Latest Vladimir Guerrero Jr rumor should terrify the Chicago Cubs

Jed Hoyer joked with Chicago Cubs beat reporters on Friday that there should be an over/under set on the number of times he is asked about Kyle Tucker's contract situation this season.

Hoyer routinely meets with the media at the beginning of every home stand, so it's a safe bet to assume that number will reach the double digits fairly quickly. Extensions have been the trend across Major League Baseball in recent weeks, and the biggest one yet may be nearing the finish line.

This weekend, rumors have increased that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is nearing an extension with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Nationally, even Jon Heyman of the New York Post has shifted his reporting to the Blue Jays leaving no stone unturned in assuring that Guerrero does not reach free agency at the end of the season.

The path to Kyle Tucker returning to the Cubs won't be helped by latest Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rumor

Assuming that Guerrero and the Blue Jays eventually do reach the finish line on a contract extension, that would be terrible news for the Cubs. Guerrero not being on the market next offseason would leave Tucker as the best position-player free agent. Given that fact, it wouldn't be a complete shock if a team like the Philadelphia Phillies would be willing to cross the $500MM threshold on their offer to Tucker next offseason.

Even with the potential work stoppage in Major League Baseball following the 2026 season, the Cubs can still very easily afford a Tucker contract extension. The Cubs have less than $50MM in committed payroll obligations following the 2026 season. For a team that is at the top of the list in terms of generating the most revenue during the season, they wouldn't have to bend over backwards to pay Tucker at the top of the market. However, the rub is that Tom Ricketts just isn't an owner who green-lights his team spending at the top of the market. Until proven otherwise, the expectation is that Tucker's time with the Cubs will be one-and-done.