Cubs may have finally found in Alex Bregman what they never had with Kyle Tucker

The rare Kyle Tucker defender that's out there, mostly those who don't follow the Chicago Cubs religiously, point to his overall numbers last season as a reason why his only season in Chicago can't be deemed a failure. That take lacks context, considering Tucker disappeared during the final two months of the regular season and became an afterthought by the time the playoffs arrived.

That hasn't been the case for Alex Bregman. The start to Bregman's tenure with the Cubs certainly wasn't ideal, and it may included a brief heel turn, but through remarkable second-half production, Bregman's numbers have arrived where most expected them to be by the end of the regular season, if not, better.

Through 681 plate appearances this season, Bregman is slashing .264/.354/.458 with a wRC+ of 126. His 5.2 fWAR on the season is currently the fourth-highest mark of his career in a season, but there's a good chance he tops the 5.4 mark he had with the Houston Astros in 2022.

But, fair or not, Bregman's arrival was always going to be viewed through the scope of the Cubs' decision to have nothing to do with Tucker's free agency last year. Clearly, Jed Hoyer and Co. were ready to step outside their comfort zone in free agency, but it was also clear that Tucker wasn't the player they were willing to do that for.

If the 2026 season has been any indicator, the Cubs truly found in Bregman what they never had in Tucker. It also helps that Tucker continues to look like a shell of himself. Through 588 plate appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tucker has a slash line of .226/.327/.373 with a wRC+ of 96.

Cubs are seeing the biggest difference between Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker play out

Bregman's offensive numbers aren't just better than Tucker's, they aren't even in the same zip code. Now that the production has been there, it's feels more appropriate to mention the difference that Bregman has made off the field.

For better or worse, Tucker was a mercenary. He was with the Cubs to perform a service last season, and that was to get his numbers. Through that, it meant he was going to get paid in free agency and the Cubs would likely be a playoff contender. Along those lines, it worked, but once the numbers weren't there, it was clear that Tucker was acting with just himself in mind.

That has never been the case with Bregman this season. Whether it's texting Craig Counsell during the night, or his work with teammates like Pete Crow-Armstrong, he puts the team first while also making sure he is doing his individual work. The Cubs never had that Tucker.

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