The Case for Why the Cubs Should Keep Nico Hoerner

On Saturday, January 10, while the Chicago Bears completed an 18-point comeback on the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the NFL Playoffs, the Chicago Cubs made it clear they intend to be competitive in 2026.

In a move uncharacteristic to their typical identity as a franchise, the Cubs splurged and snagged Alex Bregman, one of the top free agents available, with a five-year, $175 million contract. This is the biggest contract the Cubs have ever given out by AAV, and it gives fans a great reason to be optimistic for the future.

However, adding the three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champ could make things complicated. Obviously third base will go to Bregman, but what does that mean for Matt Shaw? He went through the Cubs’ farm system as a second baseman, but that position is taken by one of the best second baseman in MLB, Nico Hoerner.

Considering that Hoerner is an impending free agent and that the Cubs are most likely going to be above the luxury tax due to Bregman’s contract, it makes sense that people are theorizing that Hoerner could be dealt.

However, as of now, it seems like Hoerner is not going anywhere. The Cubs want to contend for a World Series in 2026, and he would be essential in accomplishing that goal.

Cubs Options for Their Next Move

The Cubs put on the 2026 Cubs Convention this past weekend, and Hoerner was a big part of the event. He was present in several panels and events with fans and was met with thunderous applause from the Cubs faithful every chance they got.

When teammates and coaches were asked about the situation, they all echoed the value that Hoerner brings to the team and how he is irreplaceable.

While Shaw will definitely work as a super-utility player in 2026, a change the Cubs can make to keep him in the lineup is moving him to right field. A void has been left since the departure of Kyle Tucker and Owen Caissie being sent to Miami in a trade for Edward Cabrera, so the position is open if Shaw can adjust.

On Saturday, manager Craig Counsell was asked about Shaw and the possibility of him seeing time in the outfield this season. “A team needs to have players that can play multiple positions. I think Matt is very capable of doing it,” he said.

“Now, we have to give Matt some time. We have to give him some practice, we have to let him make mistakes while he’s going through that process, but he will be successful.”

We have seen the Cubs do this in the past as well. When Kris Bryant played for the Cubs, he spent lots of time away from third base, playing outfield after coming up as an infielder.

However, when asked about the possibility of the Cubs making another trade before Opening Day, Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins didn’t rule anything out. “There’s always things happening and there are always opportunities that are presenting themselves,” he said.

“Certainly at some point, we have to say pencils down, but we’re still in January, so we’re not going to say pencils down. We’re going to be very judicious in making decisions, and all those decisions will be toward making our team better now or for the future.”

So while it seems likely Hoerner won’t be traded with Counsell seeing the outfield in Shaw’s future, it is still a good idea to look at the pros and cons of a possible trade.

Reasons for the Cubs to Keep Hoerner

Let’s start with the reasons to keep him. Hoerner won his second Gold Glove in 2025, finishing with an astounding +15 OAA. He joins shortstop Dansby Swanson (2) and left fielder Ian Happ (4) as the third multiple time Gold Glove winner for the Cubs.

So now, one year after winning the National League Team Gold Glove award, the Cubs are adding another Gold Glove-caliber infielder with Alex Bregman, who won the award in the AL in 2024. With his addition, the Cubs have five Gold Glove winners, with a sum of 10 trophies among them.

Should they hold on to Nico, there’s no doubt they’d be the favorites to go back-to-back and win the team award again in 2026. 

On the offensive side, Hoerner finished with a career-high 114 OPS+ in 2025. He only struck out 49 times, the lowest total of his career, finishing with a 7.6% strikeout rate. That is the third lowest among qualified hitters in 2025, only behind Luis Arraez and Jacob Wilson.

Additionally, he finished in the 96th percentile in baserunning value, according to Baseball Savant. He stole 29 bases and was only caught six times, making him a threat to steal a base whenever he gets on.

Perhaps his most impressive stat in 2025 was his production with RISP. In 2025, Hoerner slashed a remarkable .371/.424/.457 with an .881 OPS. In 157 ABs, he only struck out 18 times. When October arrived, Hoerner rose to the occasion. He slashed .419/.424/.548 with a .973 OPS. In 31 ABs, he struck out just twice.

To summarize, he does it all. He can hit, field, and run the bases better than most of the league. With his level of play seemingly the highest it has ever been and the Cubs looking to make a push for the 2026 World Series, a trade wouldn’t be smart.

Why the Cubs Might Trade Hoerner

So, what are the reasons to trade him? As previously mentioned, 2026 is Hoerner’s contract year. Thanks to his superb 2025 season, he is likely looking for a long-term contract worth around $20-25 million AAV. 

If the Cubs aren’t planning on giving him that deal, it might make sense to move him now while his value is the highest that it has ever been.

Unfortunately, the Cubs might need to make some difficult decisions after 2026. Along with Hoerner, Happ and right-hander Jameson Taillon are free agents following this season.

Those three are being paid $49 million in 2026. Most likely, they need to let at least one of them walk, especially with Hoerner due for a pay raise. Add in the uncertainty with the CBA expiring, and the Cubs find themselves in a precarious situation that may require them to pick between their three impending free agents.

However, the Cubs already proved that they are trying to win now and that they are willing to spend to do it. Also, Hoerner probably won’t cost as much as Bregman did, so there’s hope they are willing to pay Hoerner and keep him in Chicago.

The chances the Cubs would be able to replace Hoerner with a player of his caliber are very low. For a team looking to win now, a trade to build for the future doesn’t seem logical.

However, the top reason why a trade is a bad idea is because of what Hoerner means to the fanbase. Hoerner is the second-longest tenured player on the Chicago Cubs. He made his debut in 2019, and has since established himself as a fan favorite because of his hustle, work ethic, and leadership.

Trading him away would completely sour the fanbase, making the Cubs front office extremely unpopular right before the beginning of the season. Unless the return is absolutely out of this world, a trade would be a huge mistake.

All of that being said, if the Cubs don’t trade him and then let him walk next offseason, it will leave fans scratching their heads on what exactly the front office was thinking.

So, while the chances of a trade aren’t zero, Cubs fans should rest assured that Hoerner is almost certainly going to be at second base when the first pitch of Opening Day is thrown on March 26.