Twins' offseason pivot creates perfect Kyle Tucker backup plan for Cubs

Kyle Tucker is as good as gone this offseason. The Chicago Cubs know this, the fans know this, and it seems like all of baseball is quickly catching on to that fact.

With his impending departure comes a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup, as well as in right field. Seiya Suzuki is an obvious candidate to fill that spot after having done so from 2022-24, as is top prospect Owen Caissie, who has the power requisite to replace Tucker's slugging prowess in the batting order.

However, beyond the internal candidates, there are a number of external players who could help replace Tucker. Old friend Cody Bellinger looms in free agency, or the Cubs could choose to go the cost-effective route by signing a player with a strong track record but a few red flags, such as Cedric Mullins.

But what if the team opts to go the same route that brought Tucker into the building in the first place? There aren't a lot of star outfielders available on the trade market, but one name might be emerging as the cream of the crop: Byron Buxton.

The oft-injured outfielder had his healthiest and strongest season in ages in 2025, playing in 126 games while hitting .264/.327/.551 with 35 home runs and 24 steals. And, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes, the Minnesota Twins could look to move their star outfielder this offseason as part of an ongoing rebuild.

Byron Buxton is a high-risk, high-reward swing the Cubs aren't accustomed to

The modus operandi during Jed Hoyer's team leading the Cubs has been about raising the floor, rather than the ceiling.

Buxton flies in the face of that philosophy. When healthy, he's one of the most dynamic players in the sport on both sides of the ball. However, that's rarely the case—prior to 2025, he hadn't played in more than 105 games in a single season since 2017.

The Twins engaged in a fire sale á la the 2021 Cubs at this year's trade deadline, shipping out notable players like Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran, and Willi Castro. They are clearly in the beginning stages of a rebuild, and Buxton's remaining contract (three years, roughly $45 million) is a bargain, even given his significant health setbacks and age (32 in December).

He'd cost quite a few notable prospects after his strong 2025 campaign, but getting a hitter with a 137 wRC+ over the past two seasons for an AAV under $15 million is an unbelivable value in today's baseball economy.

The Cubs could also help preserve Buxton's health by moving him to right field. Pete Crow-Armstrong isn't moving off of center field any time soon -- a position Buxton remains above average at -- and moving the Twins' outfielder to the corner could play to his strengths (elite arm, excellent range, diminished speed).

There's a lot to like about the fit here, but it remains a question if the Cubs will actually pull the trigger on a player with so many health questions that is in his thirties. If they do, they could replace Tucker's presence in the lineup with one of the most talented players in the sport.