Potential free agents Tucker, Alonso weigh in on Guerrero Jr. extension
CHICAGO — 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. 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. /* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371188209112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371188209112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6371188209112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc"); if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; } var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP"); if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; } adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); } $el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") ); $( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-801065" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6371188209112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/6371188209112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/video/where-does-guerrero-jr-s-contract-rank-in-blue-jays-history/" }); }); 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. The former Astro isn
CHICAGO — 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.
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.
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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.
The former Astro isn’t the only potential free agent that took note of Guerrero’s deal, as New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso also weighed in on the ripple effect the $500 million contract might have across baseball.
“This is huge for first basemen,” Alonso told The Athletic‘s Will Sammon. “Half a billion dollars, it’s a huge, huge amount. For him, it’s a fantastic deal. It’s great for the first-base market, I think. I mean, 14 years — he’s a stud. Well deservedly so. Right now, you can’t think of the Toronto Blue Jays without Vlad Jr. He’s done some really amazing things in this league and for that team. Super well deserved.”
Alonso struggled on the open market this past off-season, securing a two-year, $54 million contract from the Mets that gives him the power to opt-out after 2025.
So it only seems appropriate that Alonso would see the financial commitment Toronto made to Guerrero and call it a “sick contract.”
The 30-year-old has burst out of the gates in Queens this season, hitting three homers in nine games while carrying a 1.066 OPS.
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But even as a potential return to free agency looms, Alonso insists his focus remains on the season at hand, but added that he wouldn’t shut down any extension talks with the Mets.
“We’re open to it, but my focus right now is doing what I can to help win tonight,” Alonso said Monday. “Obviously, if something happens, then I am sure Scott (Boras) and Steve (Cohen) or David (Stearns) will talk about it, but my job is to focus and lock in on the season, and win. That’s really all it is. If something happens, then, whatever, but if not then no big deal because this is ball time. We are trying to win ballgames right now.”
Tucker is also 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 honours 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’m just here to play some baseball and see what happens after that.”
— With files from Sportsnet Staff
