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The Chicago Cubs have checked in on free-agent infielder Bo Bichette, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post , a development that could turn into a legitimate infield shakeup if Chicago moves on from Nico Hoerner or misses elsewhere on the market.

Bichette’s market had been quieter and mostly tied to AL East suitors, but Heyman’s report signals that Chicago is at least doing its homework on a player who could force real decisions at second base – or even third – depending on what the Cubs do next.

Cubs Join a Growing Bo Bichette Market

Bichette, a two-time All-Star, has been most strongly linked to a potential return to the Toronto Blue Jays and to the Boston Red Sox (who reportedly met with him over Zoom). Now the Cubs are in the “checked in” group alongside the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The positional angle is what makes this worth watching for Chicago. Bichette has been viewed by many evaluators as a bat that may eventually need to move off shortstop, and he’s already started showing flexibility. During the 2025 World Series, he played second base in his return from a knee injury, an important breadcrumb if teams are selling themselves on a multi-position fit.

There’s also a reason clubs keep circling back to the “where does he play?” question: Statcast/defensive metrics have been rough at shortstop, including Bichette ranking in the first percentile in Outs Above Average in 2025, per Baseball Savant-based reporting .

What It Means for the Cubs’ Infield

On paper, the Cubs don’t need a shortstop. Dansby Swanson is entrenched there, and Hoerner is locked in at second. But this rumor gets loud fast because Hoerner has been drawing trade interest , meaning Chicago has a plausible path to opening a spot without forcing a weird fit.

Hoerner’s situation is straightforward leverage: he’s under contract through 2026 on the three-year, $35 million extension he signed (covering his remaining arbitration years). If the Cubs aren’t confident he’s a long-term piece, flipping him for pitching or other needs becomes a real “now or never” decision point.

That’s where Bichette becomes more than just a name on a list. If Chicago clears second base, Bichette has indicated openness to playing there, and the Cubs could sell the move as maximizing the bat while protecting him defensively.

Third base is the other pressure valve. If the Cubs come up short in their pursuit of Alex Bregman, Bichette can be framed as an alternate way to upgrade the lineup, even if he’s never played third in the majors.

Why This Matters Right Now & Key Details to Watch

This is “check-in” territory, not “close,” but it’s the kind of contact that often precedes one of two things: a trade domino (Hoerner) or a miss-and-pivot moment (Bregman).

Key details

• Hoerner is controllable through 2026 on a three-year, $35M deal, prime trade-timing territory.
• Bichette has already taken real-game reps at 2B (including the 2025 World Series).
• Defensive concerns at SS are real, with OAA/percentile marks fueling the “move him” conversation.
• The Cubs’ Plan A/Plan B storyline is clear: Bregman pursuit on one track, Bichette as a potential counter on another.

What’s next: If trade chatter around Hoerner heats up – or if Bregman lands elsewhere – expect the Bichette-to-Cubs noise to get louder quickly, because the roster logic becomes much cleaner.

Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson