Kyle Tucker's start with Dodgers is exactly what Cubs fans knew would happen

Even before the Chicago Cubs traded for Edward Cabrera and signed Alex Bregman, the impression was that Kyle Tucker wouldn't be missed. It was a strange reality. The Cubs did accomplish what they hoped when they traded for Tucker and played meaningful games in October. The initial thought was that money would be the reason why Tucker would only spend one season in Chicago, but the Cubs have spent over $450 million on contracts in this fiscal quarter alone.

While no one would have projected that spending for the Cubs when Tucker became a free agent last season, the reality is that the organization was not in love with the player; the National League Silver Slugger was behind the scenes.

Specifically, when it comes to the type of long-term investments the Cubs made in Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, it was clear that the front office was in love with the person behind each of those deals. That feeling was never evident with Tucker.

No one should fault Tucker for not wanting to be someone he's not, but the recent spending from the Cubs is just the latest piece of evidence that, on their end, there wasn't much interest in a sizable investment for Tucker, the person.

Kyle Tucker's slow start with the Dodgers feels all too familiar with Cubs fans.

There was also a shift in fan perception that took place with Tucker last season. At the start of the 2025 season, most were on board with the idea that the Cubs had to exhaust every effort to extend him. By the time the Cubs were eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, most fans had turned on Tucker.

In part, it was due to the prolonged offensive slump Tucker had during the final two months of the regular season and into the playoffs. A slump that has continued through his early games with the Dodgers. Entering play on Tuesday, Tucker was slashing .200/.294/.267 with a wRC+ of 68. Tucker is also striking out over 35% of the time to open the season.

Tucker certainly is going to return to form, but for now, Cubs fans are reminded of the pain that it is to watch him in August and September last year. Though for the Dodgers, Tucker can hide behind the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.