Kyle Tucker has been fantastic in a Chicago Cubs uniform so far, but it’s unfortunately hard not to put the cart ahead of the horse.
The Cubs and their fans have been stressing ever since they landed Tucker with only one year of team control before free agency. As much as Chicago might love to sign him to a long-term extension before he hits the open market, it’s unclear whether they stand any chance to do so.
Tucker was already slated to make a fortune when he hit the open market. Then, the Toronto Blue Jays gave Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a 14-year, $500 million extension, simultaneously taking away his biggest competition for teams’ attention and raising his earning potential.
In fact, according to one baseball insider, it appears that the Guerrero contract may have affected Tucker’s bottom line in more ways than one.
On Thursday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post wrote that the Cubs and Tucker were “expected” to discuss a potential extension at some point this season, and Guerrero’s new deal could be a benchmark for Tucker in negotiations with his new team.
“Kyle Tucker… and the Cubs are expected to talk this summer, and a couple of rivals suggest the Guerrero contract is the true comp considering Tucker’s big start and what they gave up to get him (Cam Smith plus),” Heyman wrote.
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The largest deal the Cubs have ever given anyone is eight years, $184 million nearly a decade ago to Jason Heyward. They could double that amount and theoretically still be nowhere near the ballpark that Tucker and his agents will be commanding.
It’s early in the season and perhaps there’s time for the Cubs to both win Tucker over and show them they’re more serious about spending than ever before. But Cubs fans shouldn’t take any game with Tucker in their lineup for granted, because there’s no telling how many there might be left.
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