Kyle Tucker Talks Cubs Contract After MLB Playoff Loss, 'We'll See What Happens'

Chicago Cubs star Kyle Tucker is keeping an open mind as he heads into free agency following his team's exit in the 2025 MLB playoffs.

"We'll see what happens. Don't know what the future is going to hold," he said when addressing a possible return to the Windy City, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "If not, it's been an honor playing with all these guys and wish everyone best of luck whether its playing next year or not with them."

Everyone knew the landscape when the Cubs acquired Tucker from the Houston Astros last winter. He was entering his final year of team control, and his contract projections were so high that Chicago might've gotten priced out.

The 28-year-old's dip in the second half of the regular season added even more uncertainty to his situation. He batted .231 and slugged .378 after the All-Star break, well below his usual standard.

Kyle Tucker Ends HR Drought

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Maybe that's largely down to the hairline fracture Tucker suffered to his right hand in June because his overall numbers tracked closely to his career averages. According to FanGraphs, he had a .363 wOBA and a 136 wRC+ in 2025, which are nearly equal to his total output (.366 wOBA; 138 wRC+).

When MLB teams are generally pulling back their spending, though, front offices will presumably cite Tucker's second-half swoon as a reason to offer less than his widely assumed valuation from last spring.

That group would include the Cubs, who may have made up their minds a long time ago. Rogers reported on Oct. 6 that Chicago was "never" going to re-sign Tucker:

That leaves little room for interpretation, but this could be similar to Alex Bregman's arc once he hit the open market after the 2024 campaign.

The Astros identified their successor to Bregman when they got Isaac Paredes as part of the trade package for Tucker. As the three-time All-Star remained unsigned, however, Houston re-entered the conversation before he ultimately joined the Boston Red Sox.

For the Cubs, there may come a point where Tucker's value falls to the point where it makes too much sense not to table a competitive contract.