The Cubs let Kyle Tucker walk this offseason-and they didn’t exactly chase him out the door, either.
The All-Star outfielder landed in Los Angeles on a massive four-year, $240 million deal with the Dodgers, a contract that raised eyebrows across the league. At $60 million per year (before deferrals), it’s the kind of number that makes you pause. But when you zoom in on what Chicago’s front office did instead, the picture starts to make a lot more sense.
For starters, the Cubs had a plan. And it wasn’t some patchwork solution-they had a clear, calculated approach to reshaping their lineup without Tucker, and it starts with Seiya Suzuki.
Last season, Suzuki spent a good chunk of time at designated hitter while the outfield was patrolled by Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ. With Tucker gone, Suzuki slides back into a full-time outfield role. That’s a win defensively and gives the Cubs more flexibility with their lineup construction.
So who takes over at DH? That’s where Moises Ballesteros comes in.
He’s just 22, a left-handed bat with catcher listed next to his name-but let’s be real, he’s in the lineup for his offense. Ballesteros may not be Kyle Tucker (few are), but he’s ready to contribute at the plate right now.
He brings pop, plate discipline, and a bat that can do damage against right-handed pitching. For a team looking to stay competitive without overcommitting financially, he’s exactly the kind of internal piece you want to elevate.
And the Cubs didn’t stop there. They made one of the offseason’s splashier moves by signing Alex Bregman, who takes over at third base.
That’s a big-time addition. Bregman brings championship pedigree, power, and leadership-three things that matter in a clubhouse looking to take the next step.
He’s not just filling a hole; he’s raising the ceiling.
When you add it all up, this isn’t a team that lost a star and stood still. It’s a team that pivoted with purpose.
Sure, letting Tucker go stings-especially since he stayed in the National League-but the Cubs didn’t just let him walk and hope for the best. They retooled, redistributed resources, and built a lineup that looks just as capable of making a postseason push as it did a year ago.
No, they didn’t land the headline-grabbing free agent. But they might’ve built a more balanced, sustainable roster because of it.