This offseason, the Chicago Cubs may find themselves weighing the possibility of moving one of their most beloved infielders.

It’s hard to dispute that the Cubs fielded arguably the strongest defensive unit in baseball last season. Chicago produced more 2025 Gold Glove winners—Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Nico Hoerner—than any other team in the league. Dansby Swanson remains one of MLB’s premier shortstops, Matt Shaw has stabilized third base, and several of the Cubs’ pitchers excel at defending their position.

At the heart of this defensive strength sits the Swanson–Hoerner middle infield duo, a pairing widely regarded as elite. Even though both players experienced uneven offensive performances in 2025, their elite baserunning and consistent defensive brilliance continued to anchor the team. Most fans and analysts still see them as foundational pieces for the organization.

Hoerner’s situation, however, carries a layer of uncertainty. He signed a three-year, $35 million extension back in March 2023, but now enters the final season before free agency without another deal in place. While extension talks have occurred, few seem confident about his long-term future in Chicago beyond 2026.

Why Nico Hoerner Is Viewed as the Cubs’ Most “Ideal” Trade Chip

In a November 28 report, MLB.com writer Mark Feinsand identified each team’s top trade candidate for the offseason. For the Cubs, his choice was Nico Hoerner—whom he even described as an “ideal trade fit.”

Feinsand’s logic was straightforward: if Hoerner reaches free agency next winter, Chicago may be unwilling to match his market value, especially with promising internal options at second base such as Matt Shaw. By dealing Hoerner now and shifting Shaw to second, the Cubs could then pursue a high-end third baseman—perhaps someone like Alex Bregman—given that the market at third base is far stronger than at second this offseason.

Although Feinsand acknowledged that a pre-2026 trade is unlikely, he argued that Jed Hoyer and the Cubs’ front office should at least keep the door open. Letting Hoerner hit free agency and leave without any return would be far more costly than exploring a trade now—while his value remains high and his control still intact.