Cubs insider gets real about Kyle Tucker's $15,000,000 - $17,000,000 prospective salary as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. secures $28,000,000 for 2025

The Chicago Cubs made a smart deal in the offseason by trading for All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. However, with Spring Training looming, Tucker and the Cubs are at an impasse.

Although the Cubs are usually smart with their offseason moves and avoid arbitration hearings, they might be heading for one after a disagreement with Kyle Tucker on his salary for 2025 ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Cubs insider Sahadev Sharma and The Athletic's Patrick Mooney discussed the situation that has concerned Chicago fans. Sharma highlighted Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. avoiding arbitration by agreeing a $28.5 million salary for the 2025 season.

Sharma said (5:30 onwards):

"I was just thinking Kyle Tucker must not have been the Super Two guy or something and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. must have been a Super Two guy because Vlad Jr. is all the way up in $28 million and Kyle Tucker is only in the $15 to $17 million.

"Like that seems significantly less. Just in general, that's a steal, like whatever they settle at, whatever they sign him at. That's a steal for his production and so some of this stuff is just kind of silly. Like they like two and a half million matters in a sense, one million matters, um, and I think that's what irritates fans as well."

According to MLB.com, Kyle Tucker's camp proposed a $17.5 million salary for the 2025 season. However, the Cubs countered with a $15 million offer. While they failed to reach an agreement ahead of the deadline, a deal could be struck in the coming weeks, avoiding a hearing.

Kyle Tucker's free agency could see massive deal for the All-Star slugger, per MLB insider

Kyle Tucker had one year of club control left on his contract and is expected to hit free agency after the 2025 season unless he agrees an extension with the Cubs.

While Tucker and the Cubs are yet to agree on a salary, MLB insider Robert Murray made a bold prediction about the All-Star slugger's free agency.

"If he has a good year and stays healthy, I don't think $500 million is out of the question. He's one of the most underappreciated players in baseball," Murray said.

An extension with the Cubs isn't out of the question, but Murray feels the disagreement over Tucker's salary will make things difficult for the Cubs later this year.