Ranking Cubs OF Kyle Tucker's Top 10 Landing Spots Ahead of MLB Free Agency
The potential market for Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker in free agency this offseason is limited by the expectation that his asking price could exceed $400 million.
That immediately eliminates small and even mid-market teams from the mix, as committing $35-40 million annually to one player simply is not in the cards for a team where that would account for a significant percentage of their overall payroll.
Why such a high asking price?
At 28 years old, Tucker is younger than the average free agent, and he is a proven performer coming off the third 20/20 season of his career.
Despite missing some time to injury in the second half, he still hit .266/.377/.464 for a 143 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 22 home runs, 73 RBI, 91 runs scored, 25 steals and 4.5 WAR in 136 games.
The four-time All-Star is also a former Gold Glove winner in right field, which along with his speed on the bases gives him a more well-rounded profile than the average middle-of-the-order bat.
Ahead we've highlighted his 10 most likely landing spots in free agency this winter, focusing mainly on major market teams with a clear need in the outfield, though there are a few dark horse suitors to consider.
10. Washington Nationals
1 of 10
Projected OF: LF James Wood, CF Dylan Crews, RF Daylen Lile
Once upon a time, the Nationals made a shocking free agency splash when they signed Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million deal, signaling to the baseball world they were ready to make a move up the standings.
Could Kyle Tucker serve a similar purpose 15 years later?
Convincing him to spurn proven contenders in favor of signing onto a rebuilding team that has not made the postseason since 2019 will not be easy, but there is at least a history of spending that suggests the Nationals could be a dark horse in the Tucker sweepstakes.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks
2 of 10
Projected OF: LF Jake McCarthy, CF Alek Thomas, RF Corbin Carroll
A year after giving Corbin Burnes a massive six-year, $210 million contract, the D-backs have to be taken seriously as a team willing to spend big on the free-agent market.
They also have a need in the outfield with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sidelined after suffering a torn ACL in September and both Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas both putting up subpar numbers at the plate.
In all likelihood, their focus will be on starting pitching after Merrill Kelly was traded at the deadline and Zac Gallen is set to join him in free agency, but the D-backs are at least an intriguing team to monitor on the periphery.
8. San Diego Padres
3 of 10
Projected OF: LF Ramón Laureano, CF Jackson Merrill, RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
Similar to the D-backs, the Padres focus this offseason will likely be on starting pitching first and foremost, as Dylan Cease and Michael King are both headed for free agency.
They also already have roughly $195 million on the books for the 2026 season, and with the luxury tax threshold set at $244 million next year, that doesn't give them a ton of wiggle room to address the starting staff and make a run at someone like Tucker who is expected to command at least $30 million annually.
They're a longshot, but they looked similarly unlikely to jump into the Xander Bogaerts market before signing him to an 11-year, $280 million deal, so never say never when it comes to AJ Preller pulling the strings in the front office.
.png?w=256)
7. Toronto Blue Jays
4 of 10
Projected OF: LF Anthony Santander, CF Daulton Varsho, RF Nathan Lukes
The Blue Jays were major players in the markets for Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto the last two offseasons, and while they fell short in their pursuit, they were serious enough contenders that it speaks to the club's willingness to hand over a massive contract.
Of course, that massive contract may have come in the form of the 14-year, $500 million extension that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed in April, but it's not out of the question to think they could continue exploring the top end of the free-agent market.
Despite a disappointing first season in Toronto, the team did make a five-year, $92.5 million commitment to Anthony Santander last offseason, and with George Springer at designated hitter there is not a clear path for Tucker to join the roster.
A willingness to spend is reason enough to put them on this list, but we're still in the longshot category here.
6. New York Mets
5 of 10
Projected OF: LF Brandon Nimmo, CF Tyrone Taylor, RF Juan Soto
Even with their seemingly bottomless pockets, can we reasonably expect the Mets to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million next season for a starting outfield of Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo and Tucker?
Never say never, but with Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz in need of new contracts and a starting rotation that needs a stabilizing veteran presence alongside all the promising young arms, it's a stretch.
It's impossible not to include the Mets given their spending power, and they do have a need in the outfield with Tyrone Taylor better served in a fourth outfielder role, but expect them to aim a bit lower in an effort to maximize their spending this offseason rather than putting all their eggs in the Tucker basket.
5. San Francisco Giants
6 of 10
Projected OF: LF Heliot Ramos, CF Jung Hoo Lee, RF Drew Gilbert
Now we're getting somewhere.
The Giants spent years being rebuffed by the market's top free agents, but that has seemingly changed under the new front office led by Buster Posey, with Matt Chapman and Willy Adames both inking lucrative long-term deals to play in San Francisco.
The departure of Mike Yastrzemski leaves right field as a clear area of need heading into the offseason, and while they could give Luis Matos and Drew Gilbert a chance to win the job during spring training, it also looks like the most likely spot for them to make a splash offensively.
Tucker's value comes from more than just his power production, so spacious Oracle Park might not scare him the way it does players who make their money by hitting the ball over the fence.
4. New York Yankees
7 of 10
Projected OF: LF Jasson Domínguez, CF Spencer Jones, RF Aaron Judge
The Yankees lost Juan Soto in free agency last offseason, then moved quickly to replace him with Cody Bellinger in a salary dump trade with the Chicago Cubs.
Now Bellinger is expected to exercise an opt-out on his contract, and while he could quickly turn around and sign a new long-term deal with the Yankees, there is no guarantee he will be wearing pinstripes again in 2026.
Tucker would be the logical pivot for the Bronx Bombers if Bellinger does head elsewhere, providing similar left-handed hitting protection behind Aaron Judge and run production in the middle of the lineup.
That would allow Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones to compete for playing time, rather than relying on both of them to see regular at-bats, and expect another veteran to be brought in to push them regardless.
3. Chicago Cubs
8 of 10
Projected OF: LF Ian Happ, CF Pete Crow-Armstrong, RF Seiya Suzuki
The Cubs would not have traded away controllable slugger Isaac Paredes and top prospect Cam Smith to acquire Tucker last offseason if they didn't have at least some hope they would be able to keep him beyond the 2025 season.
Owen Caissie (433 PA, .286/.386/.551, 52 XBH, 22 HR) and Kevin Alcántara (430 PA, .266/.349/.470, 43 XBH, 17 HR) both had strong seasons at the Triple-A level and got their feet wet with their first taste of the big leagues, and the club could turn to them to compete for the right field job next spring.
They could also use Seiya Suzuki in the outfield on an everyday basis again after he started 102 games at designated hitter this year, which would open up the DH spot for top prospect Moises Ballesteros.
A return to the Cubs is still a very real possibility, though keeping Tucker long-term is perhaps not as much of a priority for the North Siders as it was heading into the year.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
9 of 10
Projected OF: LF Brandon Marsh, CF Johan Rojas, RF Nick Castellanos
The Phillies top priority this offseason will be re-signing MVP candidate and clubhouse leader Kyle Schwarber, followed closely by a new deal for J.T. Realmuto since there is nothing remotely resembling a replacement for him at catcher currently in the organization.
However, if Schwarber gets away, or they decide to open up the payroll even further, Tucker would be a great fit on a veteran roster built to contend right now.
The outfield has been a revolving door of sorts in recent years, and even if they make a push to re-sign Harrison Bader who was excellent after he was acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline, they could still use another outfielder.
Nick Castellanos is a free agent after the 2026 season, which could make it easier to move him in a salary dump or simply cut their losses and release him if he gets off to a slow start, further emphasizing the need for a corner outfield bat.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
10 of 10
Projected OF: LF Andy Pages, CF Tommy Edman, RF Teoscar Hernández
Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages both had productive 2025 seasons and will be back as starters in the Dodgers outfield next year, but the third spot is wide open and looks like the most likely place for the club to make a splash in free agency.
Tommy Edman started 25 games in center field this year, but spent the bulk of his time at second base. If they want to give Hyeseong Kim an expanded role, shifting Edman to center on a more regular basis would be the way to do it, but signing another outfielder and continuing to use Edman in a super-utility role is the best way to maximize his value and the roster as a whole.
If an outfielder is No. 1 on their shopping list, it's fair to assume Tucker is the Dodgers top priority this offseason, and there is no question they have the financial freedom to contend with any offer presented to him by another team.
Even if the price tag climbs closer to $500 million, the Dodgers still might not flinch, as Tucker looks like the one free agent who can help this team the most, outside of adding multiple bullpen arms.
If the Dodgers want a guy bad enough, they tend to get him.
.png?w=480)
