MLB Insider Predicts Kyle Tucker Will Sign $400M Contract, Links Phillies, Giants

A recent rough patch has done nothing to diminish the enthusiasm for Kyle Tucker as he prepares to hit free agency after this season.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the expectation is Tucker will "likely" sign a deal in the $400 million range during the winter.

Passan cited the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants as a potential landing spots for Tucker if he leaves the Chicago Cubs, who are also expected to be in the mix.

Tucker hit .186/.320/.250 in 172 plate appearances from July 1 through Aug. 22, which also saw Cubs manager Craig Counsell bench him for three games in August in an effort to help him get out of his head.

"We're going to have to take a little step back here, for sure, and just give him some days off to reset him, hopefully, because he's frustrated," Counsell said of the move.

It was also revealed on Aug. 21 that Tucker had been playing through a hairline fracture in his right hand that was suffered during a slide into second base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 1.

Tucker looks like he took advantage of the time away, as he is hitting .364/.462/.727 with four homers in 12 games since returning to the lineup on Aug. 22.

Given that Tucker is only 28—he will turn 29 on Jan. 17—and is on track to post his third consecutive season with an OPS+ of at least 140, there's no reason he shouldn't command a deal worth at least $400 million.

The Phillies have $45 million coming off their books thanks largely to Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto hitting free agency.

Retaining Schwarber would seem like a priority for the organization given his popularity in Philadelphia and elite power production over the past four seasons, but there's also significant risk in giving a soon-to-be 33-year-old DH a lucrative long-term deal coming off a career year.

San Francisco already made one bold move by acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox in June. If you're going to go all-in like that and try to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, it wouldn't make sense to pull back on spending in the offseason.

The Giants could also have a lot of financial wiggle room because their current payroll commitments for next season is only $140.6 million. They have also been in on almost every marquee free agent over the past few years, including Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, but haven't yet got one to sign with them.

A big pitch for Tucker could finally land the Giants the big free-agent fish they have been pursuing.