The New York Yankees’ offseason shopping list is already a topic of daily chatter in the Bronx, and one name has consistently popped up: Kyle Tucker. The former Houston Astros star and current Chicago Cubs outfielder was once thought of as a can’t-miss free agent target, a left-handed power bat who could slide into Yankee Stadium’s short porch and do damage.
But lately, Tucker has given the Yankees a reason to pause. His slump has reached a level where even the Cubs have taken him out of the lineup. For a player who’s expected to demand one of the biggest contracts of the upcoming free agent class, the timing could not be worse.
A Stunning Fall From “King Tuck”
At his best, Tucker looks like the kind of player who changes a franchise’s fortune. He hit for power, played strong defense, and carried himself like a cornerstone. That’s why Chicago acquired him with so much fanfare and why the Yankees, never shy about spending, appeared destined to make a run at him this winter.
But the last month has turned Tucker into a question mark. In his last 105 at-bats, he’s slashed just .181/.323/.238 with one home run and seven RBI. For a player supposed to be in his prime, those numbers are alarming.
Manager Craig Counsell has avoided the word “benching,” instead describing Tucker’s absence as “a reset.” Still, no matter how it’s spun, Tucker has lost his everyday role during the Cubs’ playoff chase. That kind of development lingers, especially for a free agent about to hit the open market.
The Yankees have been down this road before—most recently with Giancarlo Stanton, whose massive contract now looks like an anchor. The front office will have to ask itself if Tucker’s current spiral is a blip or the beginning of a decline.
The Bellinger Factor
Complicating matters is Cody Bellinger. The Cubs essentially chose Tucker over Bellinger, and now, Bellinger has found new life in pinstripes. Over his last 40 games, Bellinger is hitting .276 with 13 home runs and 33 RBI, showing both the versatility and streaky power that made him attractive to New York in the first place.
The Yankees have leaned heavily on Bellinger’s ability to move between center field, right field, and first base, especially as injuries have thinned the roster. While Tucker is younger and, in theory, a more long-term solution, Bellinger has proven that he can handle the pressure of New York and contribute when it matters most.
That raises the question: should the Yankees roll the dice on Tucker, or should they double down on the player already producing in their uniform? Scott Boras, Bellinger’s agent, will make negotiations messy, but Bellinger at least brings familiarity. Tucker brings only risk.
The Yankees, often criticized for tying themselves to big contracts that backfire, must be cautious. Signing Tucker could mean committing nine figures to a player who might already be showing cracks. Bringing Bellinger back could mean navigating Boras’s opt-outs and clauses, but with fewer unknowns.
For now, Tucker’s slump may not kill his free agent value entirely—after all, his résumé still includes multiple All-Star seasons and stretches of dominance. But for a Yankees team burned by the past, the margin for error is slim.
The Yankees once viewed Tucker as the shiny prize of the 2026 class, but his slump has turned him into the cautionary tale, forcing New York to ask whether chasing the big fish is always the right move.
And in the Bronx, where every strikeout draws boos, the answer might be more complicated than it once seemed.
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