The Chicago Cubs lost their second straight game against the division rival Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday as they continue to lag behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. It’s been a harsh few weeks for the Cubs after they announced win-now intentions with a blockbuster trade for outfielder Kyle Tucker this past winter and enjoyed an incredible start to the season.
After Tucker seemed like a surefire Most Valuable Player Award candidate to open the year, he’s endured a brutal slump and it could be having a real impact on his next contract.
“Tucker’s honeymoon phase in Chicago has unfortunately come to an end – or at least a hiatus,” Quinn Everts noted for FanSided.
“After looking like an NL MVP candidate through June, he hit a wall in July and OPS’d well under .700 during the month.”
The Cubs’ willingness to deal some controllable pieces to the Houston Astros in exchange for Tucker was somewhat surprising, as he is in his final year of arbitration before the chance to become the most sought-after free agent in the sport.
Tucker’s next contract could reach as much as $500 million, but as his struggles at the plate persist, that price tag could be going down every day.
Everts listed Tucker as a slumping star who could be costing themselves millions in their next deal, though he also acknowledged that the outfielder’s next contract will still be sizable and that it’s not too late for him to turn things around.
“Now, ‘losing millions’ in Tucker’s case probably isn’t as detrimental as it would be for other players; he’s still going to ink a massive deal with whatever team wins his services in the winter and even a cold ending to 2025 won’t change that,” Everts added. Tucker is slashing a respectable .271/.384/.474 on the year and earned his fourth consecutive All-Star nod this season thanks to a great start.
But if the Cubs hope to realize their deep playoff aspirations, and Tucker hopes to cash in on his free agency in historic fashion, a return to form will be needed soon.