One season and 22 home runs later, the Chicago Cubs must decide if Kyle Tucker is worth the investment. President Jed Hoyer needs to decide if he wants to invest in the four-time All-Star for the long term, even though he had trouble getting into a rhythm at Wrigley Field. If not, he might see another contender’s lineup get back on track.

Hoyer finally discussed Tucker’s future in a way that was honest and conveyed both hope and reality. “I do think when we were at our best, Kyle Tucker was at best and vice versa,” Hoyer mentioned. “There’s no question he had an enormous impact on his team. Obviously, he had dealt with some injuries and struggled a bit in the second half. But I think when…we take the totality of the season, he had a huge impact as we hoped he would.”

Even though injuries limited Tucker’s production in the second half of the season, his impact on the Cubs this year cannot be overstated. He hit .266/.377/.464 with 73 RBIs after coming over from Houston, which earned him his fourth All-Star selection. His ability to get on base and his experience made the Cubs’ lineup much better. However, the injuries raised questions about how long he could last before signing what will likely be the biggest contract of his career.

But Hoyer has indicated that the Cubs will pursue Tucker in free agency. “Everyone can use a guy like Kyle Tucker, or everyone gets better by having a player like that, and we’ll certainly be having those conversations.”

And the Cubs Prez even pointed out that it would be hard to find a replacement for Tucker if talks break down.

“Clearly, Kyle had a huge impact on our offense this year, and so if he’s not here, then that’s a void and we have to figure out how to replace that,” Hoyer explained. “There’s no question that if you don’t retain a player of his caliber, then you have to replace those wins, and you know that war in some other ways.” He emphasized that multiple paths exist to fill such a void, though he declined to specify which direction the front office might pursue.

Meanwhile, the Yankees make Chicago’s plans a lot harder.

Brian Cashman, the general manager of the New York Yankees, has to decide whether to re-sign Cody Bellinger, who had a great season in the Bronx with a .272/.334/.480 line and 29 home runs, or go after Tucker with a lot of money. Reports say that Bellinger is still the most likely target for the Yankees, but Tucker’s availability could change that quickly.

“The Yankees do not currently employ anyone who can take the mantle from Judge when he’s no longer at the top of the sport. That’s why they need to seriously pursue the 28-year-old outfielder Kyle Tucker… Yes, Cody Bellinger had a fantastic season for the Yankees, but Tucker is the better player and the bigger offensive threat. Also, there may not be any true star offensive talents who become free agents in the next few years, until Gunnar Henderson in 2029,” shared The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report highlighted Henderson as the best player under 25 on the Orioles. In 154 games, he slashed .274/.349/.438 with 17 home runs, 34 doubles, and 30 stolen bases. The doubles and stolen bases were his career high, too. While he has had better 2023 and 2024 seasons, Gunnar Henderson will surely be a center of attraction in the coming years.

But until then, Chicago wants to keep Tucker, and New York is weighing its options. Meanwhile, another team has quietly made itself a serious contender.

Tucker’s Chicago struggles open the door for San Francisco

Tucker’s problems at Wrigley Field have already added an interesting chapter to this story, whether he comes back to the Chicago Cubs or not. The Cubs gave up a lot to get him, hoping to win a championship, and the early results were great. Tucker was on track to be the MVP, but a hand injury ended both his season and Chicago’s faith in giving him a long-term deal. But because he is a four-time All-Star, he is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents this winter, even if Wrigley’s style didn’t work for him.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report thinks that Tucker will probably end up in San Francisco. This is a strong prediction because Buster Posey is aggressively rebuilding the team.

Since taking over, the Giants’ president has made big moves, like signing Matt Chapman to a long-term deal, bringing Willy Adames on board with a lot of money, and trading for Rafael Devers. Posey wants results right away, as shown by his willingness to change managers after a season that didn’t meet his expectations.

Tucker hit 134 home runs between 2021 and 2024, when he had to cut his season short because of an injury. Last year, he hit 23 home runs in just 78 games. His home-road splits show Wrigley’s toll: At home, he has a pedestrian .236/.353/.395 line while away, he has a .292/.399/.524 line, with 15 of his 22 homers this season coming on the road.

Oracle Park has its own issues with power, but San Francisco really needs the kind of talent they could not find in recent winters. Their roster now has real star power. And Tucker could be the last piece that turns them from fakes into genuine contenders.