The Chicago Cubs have entered 2025 with the throttle wide open — and that kind of aggressive strategy always brings some tension at the trade deadline.
After swinging a blockbuster deal to bring in Kyle Tucker from Houston for a one-year title push, the front office signaled loud and clear: we’re in win-now mode.
But just weeks into the season, the pressure is already mounting, and one position group — the infield — is shaping up to be a major storyline.
The Matt Shaw Setback
The Cubs had high hopes for top prospect Matt Shaw, who impressed enough in camp to make the Opening Day roster. However, the transition to MLB-level pitching proved steep. After just a couple of weeks, he was sent back to Triple-A on April 15.
While there’s still confidence in Shaw’s long-term potential, his struggles effectively slammed the brakes on any thoughts of retooling the infield midseason.
This brings us to Nico Hoerner, a player who now finds himself awkwardly wedged between “a key contributor” and “a potential trade chip.”
Hoerner: Undervalued or Underrated?
Nico Hoerner isn’t flashy. He’s not hitting bombs. His .663 OPS and homerless stat line don’t pop off the page. But he’s doing the little things that win games — the things every good team needs.
He’s a Gold Glove second baseman. An elite baserunner. A high-contact hitter who helps flip the lineup. And over the course of a full season, he’s worth nearly five wins above replacement. That kind of consistency doesn’t grow on trees, especially for a team navigating the uncertainty of young talent like Shaw.
Yet, Hoerner’s future in Chicago isn’t ironclad. He’s owed $23.5 million through 2026 under a three-year extension signed last spring. That’s reasonable for a player of his caliber. But it’s also just pricey enough that some in the front office might quietly weigh the option of moving him, especially with Shaw expected to return later this year.
The Yankees Angle
Unsurprisingly, the New York Yankees are reportedly sniffing around Hoerner. Beat writer Brendan Kuty suggested he could be a natural fit for a Yankees team that is thin on infield depth and currently improvising around injuries.
But a Hoerner deal wouldn’t come cheap, not in dollars, and certainly not in prospects. He’s still just 28, controllable, and capable of playing premium defense in a postseason race.
There’s also a domino effect. A move like this would force the Yankees to shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to third base, adding another layer of complexity to a team still figuring out its infield identity.
Should the Cubs Actually Move Him?
There’s no denying the Cubs are in a tough spot. With Shaw still maturing, Tucker on a one-year rental, and a tight NL Central race brewing, trading Hoerner would be a gamble of the highest order. Could it work? Sure. Could it backfire spectacularly? Also yes.
Hoerner’s value isn’t easily replaced — not by Shaw right now, and not by anyone readily available on the market. If the Cubs want to win this year, hanging onto Hoerner feels like the safer play.
That said, don’t rule out the possibility. If Shaw rebounds in Triple-A and another team — the Yankees or someone else — comes knocking with a can’t-miss offer that brings pitching depth or controllable talent back to Wrigley, the Cubs might be tempted to deal from a position of relative strength.
But for now? Hoerner looks like the glue keeping this infield intact. And for a team with October aspirations, that kind of stability might be more valuable than anything on the trade block.
