For some time now, the Chicago Cubs have lacked a superstar and a face-of-the-franchise player. They have some nice pieces in perineal Cy Young candidates Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, with Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ as key cogs in the lineup.
The Cubs also have quite a few young stars, such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Moisés Ballesteros, who could look to contribute for the Cubs at some point this season.
With needing a superstar, the Cubs went out and made a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros to acquire outfielder Kyle Tucker to be that guy for them. With Cubs Con going on this weekend, Tucker made his first appearance in front of Cubs fans and shared some of his thoughts on the team and how he feels this season will go for the Cubs.
The Kyle Tucker acquisition was huge for the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs severely lacked thump in their lineup with being the 13th-ranked team in the MLB for slugging percentage (.393) and OPS (.710). Tucker for his career far surpasses the Cubs numbers for 2024, with his numbers for his career being superior with having a career slugging percentage and OPS of .516 and .870 with a career OPS+ of 139.
Having that level of power in the Cubs lineup to pair with Ian Happ who was the Cubs home run leader last season with 25 and was followed by first baseman Michael Busch and right fielder/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki who both had 21 will be very important for the Cubs to have success.
Tucker makes the Cubs the top four in the lineup elite
The Cubs will need Suzuki and Busch to take a step further in the power department with FanGraphs projecting the Cub’s top four in the lineup as: 1. Ian Happ 2. Kyle Tucker 3. Seiya Suzuki and 4. Michael Busch. This 1-4 in my opinion is already one of the best in the National League and will figure to be tough for opposing pitchers to navigate.
FanGraphs projects that Tucker will have a very productive season for the Cubs by giving them 30 HRs, 34 doubles, driving in 95 RBI, and have a .278 average in 156 games. A solid level of production from a potential MVP candidate that I feel could have slightly better numbers given the confines of Wrigley Field.
Tucker is making it the Chicago Cubs’ goal to make the playoffs
FOX 32 Chicago caught up with Tucker at Cubs Con and he expressed his excitement about joining the Cubs and his thoughts on what the Cubs can be for this season. When asked about the Cubs having expectations Tucker said his response:
“I think our team should have high expectations were a phenomenal organization with some really good players.” Tucker said, he then added “Our goal going into the year is to make the playoffs and make a run at the World Series. I don’t think you should go into the season not expecting that. I know it’s my goal and that’s a lot of guys’ goals here.”
This is a great mindset to have from someone who is a proven winner with being a part of the Astros seven-year consecutive streak of making the American League Championship series. Tucker is going into his age 28 season and is in the final year of his contract before becoming a free agent. The Cubs and Tucker just recently agreed on a deal for a salary of $16 million for this season to avoid arbitration, which the two sides had reached an impasse on previously. The topic of Tucker’s arbitration process as well as any contract extensions did come up with Tucker saying of both:
“No, not yet well see where that leads to a little later. Right now, I just got through the arbitration process and will see what happens after that.”
The Cubs will need a fully healthy Kyle Tucker for this season and for him to be that power threat in their lineup if they are to achieve that goal of making the playoffs. Tucker certainly is the player to do that and hopefully can be that staple in the heart of the Cubs lineup for not just this season, but beyond.
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