Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Is Kyle Tucker Signing an Extension with the Cubs?

After Vladdy, will Kyle Tucker follow suit?

Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

After trading for All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker this past offseason, the Chicago Cubs appear to be moving quickly to secure his long-term future with the organization. According to MLB insider Mike Rodriguez, extension discussions are already underway between Kyle Tucker and the Cubs, potentially preventing him from hitting the lucrative free agent market after the 2026 season.

According to my sources, the #Cubs and #KyleTucker are already discussing a possible contract extension. Let's see what happens with that! #Cubs #Chicago pic.twitter.com/iVO4TZ2xcq
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) April 11, 2025

Will Kyle Tucker Sign an Extension With the Chicago Cubs?

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recently signing a massive 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, all eyes now turn to Tucker as potentially the next superstar to cash in. Spotrac projects his open market value at approximately 12 years and $533 million, making him one of baseball’s most valuable pending free agents.

The Cubs’ aggressive move to acquire Tucker demonstrated their win-now mentality, but securing him long-term would transform a one-year rental into a franchise cornerstone. While the talented outfielder has remained mostly tight-lipped about extension discussions, his hot start with Chicago certainly strengthens his negotiating position.

Tucker has been diplomatic when discussing his future, stating he’s “just here to play baseball” while acknowledging the positive experience he’s had with the organization so far.

“It’s been great ever since I’ve been over here. Everyone’s been super nice and helpful and everything. The hospitality’s been great and obviously, you guys can walk around this facility, it’s really nice,” Tucker told reporters.

When asked about Guerrero’s recent extension, Tucker expressed support while maintaining his individual perspective: “It’s what he wanted to do. I’m sure he loves playing in Toronto and everything, so that’s great for him. But everyone’s a little different.”

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has strategically avoided direct comments about extension talks, though he hasn’t hidden his admiration for the player they acquired.

“He’s a great player, that’s why we traded for him,” Hoyer said. “Clearly he’s the kind of player you want to build a lineup around, build a team around. I think any conversations we have with him, we’ll keep internal.”

Even manager Craig Counsell inadvertently hinted at the team’s long-term hopes, joking about Tucker’s status for next year’s Spring Training before quickly walking back his comments with a laugh.

ALSO READ: Three Major Extensions in One Day – Is There a Bigger MLB Lockout Story Behind It?

As MLB continues experiencing a wave of extensions possibly connected to concerns about an impending lockout after the 2026 season, Cubs fans can only hope Rodriguez’s reporting signals the beginning of a long relationship between Tucker and the North Side.

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Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.