Early Kyle Tucker free agency buzz makes Cubs look like long shots already

Kyle Tucker's free agency will likely be one of the biggest talking points during this week's GM meetings, and the impression is that the Chicago Cubs have already moved to the back of the class. It's an odd outcome, considering Tucker spent the 2025 season with the Cubs, but one that the Cubs set the stage for at the start of the offseason.

With the entire league and a healthy number of reporters in Las Vegas for the meetings, this will be the week when rumors are truly started. As it stands, USA Today's Bob Nightengale offered his early vibe on Tucker's sweepstakes. Speaking with rival general managers, the expectation is that Tucker will sign with either the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, or Toronto Blue Jays.

Until proven otherwise, the Dodgers should be viewed as the favorite for Tucker. The Dodgers are never shy about spending money and have a clear need in the outfield. The stage is set for the Dodgers to be the Dodgers and sign Tucker to the richest contract of the offseason.

The Cubs have seem to have already become an afterthought in Kyle Tucker's free agency.

The Athletic ran a primer on Tucker's sweepstakes, and the Dodgers and Yankees were grouped separately from other teams that could be interested. When it comes to the Cubs, they were in their own tier, listed "hanging around to see what happens". In other words, short of something dramatic happening, it doesn't sound like the Cubs are all that interested in bringing Tucker back.

Above all else, sitting out on Tucker will be another example of the Cubs choosing not to engage with the player at the top of the free-agent class. They did have an interest in Shohei Ohtani, but weren't willing to meet his desired contract structure. Last offseason, they went out of their way to ensure their fanbase knew they weren't going to be involved in the bidding for Juan Soto.

When the Cubs tore down their World Series core at the 2021 MLB trade deadline, the impression was that there would eventually come a time when the team would be ready to act like a big-market spender. That stage has been set for the Cubs' return to big spending over the last three years, and what has followed is nothing but excuses. There's no longer a need for an excuse; the Cubs simply aren't going to act like a big-market spender under their current leadership structure.