It’s a pressure-packed season for the Chicago Cubs, and the trade deadline feels like a crucial pivot point.
Coming into the 2025 season, the Cubs put their chips on the table when they traded for ex-Houston Astros All-Star Kyle Tucker. With just one year left on Tucker’s rookie contract, the Cubs are undoubtedly trying to win now.
The infield then quickly became a hot topic, as top prospect Matt Shaw, who can play both second and third base, made the Opening Day roster. Shaw’s struggles were so pronounced, though, that he was optioned back to Triple-A on Apr. 15.
Eventually, Shaw will be part of the picture again. But can the Cubs count on him enough to trade away another infielder to a team in need?
On Tuesday, New York Yankees beat reporter Brendan Kuty of The Athletic suggested that Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner could be a trade fit for the Yankees, who are short two infielders at the moment.
“Would the Yankees be interested in Nico Hoerner of the Cubs? He’s due $23.5 million between this season and next year, however,” Kuty wrote.
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“Adding Hoerner (career .715 OPS) would also require moving Chisholm to third base. Hoerner has hit .280 with no homers and a .663 OPS this season.”
Hoerner’s three-year, $35 million arbitration extension runs through next season, and there’s an argument to be made that the Cubs might want to skip out on paying the last year and a half.
However, Hoerner, 28, is also undeniably a valuable player, even if he’s not going to win any Silver Slugger awards. He’s an elite defender (2023 Gold Glove) and baserunner, who averages nearly five bWAR per 162 games in his career.
Though Hoerner is stuck in an awkward place between cornerstone and expendable veteran, the Cubs might be best off playing it safe and hanging onto him, especially while Shaw is still developing.
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