Latest Kyle Tucker offer could keep Cubs reunion pipe dream alive for 2027

From the outset of the offseason, it was clear that Kyle Tucker wasn't going to spend 2026 in a Chicago Cubs uniform. The expectation that he'd receive a megadeal far beyond what the team has ever signed all but killed any hope of a reunion. Even when his market wasn't fully materializing, he still didn't feel as realistic as the other big free agent bats and didn't fit as well as infielders Alex Bregman and Bo Bichette.

When the Cubs went out on Saturday evening and stunned fans by indeed inking Bregman to a shocking five-year, $175 million deal, the nail was finally, seemingly driven into the Tucker coffin. They landed their big bat, and now both fans and the front office feel content in moving on. However, there may still be a chance we're not done talking about the possibility of the slugging lefty outfielder heading back to the Friendly Confines.

Tucker's market is reaching the point where a short-term, opt-out-laden deal is feeling more and more likely. On Tuesday, The Athletic's Will Sammon reported that, according to league sources, the New York Mets had made an offer in that ballpark. That was later confirmed by FanSided's Robert Murray, who learned more specifically that the Steve Cohen-owned team was putting $50 million per year on the table in a shorter deal that would bolster Queens after a disappointing start to the offseason.

Not only does the offer indicate that talks around Tucker are heating up, but it opens up the possibility that he'll be back on the market in 2027 to take another bite at the free agency apple. This coming Saturday will only be his 29th birthday, meaning he'll still be young enough to get a substantial payday if he performs well enough to opt out. All indications are that he'd prefer to find a long-term home now, but such a high AAV that would pay him like one of the top players in the league might be just the aggression needed to sway him.

If that happens, it may be a golden opportunity for the Cubs to strike. The team still has a ton of money coming off the books next year, giving them plenty of flexibility to approach the 2027 offseason even with Bregman locked up on a high-dollar deal. Barring any new extensions, their payroll for tax purposes is estimated to be under $100 million. Moreover, they'll have plenty of openings in the outfield with both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ set to hit free agency. With Owen Caissie dealt to the Marlins for Edward Cabrera, that also leaves just Kevin Alcantara as their last big outfield prospect standing.

A new CBA could affect the Cubs' hypothetical Kyle Tucker pursuit

Now, there are two major wild cards to consider when thinking about the potential of a Cubs-Tucker reunion for 2027. The first, and most pressing, is the Toronto Blue Jays. They, too, have been connected to Tucker throughout the offseason and seem like the favorite to sign him, if he goes for a longer-term arrangement. They've been very aggressive after falling just shy of a World Series title in Game 7, and could use Tucker's career 138 wRC+ in their lineup if Bichette isn't returning.

If he goes short-term, however, then the second wild card would be the new CBA. The upcoming negotiations for a new agreement between the players and the league could drastically shape the financial landscape of the sport and bring with it a lockout. If a salary cap is instituted, for instance, that could put teams well above the current tax, like the Dodgers and Mets, in a precarious spot. Depending on what happens, the Cubs could find themselves in the driver's seat with Tucker's negotiation. Even without drastic changes, though, their sheer lack of committed dollars puts them in a spot to compete with just about anyone.

With all of that said, it still feels hard to imagine a Tucker reunion. Opting out of the Mets deal, or any other short-term deal, would almost certainly mean he's angling for a colossal payday in the $400 million range once imagined. That number might get even higher considering the lack of clear superstar position players expected to hit the market in 2027. Bregman was a welcome change of pace from how the Cubs typically act in free agency, but his contract didn't blow past team records like Tucker's would.

Still, it's unlikely Jed Hoyer and company would ever be as well set up to make a big splash as they will be next year. It would be nice to see them be opportunistic with Tucker if the right dominoes fall.