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<\/p>\nMILWAUKEE \u2014 Kyle Tucker isn\u2019t the type to emote for the TV cameras or wax poetic about the romanticism of Chicago Cubs baseball. That consistent personality and sense of detachment helped him develop into one of the sport\u2019s best hitters. About 45 minutes after a brutal season-ending loss also isn\u2019t the ideal time to assess your options as a free agent.<\/p>\n
Still, the questions had to be asked. One way or another, the answers would be revealing.<\/p>\n
Inside American Family Field\u2019s quiet visiting clubhouse late Saturday night, the celebration out on the field could be heard. The Milwaukee Brewers advanced to the National League Championship Series and trolled the Cubs in their team picture, posing with an \u201cL\u201d flag.<\/p>\n
In Tucker\u2019s potentially one-and-done season on the North Side, the Cubs honored that postgame Wrigley Field tradition, more often flying the \u201cW\u201d flag atop the iconic center-field scoreboard to signify a win.<\/p>\n
Jed Hoyer\u2019s front office acquired the All-Star outfielder in a blockbuster deal with the Houston Astros for this very purpose: Tucker did his part in helping the Cubs earn their first playoff appearance in five years and win their first postseason round since 2017.<\/p>\n
Tucker\u2019s prolonged second-half slump and combination of injuries also created an opening for the Brewers to run away in the NL Central race, giving them the division title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the decisive Game 5 of the Division Series.<\/p>\n
After that 3-1 defeat, Tucker stood at his locker for a media scrum that lasted five-plus minutes. He shrugged his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see what happens,\u201d Tucker said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the future\u2019s going to hold. But if not, it was an honor playing with all these guys. And I wish everyone the best of luck, whether it\u2019s playing (together) next year or not. It\u2019s a really fun group to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tucker\u2019s body language and low-key answers don\u2019t need to be interpreted as much as we look at his season as a whole and state the obvious.<\/p>\n
In the first half, Tucker performed at an MVP level that would command an astronomical sum on the open market, the kind of megadeal the Cubs have consistently avoided in terms of extended years and maximum dollars.<\/p>\n
In the second half, Tucker underperformed to the point where he resembled one of those discount free agents the Cubs like to target for bounce-back years on short-term contracts.<\/p>\n
The biggest deals for free agents are often driven at the ownership level, and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts gives Hoyer, the team president, and general manager Carter Hawkins wide latitude to make baseball decisions.<\/p>\n
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\n Will Cubs owner Tom Ricketts approve a megadeal for Kyle Tucker? (Michael Reaves \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Those Cubs executives never planned to overpay Tucker to justify the high price they paid to acquire him from the Astros \u2014 potentially 14 years of club control over outfielder Cam Smith, infielder Isaac Paredes and pitcher Hayden Wesneski. Tucker\u2019s free agency would represent a separate negotiation.<\/p>\n
At this stage, the pressure and momentum to get a deal done don\u2019t seem to be there. The Tampa Bay Rays have already been identified as a possible fit<\/a>, given the new ownership group in Tucker\u2019s hometown. It\u2019s also not a total coincidence the Cubs have minimal financial commitments to players after the 2026 season, when the baseball industry\u2019s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really know right now,\u201d Tucker said. \u201cI was more so worried about the game.\u201d<\/p>\n In Chicago\u2019s first three victories in elimination games this October, Tucker collected six hits and three walks and scored four runs, showing the dramatic difference he can make for this offense.<\/p>\n