Cubs' Kyle Tucker Gets Contradictory Free Agency Projections From Two MLB Insiders

Few players have ever had more incentive to excel in the final two months of a season than the Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker.

A four-time All-Star and World Series champion with the Houston Astros, Tucker has accomplished just about everything you can on a baseball field before his 29th birthday. But he's had some ups and downs this year, and he could really use a strong finish.

As the marquee free agent in this year's class, Tucker will set the market regardless of how he performs in September and October. But the final dollar value of his contract is of great interest not only to him and his agents, but fans of every team that thinks it has a shot at him.

So there's a simple question to tackle at this point: How much is Tucker really worth? Two baseball insiders had drastically different answers to that question on Friday.

Robert Murray of FanSided projected that Tucker would make over $300 million this winter, perhaps eclipsing $400 million.

"After a torrid start to his time in Chicago, Tucker has come back down to earth a bit. Still, he's been a difference-making slugger, and is hitting .267/.380/.461 with an .842 OPS, 18 home runs and 62 RBI," Murray reasoned.

However, The Athletic's Jim Bowden was far more bullish, saying he expected Tucker to cross the half-billion dollar threshold, and potentially go much higher.

"Most analysts believe he will get somewhere between $500 million and $650 million based on the recent contracts of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the (Toronto) Blue Jays ($500 million) and Juan Soto with the (New York) Mets ($765 million)," wrote Bowden.

We saw last year how Soto, coming off a brilliant season and postseason run with the New York Yankees, got paid above what almost anyone projected at this point in the process. Couldn't the same happen with Tucker, who is only two years older?

And for every dollar Tucker makes, the question of which teams will remain in the picture grows more relevant. The Cubs, who have never given out even a $200 million contract, are going to have to get uncomfortable to some degree; it's just a question of how high their rivals will drive the bidding.

This much we know: When the final contract is announced, either Murray or Bowden is going to be surprised.