{"id":139115,"date":"2026-01-13T13:06:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T13:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115"},"modified":"2026-01-13T13:06:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T13:06:40","slug":"cubs-eye-bold-hoerner-move-that-could-end-all-trade-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Eye Bold Hoerner Move That Could End All Trade Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs second base Nico Hoerner (2) high fives manager Craig Counsell (11) after he scores against the New York Mets during the third inning at Wrigley Field. \/ Matt Marton \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n

Why the Cubs Should Lock in Nico Hoerner for the Long Haul<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless a team comes knocking with a jaw-dropping offer, don\u2019t expect the Chicago Cubs to move Nico Hoerner anytime soon. And frankly, they shouldn\u2019t. The two-time Gold Glove winner is heading into the final season of the three-year, $35 million extension he signed back in March 2023, and he\u2019s done more than enough to warrant serious consideration for another long-term deal from Jed Hoyer and the Cubs\u2019 front office.<\/p>\n

Hoerner\u2019s 2025 campaign was the best of his career – and it wasn\u2019t particularly close. He nearly took home the National League batting title, finishing the season with a .297 average and pushing the race down to the final weekend.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t just the batting average that stood out. Hoerner led all second basemen in Major League Baseball with 4.8 fWAR, a number driven by elite contact skills and top-tier defense.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a guy you\u2019re going to keep around for $11 million a year anymore. Hoerner has evolved into one of the premier players at his position, and his skill set brings a unique balance to the Cubs\u2019 lineup – a contact-first approach in an era dominated by strikeouts and slugging. He\u2019s the kind of player who doesn\u2019t just fill a role – he elevates the entire infield.<\/p>\n

\"Why<\/p>\n

So what would it take to keep him in Chicago beyond 2026? A fair offer could look something like this: six years, $110 million, with a partial no-trade clause<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a discount. Let\u2019s be clear.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s the kind of deal that reflects Hoerner\u2019s value – both on paper and in the clubhouse. On the open market, he\u2019d have no shortage of suitors.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not only a two-time Gold Glove second baseman, but he\u2019s also proven he can handle shortstop duties if needed. That kind of defensive versatility is gold in today\u2019s game, and teams would line up to pay for it.<\/p>\n

A six-year deal would take Hoerner through his age-34 season, with an average annual value of $18.33 million. That\u2019s a manageable number for a team like the Cubs, especially when you consider the uncertainty looming after 2026.<\/p>\n

Several key players – including Hoerner, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Ian Happ, and Seiya Suzuki – are set to hit free agency after this season. Locking in one of the team\u2019s foundational pieces now would provide some much-needed stability in an otherwise cloudy future.<\/p>\n

And when it comes to long-term performance, Hoerner\u2019s profile offers reasons for optimism. His offensive game isn\u2019t built on raw bat speed or power – two traits that often fade with age.<\/p>\n

Instead, he thrives on elite plate discipline, contact ability, and a smart approach at the plate. Last year, he finished near the top of the league in both Whiff% and strikeout rate, despite ranking in the bottom eight percent in bat speed.<\/p>\n

That tells you everything you need to know about how he gets it done – and why it\u2019s sustainable.<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

He\u2019s never going to be a 30-homer guy, and that\u2019s fine. What he brings to the table – high contact, great defense, and leadership – is just as valuable, especially for a team looking to build a cohesive, fundamentally sound roster. Even if he loses a step defensively toward the end of the deal, he still projects as an above-average second baseman – the kind of player you want on your roster deep into a postseason run.<\/p>\n

Now, the one wrinkle in all of this? The Cubs\u2019 internal pipeline.<\/p>\n

If the front office views Matt Shaw as Hoerner\u2019s eventual replacement, they may be hesitant to commit nine figures to a player at the same position. That\u2019s a fair consideration.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s also a gamble – and one that could backfire if Shaw doesn\u2019t develop as expected.<\/p>\n

Hoerner brings more than just numbers. He\u2019s a tone-setter, a steady presence, and a player who\u2019s helped shape the Cubs\u2019 identity over the past few seasons. Letting him walk after 2026 would be a step backward for a team that\u2019s trying to build something sustainable.<\/p>\n

Forget the trade rumors. This isn\u2019t a player you dangle at the deadline – he\u2019s one you build around. And if the Cubs are serious about contending in the years to come, extending Nico Hoerner should be near the top of their to-do list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Chicago Cubs second base Nico Hoerner (2) high fives manager Craig Counsell (11) after he scores against the New York Mets during the third inning at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":139116,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nCubs Eye Bold Hoerner Move That Could End All Trade Talk - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cubs Eye Bold Hoerner Move That Could End All Trade Talk - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IMAGE: Chicago Cubs second base Nico Hoerner (2) high fives manager Craig Counsell (11) after he scores against the New York Mets during the third inning at...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T13:06:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Rinrin-46-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"XuanTan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=139115\",\"name\":\"Cubs Eye Bold Hoerner Move That Could End All Trade Talk - 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