When “King Tuck” arrived on Chicago’s North Side, a jolt of electricity hit Wrigleyville. A blockbuster December 2024 trade with the Houston Astros brought outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. It felt like more than the transaction of a roster move. The Cubs traded away quality players and a top prospect to Houston for one of the great talents in baseball.

Before Tucker ended up as a Cub, another major-market team made a serious push to get him. The New York Yankees, reeling from losing Juan Soto, eyed Tucker to fill their outfield void. The asking price from Houston was steep, with the team specifically asking for its top pitching prospect, Luis Gil. Yankees refused to include Gil in the package. This froze negotiations between the Yankees and Astros, and allowed other teams to swoop in. Seizing the moment, the Chicago Cubs stepped up. They proposed infielder Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith to the Astros. And for cubs losing Tucker after giving up so much would be a strategic failure.

But are the Cubs actively trying to keep their new star long-term? According to veteran baseball insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cubs and Tucker aren’t talking just yet. Heyman reported that the situation lacks immediate movement. He said, “There’s no indication the Cubs are discussing a potential extension yet with superstar OF Kyle Tucker, but word is they may well talk this summer.”

Heyman believes that star players don’t often give up their chance at free agency. He believes Kyle Tucker will want to explore the open market after the 2025 season. Just look at recent history for evidence. Vladimir Guerrero Jr signed a giant $500 million extension. Juan Soto signed a $765 million, record-setting deal after becoming a free agent. “The obvious comp is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500M deal,” Heyman quoted. The Cubs’ largest contracts, such as Dansby Swanson’s $177 million, seem small compared with these figures.

Will ownership open the vault for Kyle Tucker?

But sometimes, teams make the hard decisions, even with a fan favorite. Recently, the Cubs demonstrated a willingness to make strategic moves away from key bats. Take, for example, the case of Cody Bellinger. He renegotiated a contract with player opt-outs to return to the Cubs in the 2023 season, putting together a strong year. Bellinger posted decent numbers in 2024, hitting. 266 with 18 home runs. Despite his performance and return for 2025, the Cubs traded him to the Yankees in December 2024. This showed the Cubs aren’t afraid to move on even with a major piece, and seems to directly contradict the perception that they have to sign Tucker.

But inside the Cubs, the signals are that the organization does want to retain its star. President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer said, “We hope to have those talks with Tucker ‘down the line.'” General Manager Carter Hawkins echoed this sentiment: “You don’t trade for Kyle Tucker if you don’t feel like you have a really strong team going into that year.” And Tucker himself hasn’t shut the door on the possibility. He stated, “I’m always open to that… Always open to talks or negotiations and just kinda seeing where that leads.”

And words aren’t enough. Tucker’s performance said louder than his words since he arrived. As of April 18, Tucker had a .301 batting average, 19 RBIs, and five home runs. His impressive. His .988 OPS was among the league leaders. Tucker has reached base in 17 consecutive games, showing remarkable consistency. His red-hot start boosts him further toward elite status, making him more valuable — and his potential price tag more expensive.

But at the end, this saga comes down to dollars and sense, primarily dollars. The Cubs have real financial muscle. The team is worth about $4.6 billion. Their projected 2025 payroll is below the luxury tax line, giving them some flexibility. And as of now, Tucker’s deal can easily exceed $500 million anytime, joining the stratosphere of Soto and Guerrero Jr. So the question remains: Can Cubs ownership really afford, and are they ready, to pay the price needed to keep Kyle Tucker?