The Chicago Cubs are on track to snap their four-year postseason drought, currently holding the top spot in the National League Wild Card race with only a few weeks left in the season.
If they do return to October, several key contributors will deserve credit. Cade Horton, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Matt Shaw have each made big developmental strides, while Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki have delivered strong campaigns. Still, no player has been more impactful than Kyle Tucker, despite a midseason slump.
Acquired in a surprising offseason trade from the Houston Astros, Tucker has paced the Cubs in runs scored, on-base percentage, and OPS. However, his stay in Chicago may be brief, as he’s set to hit free agency this winter.
Tucker projects to be the most sought-after player on the market, with contenders across baseball expected to pursue him. One unexpected suitor could be the Cubs’ crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox, who are entering a new ownership era.
In June, the White Sox announced that billionaire investor Justin Ishbia had reached a framework to eventually become the franchise’s controlling owner, beginning with capital investments this year and next.
That shift could open the door to aggressive spending, potentially even on a deal worth up to \$450 million. While prying Tucker away from the Cubs remains unlikely, MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes noted that such a move is “still more likely than it’s been in a long time.”
Historically, the White Sox have not been major players in free agency despite being in a large market and having won a World Series just 20 years ago. But with new ownership coming in and Tucker starring across town, this winter could present a rare opportunity for them to make a bold splash.
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