Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is preparing to enter his final year of club control with the Chicago Cubs before hitting the free-agent market, where his contract could end up tipping the scales.
The Cubs have not been known for spending much money in general in recent years, and after signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, some feel that Hoerner is a sure-fire goner after 2026, especially with Matt Shaw possessing the ability to shift to second base.
Hoerner’s name has even surfaced in trade speculation throughout the offseason, although it would not make a ton of sense for Chicago to move him now with the Cubs angling toward World Series contention.
But is there any chance of Hoerner staying in the Windy City long term?
Well, the odds of the 28-year-old remaining in Chicago may have just dipped tremendously thanks to New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm.
Nico Hoerner may have just been priced out of the Chicago Cubs’ range
Apr 2, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Chicago Cubs second base Nico Hoerner (2) steals third base against the Athletics during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
In case you didn’t hear, Chisholm stated over the weekend that he is aiming to land an eight-to-10 year contract worth $35 million annually. So essentially, Chisholm wants a $350 million deal, which is enough to make your head spin.
If Chisholm is able to get that type of money, then imagine what Hoerner — who led all second basemen with 4.3 WAR in 2025 — will secure?
Now, of course, just because Chisholm says he wants $350 million doesn’t mean he will actually land it. Most have him pegged around $200 million on his free-agent deal, but maybe he knows something that we don’t?
Chisholm hit 31 home runs to go along with an .813 OPS last season, also stealing 31 bases. His numbers were impressive. If he posts even better stats in 2026, then his price will certainly increase, and while he still probably won’t get $350 million, his contract might surprise some people.
Then there’s Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glover winner who slashed .297/.345/.394 with seven homers and 61 RBI last year. He doesn’t have Chisholm’s power, but he is the far better contact hitter, and defensively, the difference between the two players is night and day.
Re-signing Hoerner was already going to be difficult for the Cubs, but if Chisholm ends up having that type of market, retaining Hoerner may have just become near impossible for Chicago.
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