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Two years ago, it was the offseason of Shohei Ohtani. Last year, it was the offseason of Juan Soto. This year, it’s Kyle Tucker. More news: Cubs Officially Lose 10 Players to Free Agency CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 8: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs takes the field during player introductions prior to game three of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) The former Houston Astros outfielder who was traded to the Chicago Cubs last offseason is officially a free agent, and is getting ready for an all-out bidding war for his services. While Tucker had a bit of a down year in his lone season in Chicago, he’s still the undisputed best player on the market, and will be the big fish in what should be another exciting offseason. Tucker was once predicted to get a contract in the $500 million range. After his struggles, some pundits projected him in the $300 million range. However, The Athletic’s Tim Britton doesn’t expect this past season to impact his market much, if at all. More news: Dodgers World Series Hero Projected to Sign $7 Million Deal in Free Agency In his latest article projecting contracts for all the top players on the market, Britton had Tucker landing a historic contract. “Tucker stands to cash in thanks to two deals signed in the last 12 months: Juan Soto’s $765 million contract with the Mets and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays,” Britton wrote. “In Guerrero’s deal, you can see a kind of crude math: No, he’s not Soto, but his production was about two-thirds of Soto’s, and so the contract valued him at about two-thirds of Soto’s deal. In Tucker’s case, he’s been about 75 percent as valuable as Soto in the three and five years leading up to free agency. Seventy-five percent of Soto’s $51 million AAV would be just over $38 million per season. Spread that through Tucker’s age-40 season — the length Soto and Guerrero each secured — and you get a 12-year, $460 million deal.” A 12-year, $460 million deal would give Tucker the third-highest free-agent contract in MLB history behind Ohtani and Soto (Guerrero signed an extension). It would also pay him into his 40s, likely meaning he finishes his career wherever he signs. Tucker is coming off a 2025 season with the Cubs in which he slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and an OPS of .841. He has two career 30-homer campaigns and two 100-RBI seasons across his eight-year career. More news: Dodgers Owner Sends Warning to MLB at World Series Parade For all the latest MLB news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
