The Chicago Cubs made a big splash on Saturday night, signing infielder Alex Bregman to a five-year deal. It was a huge move for the franchise, not only solidifying the infield even more but also giving out another big contract in a frutstrating offseason for fans.
However, it has now created a problem in the infield.
The Cubs now have one too many infielders with the addition of Bregman and while that’s a good problem to have, it feels like someone will be on the move. There have been trade rumors surrounding both Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner this offseason but nothing has materialized so far.
Ideally, you would try to keep Hoerner who is a gold glove winner and has been a staple on this defense for years. Shaw though is a talented prospect with a lot of upside and despite some struggles last season, there appears to be a bright future. As both names continue to pop up, the latest report suggests that a national league team has their eyes on one of the two.
San Francisco Giants pursuing Nico Hoerner
MLB: Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds May 25, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) high fives a teammate after scoring on a single hit by first baseman Michael Busch (not pictured) in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Just days after the Bregman acquisition, things appear to be heating up in terms of the trade market and the Cubs. Now, it sounds as if the San Francisco Giants have their eyes on Hoerner.
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Giants are “aggressively pursuing” a second baseman. Passan says they have been engaged with the Cubs on Hoerner as well as St. Louis on Brendan Donovan. The Giants are attempting to put together one of the best infields in all of baseball.
The San Francisco Giants are aggressively pursuing a second baseman and have been engaged with Chicago on Nico Hoerner and St. Louis on Brendan Donovan, sources tell ESPN. An infield of Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Donovan or Hoerner and Rafael Devers would be among MLB’s best.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2026
For the Cubs, does it make sense to trade a glove and bat like Hoerner right now? The infield of Bregman, Dansby Swanson, Hoerner and Michael Busch is a really good one. Shaw struggled in his rookie season with hitting and a new report suggests that he is being resistant to some help from the Cubs.
Hoerner is a year away from free agency but the 2027 campaign looks bleak in terms of a potential lockout for the sport. Either way, it sounds like the Cubs will be moving an infielder eventually.
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