The biggest move the Chicago Cubs made this offseason was acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. However, they welcomed him to the North Side by taking him to arbitration. The Cubs apparently couldn’t resolve a $2.5 million difference with the biggest star they’ve had in years. This was a bad move by the Cubs because Tucker is a free agent after this season. By taking Kyle Tucker to arbitration, the Cubs may have already blown their chance to have him back beyond this season.
The Cubs Made A Splash But It’s Risky
The Chicago Cubs made a splash during this offseason by trading with the Houston Astros for Kyle Tucker. In return for Tucker, Chicago gave up Isaac Parades, Hayden Wesneski, and top prospect Cam Smith. Not only did the Cubs give up a significant amount to acquire him, but Tucker is a free agent after this season. The 27-year-old will test the open market next offseason and be one of the top free agents available. Given that Tucker isn’t guaranteed to be in Chicago beyond this year, what the Cubs gave up in trading for him, and the fact the team is in a postseason drought; this makes trading for Tucker very risky.
Going To Arbitration Will Haunt The Cubs Next Offseason
Kyle Tucker has averaged a WAR of 5.3 in the last four seasons. This is higher than any player the Cubs have had in recent years. However, the team forgot about this when negotiating Tucker’s contract for the upcoming season. It was recently announced that Tucker and the Cubs couldn’t agree to a contract for the upcoming season. Reportedly, there was a $2.5 million difference between the two sides. This meant that Kyle Tucker and the Chicago Cubs were going to arbitration.
An arbitration hearing should’ve been the last thing the Cubs wanted to do. Tucker was supposedly the superstar that the North Siders desperately needed. Instead, the Cubs welcomed the four-time all-star to the North Side by questioning his value. Chicago is already under lots of pressure to break its postseason drought and convince Tucker to return after next season. The 27-year-old isn’t going to forget that the team took him to arbitration. It makes me question why Chicago even bothered making the trade. By going to arbitration, the Cubs have severely hindered their chances of bringing back Tucker beyond this season.
This Decision Might Come Back To Haunt The Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are only guaranteed one season of Kyle Tucker and gave up a lot to acquire the four-time all-star. However, given that the team took Tucker to arbitration, this is something that might come back to hurt the team next offseason. Decisions like this are why the Cubs are entrenched in mediocrity and have been in a postseason drought. Tucker will see free agency and there will be a team that values him more than Chicago has this offseason. If Kyle Tucker is a Cub for just this season, then Chicago can look back at the decision to take him to arbitration as a reason why he left.
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