When the Cubs landed Kyle Tucker, Jed Hoyer didn’t hold back. He flat-out called him “one of the best players in baseball, period.” Fast forward a few months into 2025, and Tucker isn’t just living up to the hype; he’s torching it. The guy’s on fire. But with free agency creeping closer, Hoyer’s recent remarks suggest the Cubs are gearing up for a serious battle to keep him, throwing a wrench in the Yankees’ dreams of seeing Tucker in pinstripes.
“King Tuck” wasted no time proving his worth, delivering highlight after highlight for the Cubbies early on. He dominated Oakland on March 31st with four hits, including a homer, in an 18-3 blowout. Tucker blasted the go-ahead two-run homer in a stunning 13-11 comeback win during a wild 16-run eighth inning against Arizona on April 18th. He remained hot the next day against the Diamondbacks, driving in a run early in a 6-2 win. Most recently, against the Dodgers on April 22nd, his clutch two-run blast in the eighth inning keyed another thrilling extra-inning Cubs win.
His incredible start prompted Jed Hoyer to publicly reaffirm the team’s position, shared via Cubs Zone. Hoyer stated, “Obviously, we’d love to keep Kyle long term, who wouldn’t want a player like that? I would keep any conversations we’re having internal. It’s hard to negotiate in-season. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with that … He’s really fun to watch… huge impact… player that any team would want.” This is no empty rhetoric, but rather a statement. Hoyer is laying down the Cubs’ “bold plan”: keep their superstar, setting up big challenges for rivals.
Jed Hoyer on Kyle Tucker:
“Obviously, we’d love to keep Kyle long term, who wouldn’t want a player like that? I would keep any conversations we’re having internal. It’s hard to negotiate in-season. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with that … He’s really fun to watch. I… pic.twitter.com/OXBGIkh2Q2
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) April 23, 2025
Recognizing the mountain ahead of him, Hoyer then highlighted Chicago’s unique appeal, referring to that electric Dodgers win. “The single best recruiting tool that the Cubs have is last night,” Hoyer explained. “It’s this is a really special place to play… My hope is Wrigley and Chicago become really special to him… he realizes there’s not a better place to play”. He acknowledged there will be “no shortage of suitors” for Tucker, clearly cognizant of the fact that teams such as the cash-rich Yankees might come calling. Hoyer is hoping the Wrigley magic might fill a potential financial gap.
Kyle Tucker’s torrid start: forcing a $300+ million question
The New York Yankees, of course, were closely involved in trying to trade for Tucker last offseason. They viewed his lefty power as a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium’s short porch. Luis Gil, the Yankees pitcher, was said to be in those talks. And so was the Yankees’ top infield prospect, George Lombard Jr. The Yankees ultimately balked at the Astros’ steep price for one year of Tucker. Failing to get him at that point, and they are already without Juan Soto; their involvement now would be a matter of interest in his upcoming free agency, putting Hoyer’s current stance as a direct factor in their future pursuit.
Tucker is every bit as good as the hype gets him and Hoyer’s praise. Through late April, he was batting .318 with a stellar .419 on-base percentage and a powerful .636 slugging percentage. His impact was felt in six home runs and a league-leading 21 runs scored. Other advanced stats told the same story: His OPS+ (198) and wRC+ (187), for example, signaled offensive production that dwarfed the league averages and cemented his status as one of baseball’s most elite performers this season.
His numbers measure up favorably compared with the highest-paid superstars in the game. Compare Tucker’s 2025 numbers (.320 AVG / 1.070 OPS / 25 RBI / 7 HR) to Juan Soto’s (.233 / .753 / 12 / 3 HR) or Aaron Judge’s (.415 / 1.247 / 26 / 7 HR). He’s right there with them, arguably exceeding some. This elite production is why contract projections are expected to reach numbers in the $300 million to possibly $600 million range. It drives the intense interest and makes keeping him such an incredible challenge.
Considering everything, it’s not overstating that his performance is forcing everyone’s hand. The real question now is, which team will ultimately be willing and able to pay the king’s ransom for Kyle Tucker’s prime years?
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