The Chicago Cubs have the player everyone will be itching to sign away in free agency this winter.
Even though it hasn’t been a dream season for outfielder Kyle Tucker, it’s still been an elite one. The four-time All-Star has an .854 OPS and 4.8 bWAR despite fighting through two injuries and a prolonged July/August slump.
The Cubs traded for Tucker knowing full well there would be numerous teams trying to lure him away after only one season in Chicago. Now, with his free agency a couple of months away, we’re starting to hear whispers of who that competition could be.
On Monday, insider Robert Murray of FanSided named the San Francisco Giants as the “juiciest fit” for Tucker, and strongly suggested that president of baseball operations Buster Posey would be on the hunt for more star power after trading for Rafael Devers in June.
“Tucker is a player that I expect to be of interest to the Giants this offseason, and clearly they will not be alone,” Murray wrote. “Tucker will be the best player in free agency and should have a variety of suitors, possibly the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies among others. Those are just speculative fits, but what do they all have in common? They’re big markets.”
Murray also threw in a projected contract value for Tucker, which conservatively sat at $400 million, more than double the Cubs’ franchise record (Jason Heyward, $184 million).
“The number for Tucker probably starts at $400 million, and it’ll only go higher if he has a big postseason,” Murray added. “Still, landing Tucker would be a coup for the Giants – or any World Series-caliber franchise – and could very well put them over the top. Don’t overreact to his midseason struggles due to a broken finger. He’s very much a franchise-altering player.”
The Giants have very publicly missed out on a handful of free agents in recent offseasons, partially because it seems big names have been gun-shy about hitting in the pitchers’ paradise of Oracle Park. Will Tucker buck that trend?
If he’s not opposed to the challenge, the Giants’ willingness to eat all $255 million Devers was owed at the time of the trade suggests that they’re not scared of a skyrocketing payroll.
