The Chicago Cubs’ offseason could still swing a few drastically different directions even as spring training gets underway.
Free agent infielder Alex Bregman is a crucial domino for many teams for the rest of the winter. The Cubs are among the teams in the running for the two-time All-Star, and if they succeed, they’ll have to shuffle the deck with the rest of their lineup.
Landing Bregman would allow the Cubs to use second baseman Nico Hoerner as trade bait–though they certainly don’t have to do so. The 2023 Gold Glover has two years left on his $35 million arbitration extension, which began last season.
Often, a trade is about finding a team who needs what you have, and the New York Yankees are clearly one infielder short of a championship lineup. The Yankees might also have a starting pitcher to spare who could really help the Cubs in 2025.
In a YouTube video published Saturday, content creator Robbie Hyde proposed a hypothetical one-for-one swap: Hoerner for Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt, who pitched to a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts in for New York last season.
“This would be an everyday option to plug in there,” Hyde said. “This is a guy with a high-contact bat… You could put him at second base and move Jazz Chisholm back to third. Whatever it may be, I think it would be an awesome addition for the Yankees.”
“(Schmidt) took a big step forward this past year… I think it would be a nice addition for the Cubs rotation.”
Schmidt, who turns 29 next week, is under team control for three more years thanks to his “Super Two” arbitration status. He will make $3.6 million this season, which is fantastic value for a pitcher who could blossom into a number-three starter if fully healthy.
The Cubs have top prospect Matt Shaw gunning for a starting infield job this season, so in theory, he and Bregman combined could make Hoerner expendable. But as a proven big-leaguer, Hoerner also doesn’t need to be moved unless the Cubs are confident they can get more value from trading him than he’d bring to their roster.
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