Struggling Kyle Tucker Benched Shortly After $600M Contract Buzz

Perhaps the biggest MLB free-agent prize of the upcoming offseason is slumping badly and is not currently playing as his team seeks a “reset.”

The Cubs benched star outfielder Kyle Tucker for both halves of a doubleheader Tuesday against the Brewers, with Chicago sweeping both games, and kept him out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday.

After being named to his fourth straight All-Star team in July, Tucker has since hit just .182 with one home run and six runs batted in. More recently, Tucker’s skid has included a stretch of just two hits in his last 25 at-bats, and boos for him have grown louder and more frequent at Wrigley Field.

The situation is a significant turn for a player who was at the top of many MLB free-agent lists, particularly after the Blue Jays extended first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in April. Tucker was set to garner an annual salary likely in excess of $35 million, perhaps by a significant margin, and build heavily beyond his current $16.5 million.

“The fans are frustrated and Kyle’s frustrated,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “He’s trying. It’s just not clicking. We’re going to have to take a little step back here, for sure, and just give him some days off to reset him, hopefully.”

It’s still quite possible that Tucker will garner a highly lucrative contract in the fall as he reaches free agency. Some projections before the All-Star Game even reached $600 million for a future deal, as players such as Juan Soto and his $765 million pact with the Mets have helped reset the MLB player market. His performance the rest of the season, however, will likely be quite influential to that forthcoming situation.

“Tuck is going to be fine,” teammate Ian Happ said Wednesday on WSCR-AM in Chicago. “He’s one of the best players in baseball. Sometimes just being able to watch baseball for a day and just get away from it … and not have to be grinding through at-bats can help a lot.”

The Cubs traded a trio of players to the Astros for Tucker last December, and the deal has generally worked out for both sides. Chicago, looking to return to the postseason after a five-year absence, currently holds the top wild-card slot in the National League, Houston leads the American League West division, and is poised for a ninth-straight playoff berth.

Related Posts

🚨 BREAKING: WILLSON CONTRERAS DETAILS ‘IMPORTANT’ RED SOX HOMESTAND! Contreras opens up about the critical series ahead and what it means for the Cardinals’ playoff hopes. Can St. Louis rise to the challenge and make a run, or will they fall short against Boston? The stakes have never been higher…👇👇👇

Willson Contreras Details ‘Important’ Red Sox Homestand After a mixed 3-3 road trip that saw the Boston Red Sox face off against the St. Louis Cardinals and…

Alex Corа Fіreѕ Bаck After Red Sox Contrаct Reрort

іMаGe: іmаgn іmаgeѕ іn the world of Mаjor Leаgue Bаѕebаll, а new trend hаѕ emerged: lockіng іn рromіѕіng young tаlent wіth long-term extenѕіonѕ before they reаch theіr…

TRUE WIN-WIN ALERT: The Cardinals-Red Sox Willson Contreras Trade Is Already Looking Like Pure Gold for Both Sides — One Deal That Could Pay Off Huge for Years to Come!

арr 12, 2026; ѕt. Louіѕ, Mіѕѕourі, Uѕа; Boѕton Red ѕox fіrѕt bаѕemаn Wіllѕon Contrerаѕ (40) weаrѕ the green monѕter mаѕk аfter hіttіng а two run home run…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Mets’ $40M offseason signing might join Juan Soto on the injured list, leaving fans worried about the team’s future! Can the Mets recover from another key injury, or is their season on the brink of disaster?..ll 👇👇👇

The New York Mets’ Struggles Continue Amid Injuries: A Rocky Start to 2026 The New York Mets are facing a far from ideal start to their 2026…

🚨 THIS RESPONSE HAD EVERYONE TALKING… 👀 During a brutal blowout, a desperate Red Sox fan tried to chirp — but the Minnesota Twins Twitter account fired back with a response that fans are calling absolutely perfect. What started as frustration quickly turned into a viral moment, as Minnesota didn’t just win on the field… they won online too. Now fans are asking — was this the best clapback of the season? 👇 #Twins #RedSox #MLB #MLBTwitter #BaseballTalk #MLBUpdates #SportsSocial

It’s early in the 2026 MLB season, but the contrast between the Minnesota Twins and the Boston Red Sox couldn’t be more striking. Right now, it’s a…

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Yankees are set to trade for a $4.2 million All-Star with a mind-blowing 1.175 OPS—could this be the upgrade they need to move on from Anthony Volpe and potentially replace Jazz Chisholm Jr.? Will this breakout star push the Yankees to the top?..ll 👇👇👇

Yankees’ Offensive Struggles: Could CJ Abrams Be the Answer? The New York Yankees‘ offensive woes are becoming increasingly apparent, with their recent drop to second place in…