Jed Hoyer says the quiet part out loud about Cubs' Kyle Tucker pursuit at GM Meetings

In a sign that the Chicago Cubs have all but moved on from their one season of having Kyle Tucker on their roster, Jed Hoyer's response when asked about Tucker's free agency wasn't the leading takeaway from his session with reporters at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Since the start of the offseason, the impression was that the Cubs weren't going to be the top bidder for Tucker this winter, and this week seems to have confirmed that.

Among the reporters who met with Hoyer at the GM Meetings was FanSided's own Robert Murray. After asking Hoyer about where things stand with Tucker, the Cubs' president of baseball operations echoed the same message he had throughout the season. A healthy Tucker is someone any team would want, and when he was at his best last season, the Cubs were at their best. Hoyer confirmed he will be keeping in touch with Tucker's agent this offseason, but it seemed clear that a return to Chicago isn't in the cards.

The GM Meetings seem to have confirmed the Chicago Cubs have all but moved on from Kyle Tucker.

In a world where Tucker's market stalls, it's possible the Cubs would pounce at the opportunity for a reunion in January or February. That said, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays have already emerged as options for Tucker this offseason. With the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays also lurking, it would seem that Tucker, as expected, is going to have a healthy choice of options and lucrative offers.

It would also seem that replacing Tucker's impact isn't at the forefront of the Cubs' to-do list this offseason. Hoyer endorsed where things stand with the position-player side of the roster, indicating that the team is comfortable moving forward with a starting lineup that could see Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros with an increased role.

There certainly could be a level of lip service from Hoyer, considering some projections have the offense being significantly worse next season. If the Cubs were willing, Alex Bregman still appears to be a clear fit for their roster. Bregman could take over as the team's third baseman with Matt Shaw serving in a utility role. If not Bregman, a more affordable option could be Eugenio Suarez. The Cubs were interested in Suarez at the trade deadline, and if his market stalls, that could be where Chicago pivots.