Everybody has an opinion on the Kyle Tucker extension and the Cubs better be listening

If you are already tired of the Kyle Tucker extension discourse, we have news for you, it's not going anywhere.

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. inked his contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, Tucker instantly became the top position player on the free-agent market next offseason. Of course, the Cubs likely are hopeful that Tucker doesn't reach free agency.

The problem with that hope is that it doesn't logically make sense. The Cubs have yet to sign a player to a contract worth more than $200MM and it remains a question of how just how much of a green light Tom Ricketts will give on a deal for Tucker. Similarly, if your Tucker, it makes little sense to sign an extension in-season given the bidding war that will occure this offseason when there will be presumed interest from teams such as the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.

Nevertheless, for his latest exercise for MLB dot com, Mark Feinsand polled MLB executives on the chances that Tucker signs an in-season extension with the Cubs. For the most part, the opinions were mixed with the prevailing thought being that regardless if Tucker waits until the offseason or signs an in-season extension with the Cubs, he is going to get paid. And the Cubs, despite what their peers think of them, are a team that can afford such a deal.

There was, however, one quote that stood out amongst the rest.

“If the Cubs don’t extend him, that may go down as an all-time terrible trade,” one NL executive told Feinsand for the story.

The Kyle Tucker contract is going away for the Cubs

It's hard to argue with that take, especially if the Cubs don't reach the postseason. If the Cubs reach the postseason but Tucker still walks next offseason, that would be a difficult otucome but one that would define the new way of operation for the Cubs. If the Cubs aren't going to be spending top-dollar for free agents, using the farm system to acquire one-year superstar rentals may just be how they keep their contention window open.