Cubs are more than just the Kyle Tucker show: ‘It's not a one-man sport'

New York Times

09-04-2025

CHICAGO — Kyle Tucker is the straw that stirs the drink, but the new star of the Chicago Cubs does not seek attention or credit. While the over/under on his next contract might be half a billion dollars, he says his focus is not on business. He just wants to play baseball and be one of the guys in the Wrigley Field clubhouse.
Advertisement
'There are guys in this room who have had a lot of success and a lot of time in this organization,' Tucker said. 'I don't win games by myself. Everyone in here plays their part and plays their role to help our team succeed, whether it's just getting one out or drawing a walk. Or even if you're not playing, just picking up stuff on the bench and trying to help guys with some of our scouting reports. It's not a one-man sport by any means.'
Tucker is the biggest difference between this Cubs team and the groups that won 83 games in each of the previous two seasons. He is still learning all the tricky angles of playing right field at the Friendly Confines, but his presence accentuates certain team strengths and covers for some weaknesses.
The Cubs are 9-5 after Tuesday night's 10-6 victory over the Texas Rangers, which is an excellent start considering the opening schedule's degree of difficulty. Though it is too soon to draw definitive conclusions — the Cubs have more than 90 percent of their season remaining — there are signs that this offense should be more than just a sizzle reel that Tucker's agency can send to clubs next offseason.
The temperatures at first pitch in Wrigleyville have ranged between 34 and 49 degrees within the last week. For context, it was 38 degrees when the puck dropped on New Year's Eve for the NHL's Winter Classic. Fans have to dress as if they're going to Soldier Field. Yet the Cubs have scored 34 runs during those five games, which reflects a more diversified offense as well as an ability to stay patient and focused.
'You have to acknowledge it's going to suck out there tonight,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. 'Don't fight it. It's going to suck, and it's cold. And then you go from there.'
This roster appears to be well-built for low-scoring games in April, which can swing on an inopportune error or a heads-up base-running decision. The Cubs already had a lot of up-the-middle athleticism as well as a culture of players eager to share information and talk about the finer details within the game. Counsell's decision to hire Quintin Berry away from the Milwaukee Brewers may have taken those attributes to another level.
Advertisement
Berry, the new third-base coach, is regarded as a base-running expert. He made his name as a designated base-stealer for playoff contenders and then transitioned into coaching, helping the Brewers do the little things better.
So far, the Cubs are running wild, stealing 25 bases while getting caught only once. Jed Hoyer, the club's president of baseball operations, described base running as a phase of the game that the coaching staff talks about 'constantly.'
'With anything in life, the things you talk about, the things you prioritize make a big difference,' Hoyer said. 'Those guys have talked about getting good secondary leads, constantly being aggressive, taking the extra base. Your turns at second and third — all that stuff matters.'
At 40, Justin Turner is still a productive player who also brings a kind of gravitas as a World Series champion and a Roberto Clemente Award winner. The New York Yankees found ways to use Jon Berti during last year's World Series run. In terms of offensive production, pairing Carson Kelly with Miguel Amaya has flipped the catching group from the bottom of the league toward the top.
In recent years, the Cubs cycled through lots of bench players who were either too inexperienced or way past their prime. While Gage Workman, a Rule 5 draft pick, remains on the 26-man roster for now, the Cubs are no longer holding auditions.
It's hard when a hitter needs major-league at-bats to develop and might only play once or twice a week. Turner (.830 career postseason OPS) and Berti (102 career stolen bases) add specific skills, some versatility and more know-how.
'It's not an unlimited supply of players,' Counsell said. 'You're just trying to bring in pieces that complement your roster.'
Trading for Tucker signaled that the front office felt a sense of urgency to make the playoffs this year. The Houston Astros received a haul of talent — 14 years of club control over Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith — but the Cubs got the best player in the deal, even if it's only for one season before Tucker becomes a free agent.
Advertisement
From right to left in the outfield, the Cubs will regularly position Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, who were all first-round picks by different organizations. The main infield alignment will also feature four players who were drafted in the first round: Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw and Michael Busch. The baseball industry has valued this collection of talent.
The total cost to sign Seiya Suzuki, the primary designated hitter, was roughly $100 million when factoring in the posting fee owed to his Japanese club. Between those first-rounders and Suzuki, the ages range from 23 to 30, putting them in some of the prime years of their careers.
'We're certainly a better team than we were last year, both on paper and in reality,' Hoyer said. 'Now it's about going out there and playing. I think that the offseason is for talking about the team on paper, and the season is for going out and doing it. So now we have to go out and do it.'
(Top photo of Kyle Tucker getting high fives after scoring against the Rangers: Matt Marton / Imagn Images)