CHICAGO — A new chapter of turmoil has just opened at Wrigley Field. Kyle Tucker — the star who was expected to become the “anchor” of the Chicago Cubs in a new era — has officially agreed to leave the team, after Cubs management refused to meet his contract demands of more than $500 million.
It was a shocking end to a dramatic season. Brought in from the Houston Astros in a blockbuster trade last December, Tucker quickly became the spirit of the team, finishing the 2025 season with a .271/.384/.474 line, 29 home runs, and 23 stolen bases, helping the Cubs reach the Wild Card round—before a painful ALDS exit.
But that halo wasn’t enough to soften the cold hearts of Chicago executives. When Tucker and his agent offered a 12-year, $498 million contract, the Cubs turned it down. “They respected Tucker, but they couldn’t pay that amount with the team’s pitching issues and bloated payroll,” a source close to the situation said.
While fans dreamed of a Juan Soto-style anchor, the Cubs front office took a different path—focusing on youth, especially rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong. “Chicago still wants to compete, but not at any cost,” the source added.
As for Tucker, he has remained calm. In a brief statement, the 28-year-old star said: “Thank you for the journey. Now it’s time to move on to the next chapter.” It was a quiet farewell, but behind it was a seismic event that could shake up the MLB free agency market.
According to multiple sources, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have immediately entered the fray, ready to make “unbelievable” offers to get Tucker’s signature. If the deal goes through, Tucker could become one of the biggest contracts in MLB history — far surpassing the record set by Shohei Ohtani.
As Wrigley Field slowly fell silent after an October rain, the Kyle Tucker story concluded as a modern baseball tragedy: a shining star, a team steadfast in its frugal philosophy, and a future unfolding… elsewhere, maybe Los Angeles, maybe the Bronx. But certainly not Chicago.
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