MLB writer floats Cubs’ Kyle Tucker joining crosstown rival White Sox after latest development

MLB writer floats Cubs’ Kyle Tucker joining crosstown rival White Sox after latest development originally appeared on The Sporting News

Chicago Cubs star Kyle Tucker is guaranteed to have several suitors when he hits free agency this offseason.

Most of them are large-market teams like the Philadelphia Phillies or the San Francisco Giants in search of another All-Star caliber player. But one MLB writer suggests there’s a dark horse candidate in the running, and they sit just across town.

Peter Chawaga of Newsweek writes about the possibility—though even he admits it’s unlikely—that the Chicago White Sox could snag Tucker thanks to a certain billionaire private equity investor.

Tucker to the White Sox?

The White Sox pursuit of Tucker revolves around one man—Justin Ishbia, who’s set to eventually become the long-term owner of the team. But first, he’ll contribute “capital infusions” as a limited partner for this year and next.

What does all that mean? Here’s how Chawaga puts it:

“As a result, the White Sox could suddenly be willing to spend as much as $450 million on a blockbuster contract signing, though stealing Tucker from the Cubs is still probably a long shot.”

As MLB Trade Rumors notes, that’s more than six times the current value of Andrew Benintendi’s $75 million contract, which is the largest on the team.

However, maybe Ishbia is willing to spend to revive a team that is once again at the bottom of the American League at 52-88. The White Sox haven’t made the playoffs since winning the AL Central in 2021, and it’s been two decades since they won the 2005 World Series.

The Cubs, meanwhile, are primed to end a four-year postseason drought with Tucker leading the charge. He’s slashing .270/.381/.472 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI over 133 games this season and has already won a World Series title with the Houston Astros in 2022.

He’s someone the Cubs won’t want to lose—especially to their crosstown rivals.