Kyle Tucker Makes Cubs Admission Amid Upcoming Free Agency
Kyle Tucker Makes Cubs Admission Amid Upcoming Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
There's plenty that the Chicago Cubs will have to do to keep Kyle Tucker in town. However, two of those things are likely more important than anything else.
Advertisement
For the Cubs, he'll be intrigued by the money they'll offer. If the ownership group can come in with a competitive offer, there's a very good chance they'll have an opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal.
However, after spending his entire career in Houston prior to joining the Cubs, winning should be important to Tucker. And according to the left-handed slugger, when speaking about his new team and the fan base, he pointed out that winning has continued to be their goal.
Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker launches a home run at Citi Field in 2025.Brad Penner-Imagn Images
'The ceiling is winning the World Series,' Tucker said on Cubs Live! 'That was our goal, coming into the season, going into spring training. I think we still have a really good shot at that. We have a really good team. Hopefully we can all come together as a group at the end of the year healthy and playing well, and you know, get that job done…'
Advertisement
'Our goal coming in was to win a World Series,' Tucker said. 'And, you know, try and come out and play every game hard and try and win every single game. We don't want to just kind of show up and play and go home at the end of the day, and whether we win or lose, not really care. We want to come out and play well, and put on a show for these fans and win games for them. I mean, if you don't want to do that, I don't see the point of showing up at the park.'
It's still far too early in the season to make a definitive assessment about how the Cubs will perform in the postseason, but they've played well to start the year.
If Tucker can get the money he wants and they continue to win, there's no reason for him to want to play elsewhere.
Related: Cubs Predicted to Replace Dansby Swanson With Young Star
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yuvraj Samra Leads Canada to Victory in Americas T20 Qualifier
Yuvraj Samra Leads Canada to Victory in Americas T20 Qualifier originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Yuvraj Samra's unbeaten 50 off just 15 deliveries led Canada to a 10-wicket victory over the Bahamas in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier match. Advertisement Opening the batting, Samra launched Canada's chase with a six and never looked back. His explosive knock, featuring five sixes and three fours, shattered the national record for the fastest T20 half-century, previously held by Harsh Thaker, who made 50 off 16 balls earlier in the tournament. "He's in really good form," said Canadian skipper Nicholas Kirton. "Obviously, he's a special talent." Set a revised target of 53 in 11 overs after a rain delay of over two hours, Canada chased down the total in just 4.3 overs without losing a wicket. Fellow opener Aaron Johnson remained on four not out. The Bahamas, who were 34 for three when rain interrupted play at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground, returned to post 52 for seven in their shortened innings. Kervon Hinds offered brief resistance with 12 runs, including three consecutive boundaries, but the batting order collapsed following the restart. Festus Benn was trapped lbw by Kirton, Eugene Duff was stumped, and Julio Jemison was run out in quick succession. Advertisement Canada, ranked 19th in T20 cricket, remains unbeaten in the regional final, having defeated Bermuda by 110 runs and the Cayman Islands by 59. They next face Cayman on Thursday, followed by Bahamas on Saturday and Bermuda on Sunday. Speaking to the Royal Gazette, Bermuda coach Cal Waldron said: 'We didn't execute our game plan against Canada. They gave us a higher total to chase than we wanted, and we were unable to chase it down to come out with a favourable result. We went back to the drawing board, looked at the good and the bad from the game against Canada." Bermuda must win their remaining matches to keep their qualification hopes alive for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago baseball report: The Cubs' bullpen is on a stellar streak — and the White Sox called up a local
After Wednesday's rain out, the Cubs wrap up their series against the second-place Milwaukee Brewers as they look to build on their National League Central lead heading into a weekend matchup versus the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finally square off against the Cardinals for the first time this season when they travel to St. Louis next week for a four-game series starting Monday at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals entered Wednesday tied with the Cincinnati Reds for third in the division, seven games back of the Cubs. The White Sox make a quick trip to Canada on Friday for a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays before returning home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants. The Sox entered Wednesday with a 12-9 home record since May 1. But they are 4-18 on the road during that period. The Sox last won a series in Toronto in 2019 when they took two of three from the Blue Jays. They are 3-10 at Rogers Centre since, including going 1-2 in 2024. Every Thursday during the regular season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what's ahead — for the Cubs and White the Cubs continue to navigate a stretch of 26 games in 27 days, with their next scheduled off day coming June 30, their bullpen keeps stepping up. The Cubs are the only MLB team with three pitchers who own an active streak of at least 15 games without allowing an earned run. Left-handers Drew Pomeranz (20 games dating to April 25) and Caleb Thielbar (17 games since May 5) and right-hander Ryan Pressly (16 games since May 9) are on a roll and have given manager Craig Counsell options for the high-leverage spots in the late innings. That trio's streaks represent the longest, second-longest and tied for the third-longest active streaks this season. Right-hander Chris Flexen has also been a reliable arm, not allowing an earned run in his 11 appearances this year, spanning 17 1/3 innings. The relief production the Cubs have received from Pomeranz, Flexen and Brad Keller (2.10 ERA in 34 1/3 innings) is especially impressive given they each have predominantly been starters during their careers. Their lack of experience pitching out of the bullpen for a full season makes it important for the Cubs to monitor how they are feeling each day and requires constant conversations. For Counsell, it also means finding opportunities to give them rest when appropriate. 'The fact that they've done something different is not unusual, that's how it happens a lot,' Counsell said Wednesday. 'If it was a young pitcher, chances are they were a starter two years ago in the minor leagues, so it's no different in that regard. That's what bullpens are. They're a combination of guys that have taken a different journey to get where they're at, and they're working well together.' The Cubs' bullpen has held opposing hitters to the third-lowest on-base percentage in the majors (.334) while posting the fourth-lowest ERA at 3.12 and the lowest home run percentage (1.5%). Ryan Noda grew up in Fox Lake, rooting for the Chicago White Sox. 'Paul Konerko is my favorite player,' the Grant product said before Saturday's game against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. Noda has gone from cheering on to playing for the Sox after he was claimed off waivers from Boston on Friday and called up from Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday. 'It means everything,' Noda, 29, said of the opportunity. Noda started Saturday and Sunday against the Rangers, becoming the latest option at first base for the Sox. His previous big-league experience came in two seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2023-24), where he hit .212 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs in 164 games. '(Noda provides) above-average defense out there,' manager Will Venable said on Tuesday. 'At the plate, going to make really good swing decisions, and he's just going to have to hit some balls hard. 'This is a situation where offensively we need some help and we've highlighted him as somebody with a skill set that we can throw in the mix, give us competitive at-bats, quality at-bats, and hope to score some runs.' Noda joined Miguel Vargas and Lenyn Sosa as possibilities at first base after the Sox optioned Tim Elko to Triple-A Charlotte and traded Andrew Vaughn — who had been in Charlotte — to the Milwaukee Brewers. Noda stepped in after combining for a .204/.404/.375 slash line with seven home runs, 21 RBIs, 27 runs and 43 walks in 51 games this season with Triple-A Salt Lake in the Los Angeles Angels organization and Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox system. He had a .378 average (14-for-37) in 13 games with Worcester. 'I just got back to doing what I do,' Noda said. 'A lot of the things they said resonated with me. It was getting to work, good language goes a long way. A lot of things they did over there, respect to (Worcester hitting coach) Collin (Hetzler). He helped me out a lot and got me back to doing what I do — having good at-bats, driving the ball, getting on base and playing good defense.' Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki have homered on the same day five times this season (April 29, May 23, June 7, June 12 and Tuesday) through the Cubs' first 74 games. The last time Cubs teammates homered in the same game five times in a season in fewer games happened in 2019 when Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber accomplished the feat in 65 games through June 10, per team historian Ed Hartig. The Cubs aren't making concrete plans for left-hander Shota Imanaga's rehab progression beyond Friday. That's when Imanaga will make a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa. Imanaga hasn't pitched for the Cubs since sustaining a left hamstring strain when attempting to cover first base on May 4 in Milwaukee. Counsell said the Cubs will evaluate Imanaga's outing Friday and go from there. Imanaga threw four innings in his second rehab start in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday, getting up to 55 pitches, which included throwing additionally in the bullpen after exiting the game. The Cubs are targeting Imanaga to throw 70-75 pitches for Iowa. They will want to make sure he feels good and his pitch count builds up enough before activating him from the injured list to avoid taxing the bullpen. Right-hander Porter Hodge (hip impingement) threw a scoreless inning Tuesday in his second rehab outing, striking out one batter and issuing one walk. Hodge will make another rehab appearance at Triple A. Right-hander Eli Morgan, who has been sidelined since April 15 because of a right elbow impingement, did not feel good coming out of his rehab appearance with Iowa on Tuesday in which he allowed two hits, four runs, two walks and struck out one in 2/3 of an inning. Morgan will be reassessed by a doctor, Counsell said. Lenyn Sosa saw some benefit to going on an injury rehab assignment last weekend with Triple-A Charlotte. 'I was going there to find my timing,' Sosa said through an interpreter on Tuesday. 'That's something when you don't play every day, it kind of gets off.' Sosa returned from the IL on Tuesday and went 1-for-3 in the 12-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Sosa had been one of the team's more productive hitters before retroactively going on the IL on June 3 with a right hip flexor strain. He is second on the club with 56 hits coming into Wednesday. He played in three games with Charlotte before coming back to the Sox. 'Hopefully he can get our offense going a little bit,' Venable said before Tuesday's game. 'Obviously, he has a dangerous bat.' While he had some spotty moments in the field on Tuesday, including a first-inning throwing error, Sosa aided the Sox at the plate with a double in the fifth inning. He later scored on a sacrifice fly. 'The key is to have your mind in the right place,' Sosa said. 'You have to be calm. Just be patient at home plate.' 'I don't know whose elbow thing I had on. I have no idea. It was kind of a blur.'
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Observations to kick off a Chicago sports summer, with NASCAR around the corner
The summer solstice is almost here, which means we're one day closer to the start of Chicago Bears camp. Until then, we'll have to make do with the first-place Chicago Cubs, the rebuilding White Sox, the Bulls and Blackhawks' draft nights, the NASCAR race and the latest Angel Reese social media posts. Here are 11 observations to kick-start your summer vacation. Instead of the city and state paying the bulk of the $32.1 million it will take to install bollards for security and other improvements around Wrigley Field so the Cubs can get MLB's approval to host the 2027 All-Star Game, I propose a different, cheaper plan. Maybe the city can just close off the area surrounding the ballpark before and after games, rerouting buses and only allowing cars with resident passes inside the zone. A car-free zone from Halsted Street on the east, Southport Avenue on the west, Grace Street on the north and Newport Avenue on the south would keep Wrigley secure and create minimal headaches for commuters and residents. Too sensible? Yeah, probably. Back in 2012, a writer and SABR member named Jason Lukehart invented a stat he called 'the Maddux,' named after former Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux. A 'Maddux' is accomplished when a starter throws a complete game shutout with fewer than 100 pitches, which Greg did 13 times in his Hall of Fame career. After Tuesday's performance at Wrigley, perhaps it's time for a new stat — the PCA — after Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. A PCA would be accomplished by a hitter who makes a sensational catch and then leads off the next inning with a home run, as Crow-Armstrong did in the eighth inning of the Cubs' 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. In the real world, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani would not deserve to pitch in the All-Star Game. Ohtani, who had Tommy John surgery in 2023, made his first appearance on the mound in nearly two years Monday at Dodger Stadium, and obviously won't be among the league leaders in any pitching category. But since he'll be there in Atlanta anyway as the National League DH and leading vote-getter, why not just let Ohtani start for the NL to face Aaron Judge in the first inning? Would traditionalists be upset? Well, no one minded in 2001 when starting American League shortstop Alex Rodriguez switched positions with Cal Ripken Jr. in the first inning of the All-Star Game in Seattle so the retiring Orioles great could play shortstop one last time in the Midsummer Classic. It's entertainment, after all, and the game doesn't count. The ratings would be terrific. The Bulls are about to hand Billy Donovan another extension, according to the Tribune's Julia Poe and other media outlets, which suggests he's an excellent coach who hasn't been given the right players to win. But if that's the case, the guy giving him the players, executive vice president of baseball operations Artūras Karnišovas, should be replaced by someone who can take full advantage of Donovan's coaching abilities. When the New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau after their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers, fans and media speculated on how it could happen. No one seemed to recall that Thibodeau's Knicks blew a 14-point lead to the Pacers with under three minutes left in Game 1, a colossal collapse that ranks among the greatest chokes in NBA history. It was as easy a decision to make as the Boston Red Sox firing manager Grady Little after he blew Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Some losses you just can't recover from, even if you're Thibs. The Knicks reportedly were denied permission from five teams to interview their head coach for the coaching vacancy. The list included Dallas' Jason Kidd, Houston's Ime Udoka, Minnesota's Chris Finch, Atlanta's Quin Snyder and Donovan. Hopefully they continue going down the line and keep getting denied by every team until there's only one man left. Then what we all suspect will be confirmed — the Los Angeles Lakers' JJ Redick is the NBA's worst coach. The White Sox series at Colorado on July 4-6 is shaping up to be a big one, historically speaking, pitting players from two all-time bad teams. But the suddenly lukewarm Rockies, who seemed primed to erase the 2024 Sox from the record books, entered Wednesday's game against Washington with a three-game win streak and a 7-7 record in their last 14 games. With a 16-57 record on Wednesday, they're still on pace to break the 2024 White Sox's record of 121 losses. At this point in '24, the Sox were finding new ways to lose. They fell to 20-57 on June 21, 2024, when Paul DeJong was doubled off first on a routine fly to center to end a 2-1 loss in Detroit. DeJong is gone, like most of the '24 Sox, but the '25 version should be motivated to ditch the record, making the Sox-Rockies showdown at Coors Field a must-win series. Former Sox manager Pedro Grifol said some crazy things after losses last year. But it seems his successor can also get a bit frustrated. After an 11-inning loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, manager Will Venable said: 'The feeling that we feel after this game is one that we can feel.' Yogi Berra could not have said it better. The Blackhawks sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round draft pick in March, and also agreed to pay 26% of his average salary of $9.5 million for the remaining five years on Jones' contract. The Panthers went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup on Tuesday, which means Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson can officially take some credit for something other than lucking into the No. 1 pick that netted Connor Bedard. Polarizing debate show shouter Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins and the other studio guy on ABC's NBA Finals pre- and postgame shows are why the mute button was invented. I assume they're also bad at halftime but I've tuned them out. No wonder ABC/ESPN is importing the entire TNT 'Inside the NBA' crew to do their studio shows next year. Now that Chicago Sports Network is airing on Comcast, thousands more viewers can watch their repetitive commercials touting local business owners who like the White Sox. For the extra $20 Comcast charges customers for the channel, you'd think they'd get some new sponsors.
