Cubs should feel vindicated watching Dodgers' Kyle Tucker contract saga unfold

By the end of the 2025 season, it was clear that the Chicago Cubs were ready for life after Kyle Tucker. The Cubs were never viewed as likely to sign Tucker to a long-term contract during his stop in Chicago last year, but by the end of his run, it seemed clear that they soured on everything that comes with Tucker. Something the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the middle of finding out.

When things were good between Tucker and Cubs, they were really good. He played at an MVP pace during the opening months of the 2025 season, and the North Siders were clear World Series contenders. Things took a turn when Tucker suffered a finger injury in June, and that ignited an offensive slump that started in July and extended through the rest of the season.

Making things worse, Tucker had a calf injury in September that highlighted the divide between the player and team. On the day the Cubs clinched postseason berth, wasn't with the team as he sought treatment from his personal training staff.

Cubs have their problems, but a Kyle Tucker contract isn't one of them

Between the injuries, the offensive slump, and a reputation that was less than flattering, there were clear red flags that existed with Tucker's free agency. The Dodgers ignored each of them as they signed him to an absurd four-year deal that included a $60 million signing bonus.

The result has been Tucker having the worst season of his career. He's slashing .234/.333/.374 with six home runs and a wRC+ of 101. As Cubs fans saw at the end of last season, Tucker's ability to draw walks is the only thing keeping his wRC+ afloat. Other than that, he's doing very little right and is now dealing with another injury.

Tucker was pulled from the Dodgers' game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday night with a back injury. In true Tucker fashion, there was nothing to suggest that he was injured, with some speculating he was just pulled from the game because of how bad he has been.

Early word is that Tucker's injury isn't serious, but Cubs fans know not to take that at face value. Tucker attempted to play through a finger injury last summer that the team eventually admitted altered his swing and ignited his offensive slump. It's fair to wonder if that is why Tucker is still struggling. Of course, between last year with the Cubs and the previous year with the Houston Astros, Tucker's injury management doesn't exactly have a clean track record.

While the Cubs dodged a bullet with Tucker, they have their own looming nightmare. Alex Bregman has looked far from an All-Star third baseman with the Cubs, and he's in the first year of a five-year deal worth $175 million.

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