The Red Sox have failed to acquire a batter of comparable caliber to replace Rafael Devers’ bat in the immediate aftermath of the deal. However, they might look at a potential option this offseason to assist take Devers’ place in the starting lineup.
The Red Sox are one of the teams that New York Posts manager Jon Heyman said he expects to pursue Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker if he becomes available for free this coming winter.
Heyman stated on MLB Network, “You mentioned the Red Sox, that is a possibility.” One major market team that is performing well is the Cubs. They should try it out. Nevertheless, he is a free agent, has only been there for a year, and other teams will be interested in him. The San Francisco Giants appear to be an aggressive squad right now, so don’t discount them.
Although the Red Sox have many outfield players, we have heard that Jarren Duran, an outfielder, may be available. Since they must do something to make up for Devers, they are also a possibility.
What prospects does Kyle Tucker have as he enters free agency in the next offseason?The Red Sox, Giants, and Cubs are mentioned by @JonHeyman as possible suitors.tweet.com/audOe402QZ
Over the past few years, Tucker, 28, has undoubtedly been one of baseball’s top left-handed batters. Tucker had been named an All-Star in each of his three prior seasons with the Astros before being dealt to the Cubs over the summer. During that time, he had a.275 batting average and a.878 OPS, and he finished fifth in the 2023 AL MVP voting. In 2024, he hit for power as well, hitting 23 home runs in just 78 games despite missing much of the season because of a shin injury.
It looks like Tucker will be an All-Star again in 2025. He started the day with a.284 batting average and a.908 OPS before hitting his 14th home run of the season on Saturday. He was sixth in the National League in stolen bases (18) and fifth in bWAR (3.1) going into Saturday, but his OPS was the seventh-best in the league.
Early signs suggest that Tucker will be the next player to sign a contract worth more than $300 million, given his continued All-Star performance. In fact, Jim Bowden of The Athletics believes Tucker may get a deal worth up to $600 million, while ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently stated that he expects Tucker would receive a deal north of $400 million.
When questioned Thursday about the status of the team’s contract extension negotiations with Tucker, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer gave little information, telling ESPN 1000 in Chicago that those talks will take place later.
Regarding Tucker’s contract negotiations with the Cubs, Heyman stated, “This guy is going to be a free agent at this point.” We assumed there might be some conversations; perhaps they attempted, but it didn’t work.
Going back-to-back is Kyle Tucker!7l0NM1Hd4E pic.twitter.com
The Red Sox are far below the luxury tax threshold for the 2026 season after the Devers transaction. According to Red Sox Payroll, they have committed about $197 million in payroll for 2026, with a projected luxury tax threshold of $244 million. The wages of the players (Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, Walker Buehler, and Lucas Giolito) who have options for the 2026 campaign are included in that payroll total.
Regarding Tucker’s fitness, the Red Sox have an abundance of outfield players as a result of Roman Anthony’s recall. However, as Heyman pointed out, in recent months, trade rumors have suggested Duran and Wilyer Abreu as possible ways to strengthen the Red Sox’s pitching.
However, it seems unlikely that the Red Sox will have the opportunity to acquire Tucker until the offseason. With a 45-30 record going into Saturday, the Cubs appear to be well-positioned to win the NL pennant and possibly a championship this season, so it is improbable that they would want to deal one of their finest players at the deadline.
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