Massive Contract Projection for Kyle Tucker Would Surpass One of MLB's Biggest Superstars

The Chicago Cubs threw their chips on the table this offseason, going all-in on 2025, trading for rising superstar Kyle Tucker, who will be a free agent after the season.

Will the Cubs be able to convince the exciting young outfielder to stay in the Windy City for the long term? Maybe the better question is, 'Will the Cubs be willing to pony up to make Tucker one of the top 3 or 4 paid players in the game?'

That's what it'll take, according to the projections from Tim Britton of The Athletic.

2025 extension projection: 11 years, $366 million
If Tucker had remained healthy last season and continued playing the way he did in the first half of the season, his best statistical comp would be… Juan Soto. Because of his age, Tucker wouldn’t have been able to get as long a deal as Soto, but he would have been able to make a case for a similar average annual value.

That 11-year, $366 million projection would see him surpass Aaron Judge ($360M) for the 3rd-highest total contract value in baseball history. Of course, that's pending what fellow free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gets on the open market next winter. He, for some reason, seems to think he's worth $500 million, which, to be frank, would be completely foolhardy for any team to sign up for.

For the record, Judge would still be earning more on AAV, on his nine-year deal. The only other two players to come in higher on total contract value are Soto ($765M) and Shohei Ohtani ($700M).

As for Tucker, the 28-year-old averaged 30 HR, 105 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in three seasons from 2021 through 23, but his 2024 was cut short due to injury, leaving him with 23 HR and 49 RBIs in just 78 games, with a career-best (and very Soto-like) .993 OPS and 181 OPS+.