Selected by the Chicago Cubs as the 24th overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, Nico Hoerner made his big league debut the following year. Since then, he has established himself as an important part of the team’s infield. Having won two Gold Glove awards, Hoerner has made a name for himself as a reliable glove at second base.
Despite being so important to his team, Hoerner has been heavily linked to a trade this winter. Now that the Cubs have signed top free agent Alex Bregman, they may have a surplus of quality infielders, and this may be the last window to get a good return for Hoerner, as he is set to enter free agency after the 2026 season.
On Friday’s episode of “North Side Territory,” The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma explored the possibility of the Cubs potentially negotiating a contract extension with Nico Hoerner before he hits the open market.
“With Nico Hoerner, it’s looking like he has a chance to be one of the best, if not the best free agent, next offseason. But, I don’t think he has a huge agency (representing him).This is not the be all and end all these things, but it can be a factor where the smaller agency seems a little bit more willing to take these ‘before you hit free agency’ extensions, and they’re not always bad deals,” Sharma said (4:38).
“If it’s a solid extension, my guess is, he would be willing to listen on something that isn’t like a huge, purely, obvious open-market deal. When I say that, I’m not saying a huge discount. He deserves to get paid pretty well. He’s also not that old. I think this is his age 29 season that he’s entering. So you’re talking about a four-year extension, (through his) age 30-33 seasons. That’s a solid deal, especially for his skillset,” he added.
Recent Reports Have Also Linked Nico Hoerner With A Move To The LA Dodgers
Having clinched a second consecutive World Series title in 2025, the LA Dodgers seem determined to enter the new season in even better shape.
Having already signed former Cub Kyle Tucker to a massive four-year, $240 million contract, the reigning NL West champions are reportedly looking to recruit more stars from the Windy City.
According to the latest reports, the Dodgers are looking to shore up their infield with a potential trade for Nico Hoerner.
Although they already have a quality second baseman in Tommy Edman, the 30-year-old is currently recovering from an offseason surgery on his right ankle. Thus, Nico Hoerner’s potential acquisition makes sense for the Dodgers.
Also, with the kind of ambitions the Dodgers have heading into 2026, extra depth is always welcome.
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