Cubs star pegged for $500,000,000 free agency windfall, per MLB insider

Newly minted Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker has already encountered his first challenge with his new team. Tucker was acquired by the Cubs in a trade with the Houston Astros, with Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith and Hayden Wesneski going the other way. However, the two parties have yet to agree on a salary for 2025.

On the latest episode of "The Baseball Insiders" podcast, MLB insiders Robert Murray and Adam Weinrib discussed the implications of Tucker and the team’s discord over salary and what it means for the outfielder’s future value.

"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. (6:39 onwards)

Murray pegged Kyle Tucker's value at $500 million when his short-term deal with the Cubs expires.

The 27-year-old made his debut for the juggernaut Astros in 2018 and has generated an fWAR of 23 during his time there. He has hit 125 home runs and driven in 417 RBIs while batting .274/.353/.516 with an OPS of .870.

Trouble in paradise for the Cubs and Kyle Tucker

At the time of writing, the Cubs and three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker have yet to agree on a salary for the 2025 campaign. Tucker’s camp demanded $17.5 million, while the front office’s offer was set at $15 million. If the two sides cannot agree on a salary before the deadline, they will head to arbitration.

Murray and Weinrib further discussed the matter on the episode and voiced concern about how the disagreement is a bad look for the NL Central club.

"It shouldn't be a huge level of concern right now. But this could have long term ramifications for Tucker and the Cubs because there was a chance that he was going to sign an extension before free agency," Murray said.

"He's going to cash in when he hits free agency and with the amount that Chicago gave up to acquire him, they should be heavily involved when that happens."

Weinrib followed up by saying that arbitration hearings are among the messiest things that a player and a team can be embroiled in.

"Arbitration hearings are one of the most unsung things that can fracture a relationship between a player and a team. The Dellin Betances arbitration hearing comes to mind as being one of the most legendary (for infamous reasons)," Weinrib said.

Tucker's contract will expire in 2026, and with the relative talent and youth that he brings to the table, it would be hard to imagine that he won’t land a big-money deal at the end of next season.