Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, by which we study potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Purple Sox ought to pursue them and what it could take to land them. Immediately we take a look at the only greatest identify available on the market.
Kyle Tucker is an effective participant who is likely to be an excellent participant at occasions and who wants a superb nickname. Baseball Reference lists him as King Tuck, leaning into the King Tut facet however I don’t prefer it. One, Tut died tragically younger. Two, Friar Tuck is true there! He frolicked with Robin Hood, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor (not like Friar Lawrence who helped kill Romeo and Juliet and ruins the nice names of friars in every single place). There’s extra to say on this regard about John Henry, however this isn’t the place.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
Kyle Tucker was chosen fifth total by the Houston Astros in 2015. He obtained a style of the majors in 50 video games throughout 2018 and 2019 earlier than taking part in a ”full season” of 58 video games in 2020. However that was his actual welcome to the foremost leagues. From the beginning of 2020 onward he would slash .276/.362/.513 whereas averaging 24 house runs and 19 steal per season. After the 2024 season the Astros determined to commerce him to the Chicago Cubs for a bundle centered round Isaac Paredes. Peredes himself had solely joined Chicago from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier that season however, at all times on the hunt for brand spanking new expertise, GM Jed Hoyer flipped him away. For causes unknown (and NOT due to Scott Boras, as Tucker’s represented by CAA Sports activities company) the Cubs didn’t make a commerce with a powerful contact extension in hand. Tucker turns 29 in January so 2026 might be his age 29 season, on the youthful facet when taking a look at Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber. Even at 9 years he’d be about the identical age as Schwarber on the finish of his deal in Philadelphia.
That is one other “in fact” participant. Tucker is rated as the most effective free agent this yr by each MLB Commerce Rumors and FanGraphs. He’s good, however his flaw is harm points which have popped up within the final two seasons. At 78 video games in 2024 and 136 in 2025, Tucker actually appeared to wish to hit free company sturdy but it surely didn’t fairly occur.
TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats
Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 in his first (solely?) season with the Cubs whereas chipping in 22 house runs and 25 steals together with 25 doubles and 4 triples. That works out to be his second-worst batting common in a full season, second greatest OBP, and worst slugging share. This principally breaks down into first-half/second half splits .882 OPS vs .738 OPS. He was dangerous in July and August and went on the IL after simply two video games in September (and would return for 9/26-28). However was he damage after the All-Star Break? Banged up and didn’t wish to miss time heading into free company? The months are all within the books now however on the ultimate day of June he was slashing .291/.395/.537.
Why would he be a superb match on the Purple Sox?
Tucker is a veteran at 29 searching for a deal a couple of decade lengthy for someplace close to $400 million. That’s not Soto and Ohtani degree, but it surely’s greater than Devers was making, which was a contract the Sox have been joyful to rid themselves of. However Tucker can also be a extra effectively rounded a participant than Devers, so it’s a little bit of a wash from that perspective. He’d be the group’s celebrity contract, even when there’s an affordable probability he wouldn’t be the most effective participant on the Purple Sox for the size of it
Why wouldn’t he be a superb match on the Purple Sox?
That contract might be consuming at John Henry the second the ink dries. Manny, Adrian Gonzalez (I do know it was an extension) Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, David Value, Chris Sale. Lengthy-term offers don’t appear to be long-term in Boston. However you by no means know. Tucker is likely to be the following Large Papi and nobody can keep in mind a time he wasn’t round.
He’s additionally an outfielder. And hits from the left facet. That’s not a motive to not signal him, but it surely does create actual urgency to maneuver Duran or Abreu or each. With Craig Breslow mentioning that groups don’t wish to commerce good gamers, which may create a whole lot of work. How a lot better are the Sox with Tucker however minus Duran and Abreu if they’re more-or-less pressured to take much less or obtain gamers that must be traded themselves to fill wants? Additionally he prices a draft decide. Actually none of those causes ought to get rid of him as a powerful addition to the workforce. Tucker may cost about the identical as Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval yearly for a decade. They’ll discover different reclamation tasks which can be cheaper. That’s much more rewarding isn’t it?
Present me a cool spotlight.
Smash! I don’t care that he has nowhere to play, that it’s an enormous contract, or that he’ll most likely be horrible for 3 years and miss one other yr on the IL. Truly, these are good causes to go. However if in case you have a couple of decade of Kyle Tucker and a decade of Roman Anthony plus Ceddanne “Nuf Cedd” Rafaela, then that’s your outfield. It’s not fairly Mookie-JBJ-Benintendi for a decade — partly as a result of we don’t but know if Anthony is a Corridor of Famer — however that’s one-third in case your lineup taken care of for a very long time. The fee is steep. However ideally you’ve moved Jarren Duran and possibly even Wilyer Abreu for younger infield assist or pitching. And there you have got it. The vault of King Tuck. (I nonetheless favor Friar)
