We’re a week out from opening day and things are really starting to shape up. That’s a good thing, and it feels much better than this time last year.
In fact, I’d argue this is as good as I’ve felt about a Cubs spring training since 2019, and even that’s an argument because things were starting to fall apart on the pitching staff.
This is different than the years between by a mile, and finally the closest feeling to the Rizzo core on a yearly basis. Even with Kyle Tucker on just a 1-year deal with us, it feels like this is a permanent shift out of middle gear as we move back to where we belong.
That’s obviously overly optimistic but I’m like a caged dog finally getting to run around the yard and I don’t want to short change my excitement for the 2025 Cubs season. Especially just because they’ve been a complete let down over the last half-decade? No thanks guys. I can grow up and move on to what lies ahead and you’re welcome to join me.
With that, let’s round up some Cubs stuff:
Matt Shaw is going to Tokyo and you already knew that because I already blogged about it. That’s awesome.
What else.
Minor League games while the team is in Japan is actually a huge advantage to Nico not being ready. Like obviously we’d rather have him on the field in Japan but if he can’t, then rehabbing and playing minor league games in Arizona without having to travel or uproot himself is awesome. The sooner he gets back and the healthier he feels, the better the 2025 Cubs are going to be. Easily the most important guy on the roster for me this season when you consider all the implications that come with him out of the lineup. It changes things more than anyone else not named Kyle Tucker.
Speaking of which.
Bleacher Nation – Against that backdrop, Britton calculates a reasonable Tucker extension at 10 years and $35 million annually after this season, which would make a current deal, incorporating his 2025 salary, an 11-year, $366.5 million deal.
I would make that extension right now and not think twice about it.
Here are the players in MLB that are objectively better than Kyle Tucker:
- Aaron Judge
- Shohei Ohtani
Here are the players in MLB that are arguably better:
- Mookie Betts
- Ronald Acuna
- Bobby Witt Jr.
I think Juan Soto will be very good for a very long time, but Kyle Tucker is such a better outfielder and base runner that I would actually call it a wash. I really mean that. I know Soto gives you the best at-bats but Kyle Tucker is fundamentally one of the most complete players in the world.
He also plays a position that demands excellence. You can’t win with average in RF. At the very least they need to be outstanding in one tool and a veteran presence. Like a modern NFL tight end – your tight end has to be very good at blocking or receiving but you can’t be average at either.
In that analogy, Kyle Tucker would be like Rob Gronkowski in that he can dominate a game in so many different ways and it comes so natural.
All of this to say Kyle Tucker should be the center piece of the Cubs lineup for as long as an extension demands, and I’d go up to $40,000,000 if necessary without batting an eye. That’s the going rate for the best players and even then I’d call $40M a discount for Kyle Tucker. That’s how good I think he is and I’m excited for you guys to find out for yourselves.
Those guys pot good content. The twitter embed function is still down so here’s a link to their page.
More importantly, what a lineup. What a time to be alive on the north side of Chicago as an adult. Those names are legendary in my life, even if I hated Ryan Theriot with the Cardinals and I equally despised Starlin Castro on the Cubs. That’s probably my least popular take and I don’t think I’ll ever care. I hate his guts so much because he should be a hall of fame shortstop. He should have 3,500 hits and a world series ring with the Cubs and a legendary career because he’s one of the most naturally talented hitters I’ve ever seen. No joke, he had the infrastructure to hit like Miguel Cabrera if he gave a shit and took it seriously. But it was actually the complete opposite to the extent that I couldn’t even like him. He was such a terribly lazy and arrogant professional and I know that hurts a lot of people’s feelings. I’m sorry. I wish it was different. I’m kinda warming in the years after his time with the Cubs but I’d be a liar if I said anything less than I hated him so much.
Dempster? Complete opposite.
Same thing with Soriano and D Lee.
Those are my dogs from an era when the Cubs were always just one bat or arm or injury away from repeating 2003’s division title.
If only Jim Hendry could spend the money
And also special days because I had just moved to Lincoln Park and tickets to Cubs games over the ensuing few seasons bottomed out around $15 on the secondhand market and it was awesome.
Thursday day game bleachers. Black out at Red Ivy. Wings at houndstooth. Try and makeout with a Chicago 6 on the dance floor. Settle for a 4. Forget my credit card at the bar.
Those were great days and I’ll never get them back.
In Conclusion:
- Cubs roster for Tokyo is set. There’s some miscellaneous bullpen moves that I don’t really register as significant. Brad Keller is making the trip? That’s nice. I would be a liar if I emphasized that too much. The bigger story is the travel roster is set and they don’t have to make 40-man implications until closer to MLB’s true opening day, which is nice.
- Matt Shaw is making the trip to Tokyo but we don’t know what position he’s playing
- Nico Hoerner is hurt but improving and gets to play minor league games while the rest of the club travels halfway around the world to play the Tokyo Dodgers
- The cheapest tickets for that game are about $1500 and I need to blog about that tomorrow
- Craig Counsell: kind of a smug prick in today’s interview that I linked to in the Matt Shaw blog. I need to embrace him but I really can’t get over the Notre Dame blanket of arrogance. I’d much prefer a complete lunatic bastard asshole to his slim dick dockers wearing bullshit.
- I need to talk about the catching more. Remind me tomorrow.
- We’re just one week away from opening day and this feels and smells like a special season. I’m not just saying that to sell merch. There is no merch to sell. There’s no financial incentive for the Cubs to be good. I have nothing to offer you guys other than my brain and my brain says the Cubs are going to be a very good ball club this year.
- So much that Tom Ricketts needs to grow some balls and extend Kyle Tucker
That’s it for News and Notes.
Everyone have a nice night and drive safe.