Kyle Tucker has tone-deaf response to Dodgers contract that Cubs fans will hate

Even before Kyle Tucker completed his heel turn by signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, Chicago Cubs fans already had a much different impression of him than when the team traded for him last offseason. Tucker's tenure in Chicago ended with a prolonged offensive slump to close out the regular season, and while he did make a return in time for the playoffs, he wasn't exactly the impact bat he was expected to be.

Given how the Dodgers have operated in recent years, there is always going to be an eye-roll over the moves they make during the offseason. That certainly was the case when Tucker signed with Los Angeles in January.

What was even more problematic was how the Dodgers structured their contract with Tucker. On paper, it's a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $240 million, but it includes a $64 million signing bonus, $30 million in deferred payments, and an opt-out after the second and third years of the deal.

If there was any hope that baseball could avoid a work stoppage next offseason when the current CBA expires, Tucker's contract with the Dodgers seemed to remove the doubt. True to form, when wasked about the stigma surrounding his contract, Tucker was unbothered.

“It doesn’t bother me, it really doesn’t,’’ Tucker told USA Today's Bob Nightengale. “I’m sure it would have probably happened in some aspect regardless of where I would have went. But I think with this team, winning the last two years, probably made it bigger.’’

Kyle Tucker sounds out of touch about Dodgers deal

Tucker not being bothered certainly isn't anything new to Cubs fans. It's that nonchalant nature that rubbed fans the wrong way during the final months of the regular season. Tucker didn't appear to be overly motivated to return to the Cubs, didn't take part in their clubhouse celebration after their postseason berth was clinched, and felt out of place when it came to the other stars on the team's roster.

In other words, it was clear that the Cubs were ready to move on from Tucker once the offseason started.

Tucker is also wrong in his assessment. Tucker had a 10-year offer on the table from the Toronto Blue Jays, worth $350 million, and had he signed that deal, it wouldn't have been met with the same disdain as his contract with the Dodgers. The same can be said had Tucker returned to the Cubs.

If anything, Tucker's comment only confirms that he may just be out for himself. Which is fine, he's earned that right, just don't be surprised if he's viewed as the villain moving forward.