Cubs Urged to Trade for, Pay Orioles All-Star After Kyle Tucker Leaves
The Chicago Cubs could have a busy offseason ahead. Kyle Tucker is hitting the open market, and if the Cubs lose him, they may need to make some moves to replace his production.
Tucker is expected to sign a lucrative contract that could reach north of $400 million in total value. If the Cubs are unwilling to go that high, the team could spend elsewhere. FanSided’s Chris Landers urged the Cubs to acquire and pay Baltimore Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman.
“The Cubs have the luxury of being just about locked in at every position on the diamond - except, that is, for catcher, where Carson Kelly started off strong before disappearing down the stretch this season,” wrote Landers. “It’s a spot crying out for an upgrade this offseason, and while the free-agent market is thin on impact names (outside a declining JT Realmuto), the trade market features one heck of a buy-low opportunity in Rutschman.”
Tucker had an .841 OPS and 22 home runs in what was considered a down year. The Cubs will have to find a way to replace that production, and the catcher position could use an upgrade. Carson Kelly posted a .761 OPS and had a solid season. However, Rutschman is a two-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger.
He had a down year this year and dealt with injuries. Additionally, the Orioles gave catcher Samuel Basallo a contract extension. After committing to an eight-year, $67 million extension with Basallo, Rutschman’s future may be in doubt. He did not have his best year, but he still has the potential to be an elite player. The Cubs could ink him to an extension while the price tag is low.
Lakers’ Austin Reaves Could Land Jaw-Dropping $240 Million Max Deal
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is playing himself into superstar money — and perhaps one of the most lucrative contracts in franchise history.
The undrafted Arkansas native has exploded into the national spotlight after averaging 40 points per game over a three-game stretch without LeBron James and Luka Dončić, capped by his game-winning floater at the buzzer Wednesday night to lift the Lakers past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116–115.
Now, his red-hot run has amplified the biggest question hanging over the Lakers’ future: How much will it cost to keep him?
Reaves’ Free-Agency Value Skyrockets
Before the season began,
“If he has a good year, he could be a fringe All-Star candidate for sure,” The Ringer’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast,
Woike added that the league’s rising salary cap could push Reaves’ maximum offer from rival teams to around $42 million per year, placing him in the same financial tier as All-Star guards like Trae Young.
“If he plays well, there will be offers north of $40 million for him,” Woike said. “With the cap jump, his max from another team starts around $42 million. It’s him and Trae — those are the free agents everyone’s watching.”
Lakers Hold the Edge Financially
Under NBA rules, only the Lakers can offer Reaves a five-year maximum deal, which is projected to be worth $240.7 million, according to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale
Other teams are capped at four years and $178.5 million, while a four-year max from Los Angeles would reach $185.9 million — still the highest possible total.
Reaves declined a four-year, $89.2 million offer from the Lakers last summer and is expected to opt out of his $14.9 million player option after this season to test the open market.
At least 10 teams are projected to have significant cap space next offseason, per ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, ensuring a competitive bidding war.
Lakers Face a Financial Crossroads
The Lakers’ decision will hinge on how far they are willing to go alongside Dončić, who signed a three-year, $165 million deal this past offseason.
A full Reaves max extension would leave the Lakers no room for another top-tier star. They will also walk the financial tightrope to dance around the NBA’s second-apron luxury-tax tier — a punitive level that limits trades, free-agent flexibility, and draft maneuverability.
The calculus may come down to whether the Lakers see Reaves as Dončić’s long-term backcourt partner or as a trade-ready asset for another star.
Redick and Ownership Back Reaves’ Rise
Head coach JJ Redick didn’t hesitate when asked if Reaves deserves to be part of the Lakers’ future core.
“He’s established himself as a bad dude,” Redick told The Athletic. “Last year, I think leaguewide, he was viewed as a really good player. Now, he’s a leader. He’s one of the guys — or the guy — on the court. That’s big-time.”
The Lakers also have new financial firepower after billionaire Mark Walter — owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — was approved as the team’s new majority owner. Walter’s track record of spending big in MLB suggests the Lakers won’t shy away from major investments.
Still, the NBA’s restrictive cap rules mean Los Angeles can’t simply buy its way out of roster decisions. The modern “two-star” model leaves little to no room for a third maximum-salaried player.
The Franchise’s Defining Offseason Looms
Reaves’ breakout has made him both indispensable and expensive. The Lakers must soon decide whether to lock in a $240 million commitment or explore trade scenarios for a complementary star beside Dončić.
Either way, Reaves’ meteoric rise from undrafted prospect to potential max player stands as one of the most remarkable success stories in recent Lakers history — and the next chapter could reshape the franchise’s future.
