Craig Counsell: Kyle Tucker can be an 'absolute force' for Cubs

(670 The Score) Cubs manager Craig Counsell is eager to write a new name in his starting lineup on a daily basis in 2025.

That would be three-time All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker, whom the Cubs acquired from the Astros in a trade in December. Tucker, who turned 28 on Friday, is a career .274 hitter with 125 home runs and 417 RBIs. He had a .993 OPS and hit 23 homers in just 78 games in 2024.

Counsell sees Tucker as the caliber of player who can transform the Cubs’ lineup each day.

“You’re getting just a force every day, with four or five plate appearances that’s just an absolute force,” Counsell said on the Spiegel & Holmes Show on Friday. “And it doesn’t matter the pitcher, it doesn’t matter the matchup, the other team is scared to death for him to come up and you know he can impact the game. It’s that consistency of really good offense that players like Kyle provide.”

The Cubs struck their deal for Tucker on Dec. 13, sending third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and third base prospect Cam Smith to the Astros.

Tucker is set to become a free agent after this season and is expected to be one of the top players available on the open market.

The Cubs will open their 2025 regular season on March 18, when they take on the Dodgers in Tokyo.

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