The Cubs Need To Trade For Kyle Tucker If They’re Serious About Winning

Eight years removed from their 2016 World Series championship, the Chicago Cubs haven't been big spenders when it comes to acquiring players. Despite being a big market team, they have opted to search for bargain deals rather than hand out large contracts to the league’s elite stars. They pursued star free agents like Bryce Harper and Shohei Ohtani, but didn't want to spend the necessary money to land them. The team had the chance to acquire Justin Verlander at the 2017 trade deadline but opted to trade for second-tier pitcher Jose Quintana instead. Minus the large deals handed out to Yu Darvish and Dansby Swanson, the team doesn't spend big post-2016.

The Cubs began a rebuild in 2021 by trading core members of the 2016 team for prospects. Now, the team has eight top-100 prospects and coming off back to back 83-win seasons, missing the playoffs in both. Cub fans like myself are frustrated with President of Baseball Ops Jed Hoyer for not signing elite talent despite their market size and current gold mine of prospects. The team should be on the cusp of contending for another World Series title but the front office is doing nothing to capitalize on this window.

Recently, however, things have changed. The Cubs were one of four teams mentioned when it comes to possibly trading for Houston Astros star outfielder Kyle Tucker. This trade would significantly move the needle when it comes to the Cubs’ playoff chances in 2025, and I see this as the last opportunity for them to show fans that they are serious about contending for another championship.

Jed Hoyer Needs To Step Up Or Ship Out

Hoyer, a Theo Epstein protégé, is currently on an expiring contract. I find it notable that he did not get an extension when the team hired manager Craig Counsell last offseason. Some insiders have said that this offseason could determine Hoyer’s fate as the Cubs POBO.

Hoyer has been known for what he calls “intelligent spending,” aka a reluctance to spend big. Outside of the Swanson deal, Hoyer’s big signings are the likes of Marcus Stroman, Cody Bellinger, and Shota Imanaga, all second tier free agents. None of their contracts exceeded four years or $80 million.

A possible Tucker trade could save Hoyer’s job. It would prove to the fans, Counsell, but more importantly the Ricketts family that he is actually serious about contending, rather than just being average. If this trade isn't made, I don't see Hoyer remaining with the Cubs after this season.

The Cubs Have The Prospects And Players To Do It

There's no question that the Cubs’ list of elite prospects would take a hit with a Tucker trade. The Astros are prioritizing corner infielders and pitching, with the Cubs having plenty of the former. Infielder Matt Shaw, first baseman Moises Ballesteros, and third baseman Cam Smith would fit what Houston is looking for. Pitching prospect Cade Horton would be another possible trade piece, should the Cubs decide to move on.

Sources have said that as of right now, a Kyle Tucker-Cubs trade would start with the Cubs giving up two major league players in right fielder Seiya Suzuki and third baseman Isaac Paredes. Suzuki would be an ideal Tucker replacement and Paredes could be a possible replacement for current free agent third baseman Alex Bregman should he decide to leave Houston. Bellinger could also be a trade piece, as the team is looking to move on from him, but it remains to be seen if he'll be thrown in this deal or traded separately.

If I ran the Cubs, there are four players I'd make untouchable in this trade: center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, pitchers Justin Steele and Imanaga, and first baseman Michael Busch. Everyone else is on the table.

Past Aggressiveness Won The Cubs Their Championship

A big reason why the Cubs won their first championship in 108 years was because they were aggressive in making big roster moves. In the 2014 offseason, they hired two-time Manager of the Year Joe Maddon to be their new skipper, despite already having first-year manager Rick Renteria on their staff. A few weeks later, they signed All-Star pitcher Jon Lester to a six year deal worth $155 million. The following offseason, they added the likes of outfielder Jason Heyward, utility player Ben Zobrist, and veteran pitcher John Lackey. Finally, at the 2016 trade deadline, they acquired relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman. All of these moves proved to be instrumental in building the championship team, and these moves were made because the Cubs were aggressive and spending big, something they need to start doing again. If you look around the sports world, it's clear that aggressiveness wins. The Dodgers and Mets, who play in the NL along with the Cubs, are clear examples of that. The Cubs need to take a page or two out of their books, because they won't be winning championships soon if they refuse to match their aggressiveness and willingness to spend.

A Kyle Tucker trade would be aggressive. It may require sacrificing some of those precious prospects, but it would open the team’s championship window again. It would also require the team spending a pretty penny to sign Tucker to a long-term contract, as he is on an expiring deal. Players like the caliber of Tucker don't come available for trade often, and the Cubs need to capitalize on that if they want to start winning again. Counsell has said in the past that the Cubs want to build 90-win teams, and this would be a step in the right direction.

Ultimately, if I ran the Cubs, my final trade proposal to the Astros would be Suzuki, Paredes, Ballesteros, outfielder Kevin Alcantara, and left handed pitcher Jordan Wicks for Tucker and potentially another player.

Serafino Diaz is a writer at Chaotically Intolerant, Phoenix's finest Vikings, Bucks, and Cubs fan, traveling everywhere I can.