From Houston Heat to Chicago Chill—can Kyle Tucker keep the Cubs’ lineup on fire? The post Craig Counsell Makes His Feelings Knows About $17.5 M Ex-Astros Powerbat Replacing Cody Bellinger appeared first on EssentiallySports.

It came down Sunday, when the Cubs announced that Nicky Lopez, a veteran non-roster invitee, hadn’t made the roster for the Tokyo Series and they were returning him to minor-league camp. Utility players Gage Workman and Vidal Bruján will be making the Tokyo trip, manager Craig Counsell said.

In joining the Cubs, Tucker has gone from a key member of the Astros' supporting cast to franchise star, even if it could be short lived.

The Chicago Cubs are looking to snap their four-year playoff drought in 2025. Chicago made arguably the most significant franchise-altering move this offseason, sending a trio of players to the Houston Astros in exchange for three-time MLB All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker.

At 28 years old, Tucker is in his prime and has been a consistent force over the past four seasons, averaging a 5.3 bWAR per year. While that production level places him on the fringe of MVP contention, a strong surge in 2025 could push him into the elite 7.0+ bWAR territory—a mark that has often defined past MVP winners.

With the start of the regular season quickly approaching for the Chicago Cubs, the team will be anxious to see if the moves made this offseason are enough.