It’s not often that the top free agent doesn’t get much attention from the team they’re departing but that might end up being the case this winter. Even amid an up-and-down season where he was dogged by injuries, Kyle Tucker was a key piece of the team that got the Cubs back into the NLDS for the first time since 2017. While Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer praised Tucker and suggested he’d be in contact with the outfielder’s camp this winter, virtually all reporting on the subject suggests the Cubs aren’t going to pursue a reunion in a serious manner.
The team’s focus appears to be on pitching, at least for the time being. They’ve already signed right-hander Phil Maton to help bolster their bullpen. After bringing southpaw Shota Imanaga back on a qualifying offer, they still figure to explore the market for top-of-the-rotation pitching options. A deal for someone like Michael King, Ranger Suarez, or Tatsuya Imai would certainly make sense for a team that ran out of pitching in October due to injuries to Cade Horton and Justin Steele. A trade also can’t be ruled out, with players like Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and MacKenzie Gore all expected to be at least somewhat available this winter.
Even as the focus appears to be on the top of the rotation, however, the void Tucker figures to leave in the lineup is undeniable. The superstar delivered his fifth consecutive season worth at least 4.0 fWAR in 2025 as he slashed .266/.377/.464 with a 136 wRC+ in 136 games. That sort of production would be very difficult to replace internally, even with talented youngsters like Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, and Kevin Alcantara knocking on the door of the majors. Ballesteros looked the best of the bunch in his cup of coffee with the big league club last year, hitting an impressive .298/.394/.474 across 66 trips to the plate in 20 games. Strong as that production was, however, it would be unreasonable to expect a 22-year-old rookie to replicate that over a full season.
Perhaps it would be understandable to roll the dice on those internal options if the Cubs had more certainty around the rest of the diamond, but the question marks are undeniable. Carson Kelly seems unlikely to recreate his career year at the plate (115 wRC+) from 2025 headed into his age-31 campaign. Matt Shaw began to show signs of life in the second half but his 93 wRC+ on the season was subpar. Dansby Swanson (99 wRC+) delivered his second consecutive below-average offensive season last year.
One big x-factor is Pete Crow-Armstrong. The budding superstar delivered a 30-30 season in 2025 and finished 9th in NL MVP voting off the back of a brilliant campaign, but his OPS dropped more than 200 points between the first half and the second half. Counting on the 23-year-old to lead the Cubs’ offense in place of Tucker next year would be a risky gamble. Also, Hoerner, Happ and Seiya Suzuki are slated for free agency next winter. Adding a reliable bat to the lineup could go a long way to preventing a step back headed into the 2027 season while also providing reinforcements for a 2026 team that will face lots of questions without Tucker in the fold.
The question, of course, becomes the team’s budget. The Cubs have been very hesitant to spend beyond the competitive balance tax for the past several years, treating it as a soft cap on spending. RosterResource projects them for a $197MM CBT figure in 2026 as things stand. The base threshold of the tax will be $244MM next year, giving them a bit more than $45MM of wiggle room.
With needs in the bullpen and the rotation, that could dry up in a hurry. Signing someone like Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, or Kyle Schwarber wouldn’t leave a ton of room for pitching additions. Even a less expensive addition like Kazuma Okamoto or Eugenio Suarez might be challenge to make work if the team is unwilling to spend beyond the first threshold of the luxury tax.
How do MLBTR readers think the Cubs will proceed with their offense headed into 2026? Will they hope an offensive nucleus of Crow-Armstrong, Suzuki, and Michael Busch will be enough to weather the loss of Tucker? Or will they bring in an impact hitter to improve the lineup? Have your say in the poll below:
The Kyle Tucker trade was a complete disaster.
Pointless trade.
They did nothing after it.
Except trade away Bellinger who had almost as good of a season.
Total disaster class.
And then Jed Hoyer’s got extended for it.
Just unbelievable.
Can’t compare Belli vs Tucker’s seasons, if u look at his splits you’ll see Belli’s numbers were greatly enhanced by games at home. Cubs don’t win 92 without Tucker. Cubs had Belli for a couple years and didn’t win crap.
good thing they got literally nothing back for him. or wait, they actually ate some salary bwahahah
Tucker was cheaper than Belli. I see that whole trade as a one year cost saver.
That package just to get them… barely a playoff series win? In the first time Hoyer ever made the playoffs! Supremely overrated GM.
No Neck
First, Jed is a B-/C+ POBO to me, not bad but not impressive. The team has built up their farm and their owner is not willing to spend like a huge city team.
I liked the Tucker deal. Paredes was acquired for Morel and was not in the Cubs’ plans. I was happy to see them trade Can Smith and keep Horton, Caissie, Alcantara, Ballesteros and Wiggins.
Even if they had traded more prospects the early season injury to Steele and late season injury to Horton made it hard to compete with amazing teams like the Dodgers, Brewers and Phillies. The Cubs won only one fewer game than the Dodgers and more than the Padres.
I hope that the Cubs do not sign Tucker. I would like to see them sign Ranger Suarez and Michael King. I hope that they do not trade a top prospect for a starting pitcher, but rather spend FA money to do it.
Did you see what Cease signed for?!!! The Cubs will need a mortgage to be able to sign those 2.
If the Cease deal was a dinner tab, Ricketts wouldn’t even pick up the tip.
“I liked the Tucker deal.”
You liked it when you believed that the Cubs were going to sign him long term. Nobody with a brain would have supported that trade if they knew it was for just one season.
NoNeck,
Most baseball fans assumed it was a one-year situation for Tucker in Chicago.
I live in Chicago and am not a Cubs fan. Every single call to the radio shows can be summarized: “The Cubs gave up a lot for Tucker; this only makes sense if they have already worked out a deal to sign him long term.” Not a single on air personality or caller ever suggested that the trade would still be worth it if he didn’t sign long-term… as a matter of fact, they all said the opposite.
Liking it and assuming it was just a one-year are not mutually exclusive. Based on the team’s limited spending the last few years, I don’t think many people expected them to sign him long term.
“Liking it and assuming it was just a one-year are not mutually exclusive.”
Really? You would be okay with the Cubs trading Matt Shaw and Owen Caissie for a one-season veteran again?
C’mon… be honest.
Depends on the player. Skubal? Absolutely. Freddy Peralta? Maybe. Anyone else? Probably not.
Let’s say some team signs Tucker to a one-year deal and it isn’t looking good for them. Would you send Shaw and Caissie to that team for Tucker in order to have another 92 win season?
You know you wouldn’t make this mistake again… why are you pretending?
I always assumed Tucker would be a one year thing because I can’t imagine Ricketts offering a 300K+ deal. I was ok with trading Cam Smith, obviously this means that at the time, I had some confidence in Matt Shaw and liked Horton, Wiggins, Ballesteros, Caissie and Alcantara.
Their MO seems to be more to trade for players and then wait out the market to get deals on any good players left. Similar to the Red Sox but less spendy.
As a Brewers fan, I loved every bit of it.
As a Cubs fan I enjoyed you getting swept like Busch league by the Dodgers…
Especially loved seing that “L” sign pic they thought was so cute- posted everywhere after they were once again- booted out of the playoffs as usual.
@NoNeck Bad take. Without Kyle Tucker, the Cubs don’t have a great season. Just because he didn’t reach the heights we’d hoped for, and just because the Cubs couldn’t advance to the NLCS, it was still a successful season for the team and a fun season for the fans. And all they gave up to acquire Tucker were a bunch of players that weren’t in the plans for the future.
They need to re-sign the guy. I respect dissenting opinions about that. There are reasonable counterarguments. But the idea that the trade was no good in the first place was proven wrong by the Cubs 2025 season.
Oh he was a big part of why they made the playoffs, but there is no way on God’s green earth that Tom Ricketts will EVER pony up what it would take to sign Tucker. Or any other premium FA. He just won’t.
We’ll see what Cam Smith does.
One Cam Smith dinger and Cubs are behind the eight ball. Two and its uhoh
How is losing to Milwaukee again a “great season”?
The Cubs had one of the best records in baseball all season long. They led the NL Central for a significant portion of it, and it took an epic Milwaukee winning streak to take it away from them. They advanced to the second round of the playoffs, reaching a deciding game 5, and were it not for losing Cade Horton at the end of the season, it’s likely they would’ve advanced (though I’d also lay heavy blame at the feet of Hoyer/FO/ownership for not replacing Justin Steele, too). The Cubs were in the mix all season long. And all of that in the context of the Cubs being mediocre the past few years, and being bad for most all seasons that any long-timer Cubs fan has had to endure. I don’t know how else to explain the obvious to you, NoNeck. It was a great season. I would’ve liked for them to do better. I feel like it was within their reach to do better. But just because they fell short doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great season. The fact that you can’t see that (or are unwilling to) and your bad take on the Kyle Tucker trade makes me think you don’t watch the Cubs at all.
“The Cubs had one of the best records in baseball all season long.”
The Cubs had a great first half and if we are honest, they were in a really weak division until Milwaukee got hot after the all-star break. What was the Cubs record against teams over .500?
@NoNeck. The Cubs had the sixth best record in all of baseball, and you’re asking me what their record was against teams over .500? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Get outta here with that bs.
Whenever a child posts “LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL” or emojis, you know they’ve been embarrassed.
The Cubs were 28-26 in August and September. They were 22-11 against teams under .500 and 6-15 against teams .500 or better.
That’s pathetic.
Cubs don’t win 92 without Tucker
Jed is that you? Don’t forget to take out the trash and get the pies out of the garage. Company arrives at 11
I’m not Jed but you just literally reminded me, in real life, to take the recycling out to the curb. Maybe this website does have a purpose.
And I just realized we forgot to open the door to the balcony so the cat can get back in. Thought it strange that we didn’t hear her for hours
True. But they had to win a lot of games without him as well.
We can always count on a number of people taking shots at top-tier players for not being saviors.
I don’t see them going after a big bat. Pitching.
I don’t see them doing anything significant. They’re riding it out to the lockout.
Anthony Rendon may soon become available.
Is there anything here on big time Cub 2 time All-star George Altman’s passing?
They could sign a big bat, but then they would need someone with big hands to swing it.
Like the way you troll. Go Raven!
Yeah… he puts you to shame…
A big bat? No. People keep saying they’re going to sign a top of the rotation starter but thats not gonna happen. They wanted Cease but not at 7 years. Their desire ceased at that point. And Forget Framber he’s too expensive. Maybe King? Otherwise they’ll have to trade for one.
The only way the Cubs sign a big bat is if they trade for a TOR which likely would involve at least one of those Kyle Tucker internal option replacements. It would help if Jed Hoyer expedited such a trade before the big bat free agent options start coming off the board.
I think Sandy would cost Rojas and Alcantara. He is owed 17 and 21M which is far more than Gore and Ryan will get over arb over the next two years. So Mia has a bit more need to remove contract than the other teams just looking to gain top tier talent.
Cubs are at 191M and should sit around 234M on opening day. Sandy moves the needle but Jed still has 24M to play with after.
As much as a deal revolving around a swap of Alcantaras appeals to the word play side of me, I am not excited about the Cubs acquiring Sandy and I think the Fish would want much more than Kevin plus Rojas.
In addition to being wary of Sandy Alcantara for the Cubs, I am wary of McKenzie Gore. If the Twins trade Ryan or Lopez, either would be interesting but the prospect cost would be so high that I prefer FAs.
I’d do that trade in a nano second.
Jed is still in on King so I also believe that he is looking into it with out selling
I do agree with you on Ryan. If they traded Shaw, Wiggins and Rojas. That gives a 6M arb case. Then give 5/150M to Bregman to hold down 3B. That adds 36M and puts payroll at 227M which is last year. Give 6M to Thielbar to return and roll with it internal.
Its seems loike the Cubs are attached to everyone and when the dust settles nothing big will happen
Or do nothing. Sign a couple of Rea types and call it a season.
I could see them signing any of the Japanese players hitting the market this year. Maybe E. Suarez if his market is soft.
I voted No, but I think they’re a deep market sleeper for Alonso.
Why would the Cubs have any interest in signing soon to be 31-year old and defensively challenged 1B Pete Alonso with 28-year old Michael Busch already at the position? Alonso is looking for a long term contract now that he is free of last year’s QO and that likely also means more DH time as he ages.
The always budget minded Cubs will be happy to roll with pre-arb eligible Busch at 1B and perhaps Moisés Ballesteros as their long term DH over an expensive Alonso.
Cubs and budget shouldn’t be in the same sentence
but it looks like the mid 2010s era of cubs spending is over
bring back Jim Hendry!
Trade Ballesteros for pitching. Sign Alonso. Really piss off that fan base.
If he comes in at bargain basement prices on a short term deal the Cubs are in.
What are you smoking? Busch, who had an outstanding year at 1B ain’t going anywhere.
Alonso is open to DH and that is really going to open up his market…. BAHAHAHA
I only smoke the best. And who said Busch had to go anywhere?
Ricketts would never pony up that kind of dough for a DH. And there will be no bargain basement deal for Alonso…. “BAHAHAHA” (For the easily amused)
Think Dansby got slandered a little. 4.5 war 105 ops+. Played in 159 games.
yeah, he’a a really good unheralded player.
I think Shaw had like 3 WAR too.
The Cubs are as likely to sign Bregman as the Tigers are. Perhaps moreso…
Tigers can have him.
Big bat? Probably not. They might sign a bat in case Ballesteros gets moved or takes a step back. Schwarber would be an awesome get if they were inclined and then they could move Ballesteros and some other pieces for a P. Schwarber would be such a better bat than Tucker if that’s what they think is needed and were trying to get with that dumb trade. Or what they though they were getting anyway.
They would not want Suzuki to be in the outfield full time and I don’t even know if schwarber would want to come back now that the confines aren’t so friendly to batters
It would be funny to move schwarber back to catcher to fit him in
No. I believe that they will trade for a SP like Sandy Alcantara because he has more contract attached than Gore or Ryan and will cost less in prospects. I don’t see Baller or Caissie tied to it. Alcantara and Rojas yes.
As far as a bat goes? They need a corner IF just in case. Long is the next guy. Candy I can see on a 1 year deal as a back up.
That is about the most impact that I expect. Caissie I expect in Iowa and Baller as DH. The season will dictate if Jed needs to adjust.
Getting Amaya back frees up Kelly to DH vs LHSP
The glaring need to replace Tucker is over played. They should be fine and I agree with Jed here.
Candy?
nickname for Jeimer Candelario.
As a bench guy on a rebuild value one year deal it works for Jed. Candy will be hard pressed to get starting gig after last year.
I was mostly just concerned that he’s who you meant, best of luck! At least it won’t cost you 15 million a year lol
Cubs have ZERO interest in Candy, especially with Shaw here.
Sandy Alcantara is unavailable to trade for this off season. You need to get grip on who is available to trade for.
The Cubs are pretty solid on the corner infield. They definitely do not need another infielder. They need a SP and maybe a corner OFer.
I think so. The biggest legal bat in MLB is a maximum of 42 inches in length and 2.61 inches in barrel diameter. Most of those bats sit in the $260 range so unless the Cubs are bankrupt, I think they should be able to afford some big bats…
My recommendations:
Victus Torpedo
Sam Bat 2K1
Louisville Slugger MLB Prime
very nice. at least you did not go bbcore
Pete Alonso
Hard no. Over pay for a DH is not something Jed would ever do. He would target Schwarber if he would and it is not in Jed’s DNA to over pay for pine riders
He has no spot to play. He’s a liability in the field. I’d rather have Michael Busch all day over Pete Alonso. Hard pass
I would rank Cody as #1 if he goes unsigned by Jan. That way Jed can weesle a under market deal
I see NYY as the right fit for Cody as 18 of his 29 bombs were home cooking. He is a 20 HR bat elsewhere but his ability to smoke lefties and play 4 spots plus DH makes him highly desirable even with a lower HR outlook
Baller IMO is perfect for Jed. contact bat. decent walks. power. cheap. Jed’s wet dream come true and nothing will spoil it.
sorry guys not happening.
Never had any intention in signing Tucker. They will try to replace Tuckers production with Alcantara, Cassie and Ballesteros. They’ll attempt to tighten up the bullpen and win with better pitching and defense. The downward spiral has begun
Spending insane amounts of money on players is the cost of doing business these days. If you don’t spend YOU DON’T WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. The cubs have become the cheap old cubs like when the tribune company owned them. They should have signed Tucker AND traded for a top line starter. They won’t and they don’t. And they don’t care. Cost of doing business
They tried to extend Tucker but when he started out so hot I think he thought he could get $500m so he wanted to play out the season, I believe he overplayed his hand and won’t even get $400m
imagine trying to live on that, LOL
And the Bellinger trade was a disaster as well
Wasn’t really a trade, but rather a gift to NY. They released the guy we got back before SP was over.
Worst thing to happen to this franchise was not only falling into the playoffs, but winning a series. Now poor Rockets and Dumpster Jed can shop at the discount aisle…again…always.
It’s inconceivable to me the Cubs could still overlook the necessity of getting an offensive centerpiece like Tucker. They trade for the guy, and the Cubs finally have a successful season. The cause-effect is right there in front of them. You want to go with Bellinger instead? Fine. Bregman? Fine. Right field has a vacancy sign lit up without Tucker there, and while I think Shaw is a promising prospect, a huge leap up with someone like Bregman is worth it.
But if you run with the rookies in right field, you’re gonna have the same dropoff in production that struck PCA. That rookie wall is real. Caissie, Alcantara, Ballesteros… they’ll all run into it and then you’ve got offensive sieves in right field and DH. It was unfortunate that PCA did the all-star break, since that was his last opportunity to rest, and it cost him and the team (not gonna comment on my misgivings that he’s taking part in the WBC this year).
If the Ricketts/FO go with just the rookies in right field, and don’t acquire a huge offensive upgrade elsewhere + a TOR addition (trade or FA), then they’re just admitting that a winning balance sheet will always be prioritized over winning ballgames.
Barring something unforeseen, I think their plan is Suzuki/Cassie in RF with Ballesteros at DH.
The perfect Cubs signing on the offensive side would be a reunion with Schwarber. With Kyle at DH, we could roll with Seiya in RF and have Caissie at utility for all OF positions. Starting lineup would dramatically improve:
1. Busch
2. Happ
3. Schwarber
4. Suzuki
5. Crow-Armstrong
6. Hoerner
7. Kelly
8. Swanson
9. Shaw
I’d then propose taking advantage of the Rangers’ salary dump and work out a cash-heavy, prospect-lite deal for deGrom, who has 2 years left on his contract ($38m for ‘26 and $37m for ‘27), with a $20m club option for ‘28. Hoyer shies from long-term deals so getting our ace with less commitment and not eating up much prospect equity would be big. Our playoff-ready staff would be:
1. deGrom
2. Horton
3. Steele
4. Boyd
5. Imanaga
Ricketts don’t care about the team anymore. Now it’s all about buying congressional seats for his crappy family
Nope but the team is spending big. On another tiki bar and bowling alley and starbuck still a few blocks to buy up on the march to Diversey
The Cubs need pitching. Their position players provided 39 WAR last year their pitching 7. Pitching pitching pitching.
Sure, and as the article pointed out, Tucker was a large part of that. So ya, they kinda do. Unless you’re a believer in the “have a career year every year for everyone” mentality old Jed has.
Tucker was only worth 4.6 WAR. He wasnt that big of a part of that. And they have Caissie who is ready to play to replace him.
So yeah they kinda dont. They need pitching.
The Cubs won’t spend to get a big bat. What’s more shocking is that Cub fan don’t want their team to spend money and go over the luxury tax thresholds.
They sure do love to boot lick the billionaires boots. All while paying top prices for tickets.
Ignorance is bad enough. Why spout off in public and prove it?
No, they won’t sign a big bat. They showed at the deadline and with the Maton deal that they’ll only shop at the bottom of the market.
Always waiting for a HR is why this team failed, no one except Hoerner can actually work the count and hit the ball consistently. Spending stupidly along the way doesn’t help either. Not a serious organization.
So we need the help, but paying for it is stupid? Glad those tickets prices are in top 2💪
Spending wisely is different than spending because your farm system doesn’t produce consistently. Extensions for mediocre players, dumb.
This isn’t the way of Dumpster Diving Jed. Sure we’ll sign 15-20 40 yr old RP on minor league deals, but zero chance we sign anyone else to a 2+ year deal. He’s a believer in the “everyone needs to have a career year every year!”
No.
To me it seems the cubs are going to see what these kids can do spend in free agent on pitching. On the flip side they can package some prospects and repeat last winter . They hit on all the moves last year and set themselves up very solidly my biggest question on this ownership has been spending on the field. Let’s be honest invested huge money to redo Wrigley the hotel and all flats rooftop buildings huge huge money. They generate so much money if you truly want more rings you spend at higher level it is that simple. They won in 16 they figure it gives them decades to pretend to want to win . Win at all cost winning fixes everything. There in it for the business not to win and that’s garbage . The fans deserve much more
The Cubs need to make a trade for Luis Robert. I would love to see the White Sox get Miguel Amaya.
The White Sox would have a good problem on the southside with Amaya, Teel and Quero at C.
If they don’t go for Amaya, Robert for Alcantara and Kipp would be a good trade.
The Sox have to be getting calls on Robert this off-season. His 1yr / 20M dollar contract is manageable, a team option in ’27 is a bonus. Robert could be a good replacement for Tucker. Happ, Robert and Crow Armstrong is a good OF.
I am still in disbelief about Mike Tauchman. White Sox had a good player in Tauchman, an outfield of Benintendi, Tauchman and Baldwin would have been serviceable until Braden Montgomery is ready.
I doubt it happens but a interesting take. With Jed non tendering Reese McGuire it would not happen. MoBaller getting a 30-50% cut at catcheris a huge leap of faith in 26. 27 after getting to know the staff is far more believable
Caissie and Suzuki should get most of RF time
The Cubs, typically, reserve $20m salary for deadline deals, so the $45m “wiggle room” is actually $25m.
$10M is Tom’s window. Most likely Tom was recovering from losses from Marque and took in more profits. 2024 they generated around 850M and spent 225M in payroll for 2025. So I see them back in the black. 234M should be their net
Big question will be if Horton in 2nd year be given role as ace of this pitching staff as hoyer is surely banking on it? And without presence of Tucker in lineup will be undoing of cubs offensively as hoyer counting on to internal fill. 2 big needless questions to be answered without team spending the money.
Why is no one talking about the potential that is the Rangers’ salary dump? They’d be willing to move deGrom’s large salary for little prospect value in return since Texas wants to significantly lower payroll. deGrom’s has 2 years remaining on his contract of $38m for 2026 and $37m for 2027, with a $20m club option for 2028. That’s exactly what the Cubs need and want: a front end ace with no long-term commitment (which a free agent would command) and not burning much prospect capital. Rotation of deGrom, Horton, Steele, Imanaga, and Boyd would be top tier and put us in title talks.
Since we have several keys players becoming free agents after 2026 and given we also reset the salary cap penalties by not going over in 2025, we go all in for 2026 by then signing Devin Williams for late inning work and grab a middle of the order bat by having a reunion with Schwarber (high dollar, low number of years contract). That’s how championships are won.
I don’t see thje Cubs going after a big bat. Hoyer and Carters only job is the following.
1. Keep fans interested enough to keep showing up to Wrigley, buying overpriced concessions and merchandise.
2.. Make sure the cheap owner doesn’t have to pay any luxury tax
3. Con fans into thinking 2032 is going to be the year
With cease, gray, Halsey and now Williams off the board this early, the cubbies look to be trending in the wrong direction yet again because of their so called budget restraints again!
Nope, now that hoyer signed kingery,, they won’t have the resources for a big time bat nor an elite pitcher!
No way will hoyer sign proven big league bat maybe a reclamation project or some old timer and only at the cubs price.
“Strong as that production was” is NOT proper English. You can’t just leave “as” out to start the sentence because you feel like it. Proper grammar isn’t optional.