Cubs in danger of nightmare Kyle Tucker-Yankees scenario, per insider

To get their hands on Kyle Tucker, the Chicago Cubs had to make two trades,

First, there was the obvious matter of acquiring Tucker from the Houston Astros for three promising players. But to clear space for Tucker in the outfield, the Cubs also had to ship former National League Most Valuable Player Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees.

Bellinger got off to a slow start with the Yankees, but he's been heating up of late. Whatever he does in New York this year, however, is small potatoes compared to the Cubs' true nightmare scenario.

As the Cubs are all too aware, Tucker will be a free agent this winter. Is there a possibility he could sign with the Yankees? If so, they essentially would have given up four players, Bellinger included, for just a year of Tucker.

On Wednesday, insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic spelled out that exact possibility, saying the Yankees would be among the big-market teams he expects to bid on the possible $600 million superstar.

"Tucker has led the Cubs to a first-place start in the NL Central and is considered a top-five MVP candidate in the league. He is again on pace to hit close to 30 homers and steal close to 30 bases," Bowden wrote.

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"Following Juan Soto’s record-setting $765 million deal in free agency and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s $500 million extension, Tucker is expected to land a nine-figure contract that starts with a 6. Several big-market teams, including the Cubs, Phillies, Yankees and Dodgers, should be in play for him."

The Cubs have never given out a contract larger than $184 million in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Yankees gave Aaron Judge $360 million, but made a confirmed $760 million offer to Soto, so there's little doubt about their ability to offer the kind of money Tucker will command.

Clearly, the Cubs will have to dig deep to keep Tucker out of the clutches of teams like the Yankees and Dodgers. It's going to be a high-stakes winter on the north side of Chicago.

More MLB: Cubs could sign Mets 4-time All-Star if Kyle Tucker leaves Chicago, per insider