The Chicago Cubs know they have plenty of work ahead after falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series. Even though they were one of three teams from the NL Central to make the playoffs, the gap between Chicago and Milwaukee remains significant. As the Cubs prepare for next season, addressing several key areas will be critical—especially their bullpen.
One of the main priorities this offseason will be restocking the relief corps. With nearly all of their high-leverage relievers set to hit free agency (Daniel Palencia being the lone exception), the Cubs are expected to be active in both free agency and trade talks. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, Chicago may add multiple relievers but could pay a price in another area.
Bowden believes the Cubs will shy away from pursuing superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker, instead relying on their current group of young outfielders. “They are not expected to be heavy players for right fielder Kyle Tucker and seem comfortable going forward with Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki and Owen Caissie in their outfield,” he wrote.
Suzuki earned an extended look in right field during the playoffs after Tucker suffered an injury, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell was impressed by what he saw. Granted, it came in a small sample size, but Suzuki did enough to earn the coaching staff’s trust moving forward. Had Tucker remained healthy, the outfield picture might look very different today.
If Chicago truly passes on Tucker, it would mark his third team in as many seasons. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are expected to be in the mix for his services, while the Cubs refocus their spending on pitching. Management acknowledges that walking away from Tucker could be costly, but rebuilding a high-end bullpen is their top priority.
Ultimately, unless the Cubs decide to challenge the Dodgers or Yankees with a record payroll, they’re unlikely to land both premium pitching help and a splashy outfield addition this winter.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/cubs-reportedly-out-of-kyle-tucker-sweepstakes-11000699
