With Opening Day upon us, we took this time to answer some of the questions you have going into the 2025 campaign. Without further ado, let’s discuss what’s on your mind:

Is Kyle Tucker worth it? – @jaxson4242 (Instagram)

This is a fair question that Cubs fans will have after Kyle Tucker went 2-for-28 (.071 AVG) in spring training. So, let’s have a game of pick ‘em: three anonymous players and choose which one you’d have. I’ll let you mull on your decision while you read the rest of this mailbag:

Could the Cubs acquire a key rotation piece at the trade deadline? – @mlb2025_chc (Instagram)

Yes, but who that could be is the bigger question. There’s no clear “key rotation piece” on teams that are clearly rebuilding outside of the Marlins’ Sandy Alcántara, and even he has question marks returning from Tommy John surgery he underwent in October 2023. Someone like Framber Valdez is a free agent at the end of this season, but the Astros are still gunning to make the playoffs and wouldn’t trade an ace if they’re in it.

As we saw last year, starting pitching can come from unexpected sources – at this time last year, not many people would have penciled the White Sox’ Erick Fedde as one of the most sought-after starters last trade deadline.

Barring a complete meltdown, the Cubs are going to be buyers at the deadline and aggressive in general this season. They’ve made no secret of their urge to make the playoffs in 2025 and could execute deals during this season. And you can never have enough pitching. Let’s not sleep on the Cubs rotation, either. It’s not flashy and full of big names, but a foursome of Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd isn’t too shabby if they’re all healthy.

[READ: Cubs face baseball’s toughest test as hunt for October resumes]

Why wouldn’t the Cubs sign Rizzo if he is available? @sean_and_gina_wanko (Instagram)

It’s a fair question to ask, but the fact is the club clearly believes in Michael Busch as their long-term answer at first base. Adding Rizzo wouldn’t offer a platoon advantage like Justin Turner does. And frankly, sometimes those reunions don’t go over well. Jake Arrieta returned in 2021 and his struggles added a bit of a sour note on his dominant first run with the Cubs.

What series are you looking forward to most? – @jamescareylmao (Instagram)

It’s cliché but here are two: the domestic opener starting Thursday in Arizona and the home opener at Wrigley Field. There’s always a different buzz around those series.

An honorarable mention goes to the Cubs’ trip to Houston from June 27-29. Tucker’s return to the Space City, the Cubs facing off against Cam Smith, Hayden Wesneski and Isaac Paredes will to be fun to watch.  

Who do you think will make their MLB debut this season? – @NorahCoded (X/Twitter)

I could go with an easy answer – Cade Horton, Moisés Ballesteros or Owen Caissie. But let’s have some fun and select Frankie Scalzo Jr. He pitched 26 scoreless innings during 21 games in Double-A last season and reached Triple-A where he had a 4.08 ERA in 24 outings. He could make his major-league debut this season out of the bullpen.

[MORE: Six Cubs prospects to watch in 2025]

I polled our player development analyst, Lance Brozdowski – my new desk neighbor – and he’s going with Brandon Birdsell. Assuming he comes back healthy from a back strain he suffered this spring, Brozdowski thinks he could make some starts for the team this year.

How related are Jed and Tucker’s extensions? For real, if Jed had 2-3 more years left, would he be pushing hard for extending Tucker rn? – @alohasaurus (X/Twitter)

Will Jed get an extension? – @RogersJohns74603/@CubsnCards (X/Twitter)

These are all closely related, so I lumped them together.

For the first question, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has said his contract status isn’t affecting his decision-making. In this situation, I believe him. If he had one year or 10 years remaining, his approach to the Tucker situation would be similar. After seeing how the free agent market has developed with Juan Soto this winter, Tucker will likely want to test the market anyway, so negotiations – and there are no indications that any are going on – would be proceeding the same way, regardless of Hoyer’s status.

Regarding the Hoyer question, that will be the biggest one for the team at the end of the year. If Hoyer and the Cubs make it to the playoffs, it would be surprising to not see him return in 2026.

Is Kyle Tucker worth it? – @jaxson4242 (Instagram)

OK, back to our game. Player A is Alex Bregman – a Cubs target and one many Cubs fans clamored for. Player B is Tucker and Player C is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a potential free agent at the end of the year and one fans have also asked the team to trade for on social media.

Tucker is legit. Since his first full season in 2020, Tucker’s 143 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) is the 10th-best in baseball, ahead of players like Guerrero, Jose Ramírez, José Altuve and Matt Olson. Paredes, Wesneski and Smith is a hefty price to pay – but you can’t acquire a player like Tucker without giving up quality talent in return.