If the Chicago Cubs come to terms with Alex Bregman on a "creative" deal at some point in the coming days, the pending arrival of top prospect Matt Shaw will place a ticking clock upon the shoulders of incumbent second baseman Nico Hoerner. But just because Hoerner would represent a joyous upgrade for the New York Yankees does not mean the Cubs will be inclined to deal him to the Bronx.
In order for Jed Hoyer and Brian Cashman to progress on any sort of Hoerner trade, Chicago would have to (being generous here) strike out in several other pursuits that would better suit their grand plan.
Would Hoerner be a fit in the Bronx? Absolutely. He brings both tangibles (annual above-average offense, Gold Glove defense) and intangibles (hair-on-fire hustle). He only played second baseman or shortstop in 2024, so his addition might necessitate a Jazz Chisholm shift back to third. That said, the Yankees shuttled an inexperienced Chisholm over to the hot corner midseason last year; they could certainly be inclined to stick Hoerner and his 95th percentile range at an "unfamiliar" position and call it a day. There are bigger swings on the market (Bregman himself), but Hoerner is an ideal complementary player, if not an outright star.
That said ... given Chicago's one-year contention window with Kyle Tucker in place, and appetite for larger swings themselves, it would be difficult to see the two sides aligning on a palatable trade package here.
Here's Nico Hoerner scoring from SECOND BASE on a wild pitch for an extra inning lead.
— Max Mannis (@MaxMannis) February 4, 2025
If Alex Bregman goes to the Cubs, get me this man in the Bronx pronto.pic.twitter.com/817UYmuakB
Yankees' trade for Nico Hoerner of the Cubs won't be so easy, even if Alex Bregman signs in Chicago
And, while you're here, take a gander at Hoerner's hard-hit metrics and wonder if you'd really want to pay the expensive piper for all that icy blue anyhow.
From Chicago's perspective, they would immediately enter the fray for all the most prominent "ticking clock" trade targets by dangling Hoerner. The Padres seem to be inclined to trade Dylan Cease and Michael King, two players the Cubs were briefly connected to. With Ha-Seong Kim gone and Luis Arraez headed for free agency next winter (or the trade market immediately), the Padres' infield depth isn't what it used to be. The only issue here is that Hoerner has two years remaining on a three-year, $35 million pact; San Diego might need to clear Arraez, too, before they'd be enthused about absorbing that kind of money.
Hoerner would also, coincidentally, be a perfect fit in Seattle, a team that's been dangling Luis Castillo all offseason in exchange for some financial relief. Hoerner's $11.5 million is just under half of Castillo's annual $24.15 million salary, which lasts through 2027. The Padres may be turned off by even Hoerner's modest extension, but the savings generated would thrill the trade-happy Mariners.
Seeing as Chicago wants high-profile rotation help, could the Yankees make an appealing offer? Not unless they dangle Clarke Schmidt or Luis Gil, which might cause more trauma than it's worth.
The Yankees could be in play for Hoerner, sure. But they would likely be a third choice, and it would likely require them to make a painful divot into their own valued pitching depth. If the Yanks couldn't rope him into the Bellinger deal, it's probably not happening now. Don't say we didn't warn you.