3 Finest MLB Free Agent Suits for Kyle Tucker if he Leaves Chicago Cubs

[ad_1] Need a potent, left-handed hitter with postseason expertise who's additionally nice with the glove? If that's the case, then you definitely're in luck, as a result of outfielder Kyle Tucker is a free agent.

The soon-to-be 29-year-old Tucker is among the many greatest all-around gamers within the sport. He has an extended, highly effective swing from the left facet, seldom strikes out and is a terrific proper fielder.

After buying him from the Houston Astros final fall, one figures that the Chicago Cubs will attempt to preserve Tucker within the Windy Metropolis. On the similar time, Tucker will doubtless have a dozen, if no more, groups making an attempt to lock him down on a long-term deal. Listed below are three most closely fits for Tucker ought to he depart Chicago.

Kyle Tucker posted 4.6 wins above substitute in 136 video games final season, (Picture by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Photos)

Cleveland wants energy wherever it could get it, and Tucker could be a considerable pickup for its sake.

In the mean time, the Guardians' outfield rotation is uneven. Steven Kwan is a gentle, Gold Glover in left area, however Lane Thomas is a free agent; Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry are coming off injury-plagued seasons; Angel Martinez has had his moments however nonetheless hit simply .224 final season. Tucker would offer Cleveland with its new on a regular basis proper fielder, doubtless shifting former first-rounder Chase DeLauter to heart area when he is a full-time member of the Guardians' roster.

With the bat, Tucker would add an elite hitter to an offense that was final in MLB in hits (1,199), twenty ninth in on-base proportion (.296), tied for twenty eighth in slugging proportion (.373) and twenty eighth outright in runs (643) final season. Furthermore, Tucker would give supervisor Stephen Vogt someone who can do main harm in his lineup exterior of Jose Ramirez. Tucker's a confirmed, well-rounded hitter with respected plate self-discipline who's battle-tested in postseason play. He is exactly what Cleveland wants.

The hindrance in Cleveland's means of probably signing Tucker? The Guardians, who've been within the bottom-third of MLB in payroll in every of the final 5 years, have by no means dished out a nine-figure contract that begins with the No. 2, with a five-year, $124 million extension given to the beforehand talked about Ramirez in 2022 being the most important whole contract in franchise historical past.

Kyle Tucker gained a Gold Glove in 2022. (Picture by Michael Reaves/Getty Photos)

A staff that is been greater than prepared to throw nine-figure contracts at gamers? The Rangers – e.g. Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom and Marcus Semien – who would profit enormously from Tucker's theoretical arrival.

The Rangers' offense wants assist throughout the board, as they have been twenty sixth in slugging proportion (.381), twenty fourth in hits (1,275) and twenty second in runs (684) final season. Left fielder Wyatt Langford is coming into his personal, however Adolis Garcia's offensive manufacturing has dipped over the previous two years, and Texas acquired scattered manufacturing from its outfield rotation in 2025.

Tucker would offer a component of stability and arguably give new supervisor Skip Schumaker his new greatest all-around participant. deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Jack Leiter, amongst others, headlined a Texas beginning rotation that posted one of the best ERA in baseball final season (3.41). With a mere mid-level offensive assault, the Rangers can take care of the Seattle Mariners and Astros for the American League West.

Now, Tucker's arrival would doubtless imply that Garcia must transfer from proper area to heart area, however the latter has 130 MLB begins on the place below his belt and the chance so as to add a confirmed hitter of Tucker's caliber is troublesome for Texas to move up on.

Tucker may carry Texas again into playoff competition. There's only a staff that is extra determined than the Rangers.

Kyle Tucker has been an All-Star in every of the previous 4 seasons. (Picture by Ezra Shaw/Getty Photos)

On June 15, the Giants acquired star third baseman Rafael Devers from the Boston Pink Sox. Six weeks later, they have been sellers on the MLB commerce deadline. In different phrases, San Francisco has flip-flopped on a dime of late, nevertheless it has proven extra willingness to function as a contender than a rebuilding staff, additionally exemplified by giving Willy Adames a $182 million contract final offseason. Tucker must be the subsequent main addition to the Giants' depth chart.

Exterior of Heliot Ramos, who has turn out to be one of many faces of San Francisco's operation, the Giants' outfield is severely missing in manufacturing. Tucker would take over in proper area, with Ramos in left, Jung Hoo Lee in heart and Drew Gilbert, a 2022 first-round choose who was acquired as a part of San Francisco's return from the New York Mets for reliever Tyler Rogers, because the staff's fourth outfielder.

Throw Tucker in a lineup that features Devers, Adames and Matt Chapman and the Giants have one thing cooking within the batter's field. They've already gone down the rabbit gap of constructing substantial investments within the aforementioned hitters; they could as nicely preserve going.

On that notice, the Giants' division, the NL West, consists of the back-to-back World Collection-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, a perennial playoff contender within the San Diego Padres and the aggressive Arizona Diamondbacks; San Francisco is nearer in expertise to these groups than the Colorado Rockies, who gained simply 43 video games in 2025, and including Tucker would make it cheap to put playoff expectations on the Giants in 2026.

The Giants want the star bat, and Tucker presumably needs the bag. It is a match.

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