The Chicago Cubs are clinging to a razor-thin lead in the NL Central, but it’s not just the surging St. Louis Cardinals that should be keeping the front office up at night. Kyle Tucker, their prized trade acquisition from the Astros, is unsigned beyond this season—and the Los Angeles Dodgers are already lurking like vultures over a soon-to-be prime free agent.
According to Bob Nightengale, L.A. plans to push for Tucker in free agency, even if it’s just to drive the price up for Chicago or another desperate contender.
This puts the Cubs in a precarious spot. They gave up top prospect Cam Smith to land Tucker. He is a left-handed slugger with both Gold Glove defense and elite offensive upside. Losing him after just a few months in Wrigley would be a brutal blow—not just for the win-now effort, but for the franchise’s long-term plans.
The Dodgers Are Doing What the Dodgers Do
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about signing Tucker—it’s also about pricing out rivals. The Dodgers did the same dance in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Their strategy? Show up with big money, even if they don’t win, and make sure their competitors feel the financial pain if they do. It’s both tactical and disruptive.
At age 28, Tucker will likely enter free agency as the top name on the market, thanks in part to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million extension earlier this year. Tucker’s WAR totals and left-handed production put him in elite territory, and while he’s two years older than Vlad Jr., his combination of tools is undeniable. A five-tool player with postseason experience? That’s catnip for clubs like the Dodgers.
Time Is Running Out for Chicago
To their credit, the Cubs have a way out—but they need to move quickly. Signing Tucker during the season is their best (and possibly only) chance of avoiding a full-on bidding war this winter. That said, it won’t come cheap. Industry estimates suggest Tucker is eyeing a deal north of $400 million, and given the market scarcity, he’ll probably get close to it.
However, there’s a risk in waiting. Rival executives have voiced skepticism that Kyle Tucker would give up the chance to let multiple clubs—the Dodgers included—drive up the price tag. His camp holds the leverage, and unless Jed Hoyer & Co. present an offer that dramatically alters the in-season landscape, they might be playing catch-up come November.
All-In or All-Gone on Kyle Tucker?
This is where the front office earns its stripes. Do they treat Tucker like a rental and risk watching him walk for nothing more than a qualifying offer? Or do they go all-in, rip the Band-Aid off, and make an offer big enough to bypass free agency altogether?
The latter is uncomfortable. It’s expensive. And it’s not something Tom Ricketts typically loves doing midseason. But if the Cubs are serious about building around Kyle Tucker, waiting for the Dodgers to enter the ring might be too little, too late.
If this heads to free agency, it’s going to get wild. History tells us that when the Dodgers enter a bidding war, they don’t always walk away with the player but almost always make everyone else pay.
