If you think of the 2022 ALCS run Houston had, fair chance you will remember Section 153 in the Minute Maid Park sparkling in gold. Season ticket holders Amber Stoltz with her then-fiancé John Hill and friend Stephanie Concialdi and her husband Eddie found a unique way to show their support to their favorite rising outfielder Kyle Tucker who was nicknamed “King Tuck” by his growing fanbase in Houston. Although no one knew if he even saw what was going on in the section right behind him, his fans clearly wanted him to know the place he held in Astros’ hearts, especially after his major role in the 2022 World Series win along with Ryan Pressly. 

Then, Tucker had consecutive home runs in his couple of at-bats while facing Aaron Nola in Game-1. Pressly, the Astros’ closer, finished the game without giving up any hit and only one walk in the ninth, helping the Astros bounce back from a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. They won three straight games, which ultimately resulted in a 4-1 victory in game six, giving them their second World Series title since 2017. So, while the two were traded to the Chicago Cubs after unmatched contract demands back in December, the city never truly stopped loving either of them. Now, they will get yet another tribute as per the former sports director of Fox 26, Mark Berman:

Berman tweeted the update, “The Astros announced before Friday’s game against the Cubs the Astros will welcome back 2022 World Series Champions Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly in a special pregame tribute.”

The last time the Astros won the World Series, they honored the players with the World Series rings that tell the history of the 2022 season. But this time, the Astros want to give them a pre-game tribute, maybe something even more special.

There’s no official statement from the clubhouse yet about what they are planning for Tucker and Pressly. But yes, Astros wants to make the occasion memorable. Who knows? Perhaps they will receive an audio tribute or even a presentation that highlights the victory and their respective performances. 

If you remember, Tucker breathed fire in game one of the outings against the Phillies. He blasted off two home runs and collected four RBIs as well. He even had a batting average of .239 in the 17 World Series games, recording 11 hits, two home runs, five RBIs, and eight runs scored. In a 3-2 victory over the Phillies, Ryan Pressly finished with five outs, joining him as one of the team’s best pitchers.

But in 2024, the Astros finally cut ties with both of them. Under Jim Crane, the Astros never offered more than $151 million or a contract longer than six years. They could have kept Tucker, who might have played this season with them; however, he was traded instead to the Cubs in exchange for Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski, and Isaac Paredes after seven seasons with the Astros and a .274 average. On the other hand, the primary reason for Pressly’s departure was their need for some financial stability. They wanted to go for Alex Bregman, who ultimately went to the Red Sox.

However, the Cubs fans are enjoying every bit of their services on the ground. In addition to his 3.1 fWAR, Tucker’s versatility with the bat, glove, and legs increased his strength. Tucker’s swing of the bat with his left hand delivered great power and consistency. Naturally, it gave the Cubs the ability to score runs against their opponents in a more comprehensive manner, which was something they lacked in previous seasons.

By staying healthy and fit, he maintained a high level of performance and fueled a bidding war between the teams vying for his services.

Kyle Tucker is aiming for a massive trade, but the Cubs are against it

Shortly after leaving the Astros, where he spent so many years, Kyle Tucker made a statement. “I appreciate everything that the Houston Astros team and the city itself has done for me and my family since I got drafted in ’15 until now.” According to GM Dana Brown, the Astros traded Tucker in an attempt to maintain their team’s strength over the long term. On the inside, though, Tucker didn’t find the earlier talks with the Astros to be fruitful.

In a lost arbitration case, Tucker wanted a $7.5 million salary for 2023, which was denied by the Astros, who offered him $5 million. He was also looking for a long-term contract, but the Astros were against it, as it goes against their tradition. “I understand the avoidance of long-term deals, and I respect that. A lot of those long-term deals, they don’t end well,” the general manager stated. And the disappointment was quite obvious for Tucker.

The 28-year-old believed there was a difference between how a player is perceived and the value associated with that player, even though he performed admirably for the Astros. The hardest part was having to listen to the Astros’ pointers, even though he did his best to keep the fans happy. This somehow had a detrimental effect on the compensation.

No wonder the negotiations finally didn’t work, and he was traded to the Cubs in 2024. Shortly after joining the Cubs, he said, “And I don’t think I could have gone to a much better organization than the Cubs. So, I’m excited to start playing in front of the fans and in the city and everything else.” And guess what, Tucker has been doing great for the Cubs.

However, there’s a dark shadow looming in the Cubs’ clubhouse. With Kyle Tucker about to enter free agency, the Cubs now face a huge decision to make after their bold move in the offseason in the hopes that the outfielder would be a long-term addition. With his absence, there might be a major gap in their left field. Very likely, they will try to keep him without letting him go into the free agency. But several franchises are already eyeing him for quite some time.

In a market where players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto fetched humongous deals, it’s likely that Kyle Tucker will also get someone to agree to his demands. With age on his side and a postseason success already etched in his resume, he may perhaps command a deal above $500 million, an amount mostly reserved for the generational talents.

Do you believe the Red Sox and Giants have the upper hand or that Kyle Tucker will return to the Cubs?