The Chicago Cubs took a risk by swinging a blockbuster trade for Kyle Tucker last offseason. It seemed to pay off throughout the season, but the Cubs didn’t win the division or the World Series, so it seems like more of a failure at this point.
Now Tucker heads into free agency, and the Cubs are going to struggle to sign him back. He’s projected to sign for anywhere between $350 million and $500 million this winter, which is a lot more than any deal the Cubs have ever given out.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley recently predicted the Cubs would lose the Tucker sweepstakes to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies desperately need an outfielder, so adding Tucker would be the king of all moves this winter.
“While L.A. clearly isn’t hurting for star power or high-end talent, there’s room to improve every roster,” Buckley wrote. “And since the Dodgers can seemingly print money, Tucker’s payday — which could run near or north of $400 million—surely wouldn’t scare them off.
“That said, there are other deep-pocketed teams in the running, too, and at least a few of them could perceive bigger needs in their outfield—and lineup—than L.A. could. While no one should be surprised to ever see the Dodgers sign a superstar, our crystal ball thinks the Philadelphia Phillies will be even more motivated to add Tucker following back-to-back exits from the Divisional Series.”
This would be the kind of move that could help the Phillies get over the hump and get back to the World Series.
It would likely result in the team losing Kyle Schwarber, but it would be best for the future of the franchise to add Tucker. Tucker’s bat would fit perfectly in Philadelphia’s lineup for the next decade.
