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Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner

The Chicago Cubs have been very busy over the last couple of weeks. Jed Hoyer and company have made two splash moves after a slow start to the offseason.

While fans had started to get frustrated about the Cubs not being aggressive, the team did not disappoint them.

First, Chicago pulled off a big trade with the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera. After that move, the Cubs made a big free agency deal with veteran star third baseman Alex Bregman.

After the Bregman move was made, more rumors surrounded the team. There was a lot of speculation about Nico Hoerner being a potential trade candidate. Since then, the rumors have grown even louder.

Despite the reports that Chicago has received heavy interest in Horner, a new update has been shared that seems to hint at the Cubs keeping him this season.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today said that he has heard that Chicago is not going to trade Hoerner this offseason.

“I was told that Nico Hoerner’s staying put,” Nightengale said.

Keeping Nico Hoerner Is the Right Move for the Chicago Cubs

If the Cubs are serious about competing for a World Series in 2026, they need to keep Hoerner. They can’t afford to make the same mistake they made last offseason.

Speaking of last offseason, fans will remember that Chicago made a blockbuster trade to acquire superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros. Shortly after that move was made, the Cubs followed it up by trading away Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees.

That move did not pan out well. Tucker is scheduled to leave in free agency this offseason barring an unforeseen change and Bellinger had a great year for the Yankees.

Keeping Hoerner would be the right decision for Chicago. He’s an elite defensive second baseman and has a very productive bat as well.

It’s time for the Cubs to go all-in on trying to win a championship. Hoerner will be a key part of making those dreams turn into a reality.

The Cubs Are Looking Like a True Contender

No one can predict what a season will actually look like. However, Chicago has to be feeling good about the roster it has put together.

From a lineup perspective, the Cubs project to have an elite offense from top to bottom. Assuming they have good health, they should be one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.

The lineup will feature names like Bregman, Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Michael Busch. Around those players, Chicago has elite talent.

As for the starting rotation, the addition of Cabrera is exactly what the Cubs needed. They will get Justin Steele back at some point during the year, while also having Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton.

There is talent all over the field for Chicago. At this point in time, there is no reason to ship out a key player like Hoerner. The Cubs should keep this team together and see what happens to start out the year.

Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey