Chicago Cubs Agree to 3-Year Extension with Nico Hoerner

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year, $35 million contract extension with second baseman Nico Hoerner, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. The signing extends Hoerner through 2026. He will now be on-schedule to hit the free agent market after 2026, at age 29.

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year, $35 million contract extension with second baseman Nico Hoerner, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. 

The signing extends Hoerner through 2026. He will now be on-schedule to hit the free agent market after 2026, at age 29.

Hoerner broke out in his first full season at the shortstop position. The 25-year-old finished second among National League shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved, with 10, trailing just Miami Marlins' Miguel Rojas. Hoerner finished third among all shortstops — American League and National League — in Outs Above Average (13). Hoerner rated as one of the best defensive shortstops in the league

Hoerner batted .281 and was one of the bright spots of an otherwise forgettable 74-win season.

The Cubs signed All-Star shortstop and World Series champion Dansby Swanson to a seven-year, $177 million contract over the winter. With the addition of Swanson, Hoerner will move over to second base, a position he saw some run at when the Cubs still had Javier Baez.

Hoerner's contract is not a long-term extension. He will be able to test free agency after 2026, but it is an extension, something the Cubs failed to reach an agreement on with World Series champions Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez.

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