“The deal is creative.” Given all the benefits that Vladdy will be receiving from his contract extension with the Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs are now facing heat! The pressure is mounting on them surrounding a contract extension for Kyle Tucker. And amidst all these, speculations are going on around paychecks for both – can Tucker outgrow Vlad Jr.’s deal?
Several MLB agents are making their predictions, while complimenting the structure of Guerrero’s deal that will allow him to get money even during a lockout.
But, according to these predictions, some insiders think that Kyle Tucker’s valuation will be more than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million contract. One agent pointed out, “Kyle Tucker’s value just increased and he should thank Vlad Jr. He’s not going backwards. That’s your target area. Maybe he doesn’t get that, but that’s on the board.”
If this doesn’t happen, the Cubs’ ability to spend money might be questionable, considering that Tucker will be the number one free agent in the upcoming offseason. “It’s now Kyle Tucker and then your next best hitter is Bo Bichette,” while one agent talks about Tucker’s excellence, another clearly paints the picture of what the Cubs are facing: “They have to” (sign Tucker to the biggest contract in franchise history).
Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs from the Houston Astros last offseason. His 2024 season was top-notch with a batting average of .289, a .408 OBP, and a .993 OPS. But that was just a glimpse of what he can do.
Tucker has been performing consistently in 2025—posting 5 home runs and 18 RBIs—with an average of .307, a .429 OBP, and a 1.042 OPS.
It’s true, given the way Tucker is performing, if the Cubs fail to extend his contract, he might fetch a massive amount in free agency. And from an agent’s perspective, Vladdy Jr.’s contract extension has transformed the way players get paid. The widening pay gap between players can be an eye-opener for the Cubs.
But while a huge part of MLB considers Tucker as the “best hitter in the game,” whether he will cross Vladdy’s amount or not – that’s still questionable.
And amid all this chatter, Kyle Tucker has opened up about the contract situation.
Kyle Tucker’s honest admission on the contract extension
“I’m sure he loves playing in Toronto and everything. So that’s great for him. But everyone’s a little different,” Tucker shared, highlighting how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wants to stay with the Blue Jays for a long time. He added, “Right now, I’m here to play this year and play for the Cubs. So I’m excited to get out there and play and just kind of see where everything goes after that.”
So, for him, it’s all about doing his best for the team, and results will come automatically.
In the wake of Vladdy Jr.’s extension, Kyle Tucker’s statement seems unbiased and true to some extent. Currently, he is one of the top five hitters in MLB, and he has done it exceptionally well for the Cubs.
However, the main problem is that the Chicago Cubs never paid for a contract above $184 million. It was way back in 2016 when they offered the same to Jason Heyward. But now, they might be uncomfortable with that kind of spending on Tucker.
No matter what, if they decide to invest in Kyle Tucker, he would definitely be a great bet for Chicago. And if not, his free agency would surely see teams putting the best offers on the table. Do you have any predictions regarding the whole Kyle Tucker saga? Share them with us.
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