it’s no small thing for him to acknowledge he’d be willing to skip that process if the Cubs decide to offer an extension. The price tag might have to reach the $500 million mark, but Tucker’s perceived openness is a good update.
“They really want to keep him,” Heyman added. “This is a guy who I think will consider it if they make him the right offer.”
Now it seems the ball is in the Cubs’ court and, no matter the price, fans are surely hoping they can keep Tucker from ever becoming a free agent.
