According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Ragazzo, the New York Yankees have reportedly made contact and shown interest in a trade for Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. Ragazzo shared the update in a post on Sunday evening.
The development follows the Cubs’ decision to sign All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal late Saturday night, a move first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In the aftermath of that signing, Passan also reported that Chicago is now open to the idea of trading Hoerner at some point this offseason.
Nico Hoerner Is The Type Of Player The Yankees Need
Hoerner, a 28-year-old right-handed hitter, is best known for his contact-oriented approach at the plate and elite defensive ability in the infield. He has experience at both shortstop and second base, though he spent most of the 2025 season as the Cubs’ primary second baseman with Dansby Swanson handling shortstop duties.
During the 2025 campaign, Hoerner hit .297 with a .345 on-base percentage, adding seven home runs, 29 stolen bases, and a .739 OPS. Power has never been a defining part of his offensive profile, as his game is built around putting the ball in play and reaching base. He rarely strikes out, posting an 11.2% whiff rate and a 7.6% strikeout rate—both ranking in the 99th percentile among MLB hitters, per Baseball Savant. That combination of contact hitting, on-base skills, speed, and premium defense aligns perfectly with the type of right-handed, top-of-the-order bat the Yankees have been seeking.
The Yankees have faced ongoing issues in the middle infield, particularly at shortstop with Anthony Volpe. Entering his fourth season, Volpe has yet to meet expectations during his time with the team and is also expected to miss roughly the first month of the season after undergoing left shoulder surgery this offseason. With several needs to address, shortstop stands out as a position where the Yankees could look to upgrade, and adding a player like Nico Hoerner would help stabilize the infield.
