The Chicago Cubs continue to shop Nico Hoerner despite public pushback from teammates, and now there’s a potential trade scenario with the New York Yankees gaining traction.
Dansby Swanson made his feelings clear about keeping his double-play partner.
“Jed’s got so much love and respect for Nico. Nico means the world to me and to this team; who he is as a person, he brings the same type of energy and competitive spirit that Alex does. He’s somebody that’s just a darn good player, really good winner and irreplaceable, really. There’s no (way to properly) value what he brings to this group on and off the field.”
That’s what Swanson told The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma. But the front office seems to have different plans.
The Yankees Connection
FanSided’s Mark Powell floated a trade package that addresses both teams’ needs:
Yankees receive: Nico Hoerner
Cubs receive: Henry Lalane, Kyle Carr
Powell’s reasoning makes sense when you look at Chicago’s roster construction. They’ve got Alex Bregman locked in at third base and view Matt Shaw as their future at second. That leaves Hoerner without a clear long-term home.
“The Cubs sound – at least from the outside looking in – like they want to get the most for Hoerner while they still can,” Powell wrote. “Chicago values Matt Shaw as their future at second base, and they acquired Alex Bregman in free agency for a reason.”
What Chicago Would Get Back
The return package focuses on pitching depth, which the Cubs desperately need beyond Cade Horton.
Henry Lalane is the centerpiece – he’s knocking on the door of top-100 prospect status and represents legitimate rotation upside. Kyle Carr might fly under the radar in New York’s loaded system, but he projects as a rotation regular down the line.
“What Chicago is lacking beyond Cade Horton is system depth at starting pitcher. This trade gives them two, including Lalane, who is closing in on top-100 prospect status himself,” Powell explained.
It’s not a blockbuster return, but it might reflect Hoerner’s current market value. The Cubs would be trading present-day production for future controllable arms – exactly the type of move rebuilding teams make.
From where I’m sitting, this feels like the Cubs testing whether they can get more pitching help elsewhere. But if this is the going rate for a reliable middle infielder, they might have to take what’s available and focus on the long-term upside.
