Reds fans ridiculing Cubs-Kyle Tucker arbitration snafu have forgotten recent history

Yes, it's quite funny that the Chicago Cubs have reached an impasse with their biggest offseason addition. Thursday's deadline to exchange arbitration figures came and went and the Cubs failed to come to terms with their newly acquired outfielder, Kyle Tucker.

The Cincinnati Reds' NL Central rival — and arguably the biggest obstacle standing between them and the division title in 2025 — swung big this offseason and acquired the All-Star slugger from the Houston Astros in exchange for major leaguers Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wisneski, and prospect Cam Smith.

But after the arbitration filings were completed on Thursday, the Cubs and Tucker remained far apart in negotiations. The Cubs dug in their heels at $15 million while Tucker's camp is set on $17.5 million. This stalemate will now result in the two sides heading to arbitration.

Reds fans ridiculing Cubs-Kyle Tucker arbitration snafu have forgotten recent history

But while it's always an entertaining exercise to poke fun at one's rival, especially a franchise as detestable as the Cubs, Reds fans can't forget that this same thing happened just a few years ago. Notorious Reds' killer Ian Happ and the Cubs went to arbitration in 2021.

Happ won his case and earned $4.1 million that season. And though sometimes arbitration can drive a wedge between the player and the team, that process didn't sully Happ's relationship one bit. The outfielder eventually agreed to a three-year extension with the North Siders in 2023, and Tucker may end up doing the same. That would be the worst case scenario for the Reds.

Cincinnati experienced a similar outcome with now-former infielder Jonathan India. Last winter, the Reds and India were unable to come to an agreement before the arbitration deadline, but the two sides eventually agreed to a two-year, $8.8 million contract extension last February. Tucker is going to command a much larger sum between now the 2026 season.

A free agent after the upcoming 2025 campaign, Tucker is either going to ink a mega-deal with the Cubs or strike it rich on the free agent market next offseason. Reds fans are hoping for the latter, as having Tucker setup shop in right field at Wrigley for the next several seasons is not something the Cincinnati faithful want to see.

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