Kyle Tucker was well aware of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s massive contract. He just wasn’t sure how it will impact him.
A day after Guerrero agreed to a $500 million, 14-year contract with Toronto that begins in 2026, Tucker insisted he is focusing more on the immediate future than whether he will remain with the Chicago Cubs after this season.
“I’m sure he loves playing in Toronto,” Tucker said before Monday’s game against Texas. “It’s great for him. I mean, everyone’s a little different. Right now, I’m here to play this year. I’m excited to get out again and play tonight, just kind of see where everything goes after that.”
Guerrero’s contract sets a high bar for other players with expiring deals, such as Tucker. It’s the third largest in total dollars behind outfielder Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets that started this season and two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began last year and is heavily deferred.
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Guerrero, the son of a Hall of Famer, is playing on a $28.5 million, one-year contract after avoiding arbitration. The four-time All-Star had said he wouldn’t negotiate a long-term deal once he reported to spring training. But talks with his agent continued.
Tucker was asked if he had set a deadline for the Cubs.
“I haven’t thought about it that much,” he said. “I’m just trying to come out here and play. … I’m just here to play baseball. I just let the other stuff fall where it is and see what happens.”
The Cubs acquired the well-rounded Tucker from Houston in December, hoping the three-time All-Star and one-time Gold Glove outfielder can lift a team that finished with an 83-79 record each of the past two years. But it’s not clear if this will be a long-term arrangement.
Tucker avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $16.5 million, one-year contract. He figures to be in for a huge deal, whether he agrees to one with the Cubs or signs with another team.
Tucker is off to a good start in Chicago. He entered the three-game series against the Rangers with a .319 batting average, five homers and 15 RBIs.
Tucker took National League Player of the Week honors on Monday, following an impressive performance against the Athletics and San Diego Padres. He combined to go 9 for 23 with three homers and eight RBIs as the Cubs won five of six games.
“It’s been fun watching Kyle kind of at the peak of who he is as an offensive player,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s just so locked in from pitch one and ready to do damage, and at the same time spitting on the stuff he doesn’t want to swing at. It’s been fun to watch. He’s had a great week, no doubt about it.”
Tucker is enjoying his time with the Cubs. He called the atmosphere at Wrigley Field “spectacular” and said fans “come out and support their team no matter what.”
“It’s been great ever since I’ve been over here,” Tucker said. “Everyone’s been super nice and helpful and everything. The hospitality’s been great. … I just here to play some baseball and see what happens after that.” ___
When baseball card collectors rip into packs of 2025 Bowman Baseball next week, your eyes won’t be playing tricks on you. Those Rookie Card logos are red, a change from the red, white and blue logo.Topps announced the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program at today’s Industry Conference. The program combines elements of its current MVP Buyback Program, where collectors can redeem Topps Chrome cards of the current MLB MVP for store credit, with a collector-style chase.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe program will kick off with the newest edition of Bowman Baseball, which comes out on May 7.Roki Sasaki is featured in the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program. (Topps)A select number of rookie cards in Bowman products throughout the year will have the red RC logo. Then, starting in November, those cards can be redeemed for big prizes.This is how the program works: When the […]
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For months now, hundreds of college coaches have met one-on-one with their athletes to deliver a message: We no longer have room for you on our roster.By the dozens, individual schools have trimmed their sports rosters as they prepare to meet new roster limits imposed as part of the House settlement agreement. Hundreds of Division I athletes — many of them in football, swimming, track, men’s volleyball and cross country — have either voluntarily left their team or been removed from their team during this roster purge.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow, if a plan under discussion is finalized, many of these roster spots could be restored in a grandfathering-in effort that protects the roster spots of those athletes currently on a team, those who have already been cut this year and, perhaps, even some of those high school recruits who committed to a roster […]
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Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy have been named as the two captains for the 2026 Presidents Cup between the United States and the International Team. Snedeker succeeds Jim Furyk in the role for the biennial contest, with Team USA chasing a record-extending 11th consecutive victory after their 18.5-11.5 success over the Internationals last September. The 44-year-old represented Team USA in their 2013 Presidents Cup win and served as an assistant captain to Furyk in 2024, with Snedeker's captaincy coming a year after he is part of Keegan Bradley's backroom team in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Image: Brandt Snedeker will captain Team USA at the 2026 Presidents Cup "It's a tremendous honour to be named US team captain for the 2026 Presidents Cup by my peers, and I'm looking forward to leading our guys into Medinah for what will […]
When baseball card collectors rip into packs of 2025 Bowman Baseball next week, your eyes won’t be playing tricks on you. Those Rookie Card logos are red, a change from the red, white and blue logo.Topps announced the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program at today’s Industry Conference. The program combines elements of its current MVP Buyback Program, where collectors can redeem Topps Chrome cards of the current MLB MVP for store credit, with a collector-style chase.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe program will kick off with the newest edition of Bowman Baseball, which comes out on May 7.Roki Sasaki is featured in the Bowman Red Rookie Redemption program. (Topps)A select number of rookie cards in Bowman products throughout the year will have the red RC logo. Then, starting in November, those cards can be redeemed for big prizes.This is how the program works: When the […]
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For months now, hundreds of college coaches have met one-on-one with their athletes to deliver a message: We no longer have room for you on our roster.By the dozens, individual schools have trimmed their sports rosters as they prepare to meet new roster limits imposed as part of the House settlement agreement. Hundreds of Division I athletes — many of them in football, swimming, track, men’s volleyball and cross country — have either voluntarily left their team or been removed from their team during this roster purge.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow, if a plan under discussion is finalized, many of these roster spots could be restored in a grandfathering-in effort that protects the roster spots of those athletes currently on a team, those who have already been cut this year and, perhaps, even some of those high school recruits who committed to a roster […]
TNT’s Stan Van Gundy has been hired by Amazon Prime Video to be a game analyst for its forthcoming NBA coverage next season, sources briefed on the move told The Athletic.Van Gundy, 65, joins Ian Eagle on Prime Video’s game telecasts. While Prime has designated Eagle as its No. 1 play-by-play announcer, it plans on waiting to name its top game analysts.AdvertisementIt has shown interest in Richard Jefferson, who was just promoted to ESPN’s No. 1 crew with Mike Breen and Doris Burke. Jefferson’s contract expires after he calls the NBA Finals for ABC in June.Amazon has held talks with TNT’s Kevin Harlan and the voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Michael Grady, as other play-by-play callers on its crews. Dwyane Wade and Steve Nash are candidates for analyst roles, according to sources briefed on discussions.Amazon will have Taylor Rooks as […]
Two first-time captains will lead the U.S. and International teams at the Presidents Cup next year, as Brandt Snedeker (U.S.) and Geoff Ogilvy (International) were announced as the 2026 captains Tuesday.While the Presidents Cup will be back on American soil, it’s up for debate over who has the advantage as Ogilvy and his design firm led the restoration of the Medinah No. 3 that finished in 2024.AdvertisementThe Presidents Cup — a biennial team golf competition between the U.S. and golfers from the rest of the world, except for Europe — has been famously more one-sided than its Ryder Cup counterpart. The U.S. has won each of the last 10 competitions since a tie in 2003, while the International team has one win in 15 iterations.Snedeker, 44, is a newer voice in American golf leadership. The nine-time PGA Tour winner played […]
Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Ogilvy have been named as the two captains for the 2026 Presidents Cup between the United States and the International Team. Snedeker succeeds Jim Furyk in the role for the biennial contest, with Team USA chasing a record-extending 11th consecutive victory after their 18.5-11.5 success over the Internationals last September. The 44-year-old represented Team USA in their 2013 Presidents Cup win and served as an assistant captain to Furyk in 2024, with Snedeker's captaincy coming a year after he is part of Keegan Bradley's backroom team in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Image: Brandt Snedeker will captain Team USA at the 2026 Presidents Cup "It's a tremendous honour to be named US team captain for the 2026 Presidents Cup by my peers, and I'm looking forward to leading our guys into Medinah for what will […]
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