If the Cubs operated how some of the Big boys operate I'd definitely like Tucker to comeback. Dodgers, Mets, Yankeess etc. sign big contracts and understand they're going to lose some of these risks. With Ricketts signing Tucker means that's likely only thing we do of note in offseason and might even limit keeping some of our better players in the future. Knowing that I would lean not to resing Tucker. He's a really good player but we got 3-4 months of subpar play and he'll be 29 next year and likely command a 8-10 year deal. That's enough for me to have Tom spend it elsewhere
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I'm just going to drop this because of how asinine it is. I'm sure you'll be the first one ******** when Tucker has a great season next year with a team that actually acts like a big market team
Happ is actually underpaid if 1 WAR is worth $8M. He took less money to get the NTC.
It's not his fault Tommy acts like he's on food stamps.
Jokes on you. The Tucker money is going on the same pile the Bellinger and Darvish money went on.
I will be the first one to admit that I was wrong if he hits .280+ BA, 30+ HR, and 100+ RBI next year. Let’s see how he does next year. He will have a similar season next year (BA .270-.280, 20-30 HRS, and 80-100 RBI) unless he signs with Yankees.
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Didn’t the Cubs low ball Tucker by $2.5 million after he was traded to avoid arbitration? That says a lot considering the Cubs FO traded away the farm only to try to get off cheap.
Now if Tucker signs with the Astros, I’m going to laugh because the Cubs gave up 3 very talented players for an injury plagued season.
Now if Tucker signs with the Astros, I’m going to laugh because the Cubs gave up 3 very talented players for an injury plagued season.
He was also injured this year. Not sure why people are taking half season sample sizes when guys are injured and saying that’s how they’ll be forever going forward. People have done it with Happ, Shota, and Tucker. All 3 of those guys were good when healthy. If you want to knock their ability to stay healthy, fine but they all have demonstrated successful track records.
Just want to go on record that I do not think Kyle Tucker signs a long term mega deal.
I’ll predict $250 over 6 years.
I think the Cubs will take a seat at the table for formality purposes but I do not think they will land Tucker.
I do not think $$$ will be the reason they won’t pay Tucker. There’s some speculation there’s just some philosophical differences between both parties.
I’ll predict $250 over 6 years.
I think the Cubs will take a seat at the table for formality purposes but I do not think they will land Tucker.
I do not think $$$ will be the reason they won’t pay Tucker. There’s some speculation there’s just some philosophical differences between both parties.
Curious what those philosophical differences could be.
I don’t know his demeanor before Chicago but he never felt fully settled or bought it. Especially when you compare him to everyone else on this team. But maybe that’s just how he is?
This is probably my biggest complaint about him. I could wonder about what was physically wrong with him, and whether the first half Kyle was a more true reflection of his talents than second half Kyle, but he just doesn’t seem like enough of a leader or doesn’t seem to fit in enough to warrant a big contract in Chicago. I understand he has overcome mental health issues in the past. Maybe he’s better suited for a different market. Not sure whether that’s LA or NY where he’s just one of many…or a Tampa or KC type of place where not as many people are watching. Hope it works out for him and we find who we need.
A Mercedes is better than a hyundai, but for the value and money most of us buy a hyundai.
His market will be interesting and I think the Cubs will just be tire kickers on any deal where they'll let someone else set the market then make a lowball offer just to say they were in the running. I am not sure he even gets 6 years right now partially because of the upcoming CBA negotiations and his extreme drop in production in the 2nd half of the season. I could see more of a 3 year with higher AAV and some opt outs sort of like Bellinger and Bregman did where they are covered for either scenario of having a bounce back year that you can opt out for a chance at a longer deal or if the production is not there then still have some short term financial security. Will be interesting for sure, thought Bellinger was going to get a big deal not long ago too and it just wasn't there at the time so Tucker potentially could be facing a similar market.
I hate to say it but I think this off-season is as slow as it’s ever going to be. Obviously, the FO will re-sign some arms for the bullpen but I think next year is the year they figure out long term plans and ride out $100 million in contracts.
I love Happ and I know he loves Chicago but there has to be a conversation with him about being a platoon OF role or scrap your no trade clause so you can have some traction in FA.
Ballesteros will likely catch some, play 1B some, but DH a majority of the time. Caissie will strike out a lot but maybe can play a serviceable OF. Alcantara gets traded.
I love Happ and I know he loves Chicago but there has to be a conversation with him about being a platoon OF role or scrap your no trade clause so you can have some traction in FA.
Ballesteros will likely catch some, play 1B some, but DH a majority of the time. Caissie will strike out a lot but maybe can play a serviceable OF. Alcantara gets traded.
It's not that Happ isn't good. But good is a streaky .240 hitter that pops 20-25 HR's and costs the Cubs $20M.
If I go through the starting lineup players individually, every one of them is a solid player. But as a group of 9 their ceiling is playing in NLDS.
I'd love for guys like Shaw, Cassie and Ballesteros to be the difference, but more likely they are complimentary guys in 2026.
Do people realize that 40 players in all of MLB hit .270 or higher this year?
You can absolutely tell who's stuck in the past the minute they start talking batting average. Hell, .305 won the batting title in the NL this year.
The ceiling is always the NLCS unless you spend on a super star.
Not every player has to be a rah rah "leader". We have Dansby and Nico and Happ who are definitely leaders in the clubhouse.
God forbid an athlete try to play through an injury. That's exactly what you want in a "leader". The medical staff and coaching staff and front office need to be the ones to sit him down if it's hurting the team.
Agree on Happ, good glove in LF and at end of the year his overall stats look decent but he is so damn streaky that when he is off he's a huge hole in the lineup. He struck out 13 times in the post season in 30 AB while getting 3 hits and 2 walks. Go look through his game log and he hit .179 in July and .208 in June and struck out 52 times in 184 AB. Basically 2 months in the heart of the season he was not hitting. By the end of the season the only hot bat in the OF we had was Suzuki while Happ and PCA were cold and Tucker was hurt.
Probably with the roster construction right now is they don't have a clear-cut leadoff guy and outside of Nico, Busch, and Maybe Suzuki most of the guys probably don't belong anywhere near the top 5 in the order on a contending time. If PCA would stop chasing pitches outside of the strike zone, hit lefties better, and working on hitting more for contact than all or nothing HR swings he could be a nice middle of the lineup bat. He's still young and throughout his career has been able to make adjustments coming up through the minors and after a tough start to his MLB career so maybe he figures it out.
I think having a consistent "table setter" at the top of the lineup and a consistent bat to add to the heart of the order would go a long ways but the OF and DH is really the only logical place to add that kind of bat right now unless you give up on someone like Shaw. Swanson is signed through 2029, Busch is under team control through 2029 as well, Nico needs to be extended past 2026 so where do you make the changes other than OF right now? Amaya and Kelly are both back unless you trade 1 but that would only be for a significant upgrade that would happen as there aren't a lot of impact bats at catcher and the elte ones are not likely available.
