The Giants are known to be looking for upgrades at second base. Earlier this week, they were reported as one of the frontrunners for Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals and were also connected to Ketel Marte of the Diamondbacks. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that they have checked in on Nico Hoerner of the Cubs. She also lists Brandon Lowe of the Rays as one of their targets.
It’s an understandable target for the Giants. Most of their playing time at the keystone went to Tyler Fitzgerald, Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss in 2025. All three of those guys had underwhelming seasons at the plate. Schmitt was the closest the league average offensively but with the weakest defensive grades.
Free agency doesn’t offer huge upgrades over that group. Bo Bichette is out there and reportedly willing to play second, but the Giants have downplayed their desire to sign another long-term deal this winter. Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Polanco and Gleyber Torres are all off the board. Utility types like Ramón Urías, Willi Castro and Isiah Kiner-Falefa don’t move the needle much over the in-house options.
On the trade market, Marte has been in plenty of rumors but it’s still unclear if the Diamondbacks will move him. Even if they decide to pull the trigger, it would be a surprise to see him sent to their division rivals in San Francisco. Donovan is widely expected to move since he is on a rebuilding club and two years from free agency, but the asking price should be huge. Since he can play all over the diamond, he can fit on many clubs and the demand is widespread. Though the Giants are apparently one of the finalists, half the teams in the league have shown in interest.
Hoerner and Lowe have very similar contractual situations. Both players are only signed through 2026 and would therefore be rentals. Lowe will make a $11.5MM salary next year and Hoerner $12MM.
But they have opposite profiles and their team situations are very different. Lowe is injury prone, doesn’t run well and isn’t a great defender. His strikeout and walk profile has been poor in each of the past two years. However, he’s a clear source of power. He has hit 21 home runs four separate times, including a 31-homer season in 2025. It’s common for the Rays to trade away players as they get more expensive and closer to free agency. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Tommy Pham are some of the many examples.
Hoerner, however, does not have huge power. He has never hit more than ten home runs in a season. However, he’s better than Lowe in basically every other aspect. He hasn’t been on the injured list in years. He’s one of the faster guys in the game and is generally good for 30ish steals a year. He’s one of the toughest guys in the game to strike out. He’s a good enough defender to play shortstop. The only reason he’s at second is because the Cubs have Dansby Swanson.
The Cubs shouldn’t be especially motivated to move him. He is affordable and has been good for about four to five wins above replacement per year, according to FanGraphs. He has reportedly drawn trade interest but the Cubs should be able to set a high asking price since he’s valuable to them as well. His salary isn’t onerous and the Cubs don’t appear to have any kind of payroll crunch.
It’s at least possible to imagine a scenario where the Cubs think about it. As mentioned, Hoerner is an impending free agent. The Cubs could extend him again but he also could get more interest elsewhere. Looking at next year’s free agent class, Hoerner could potentially market himself as the best available shortstop. His competition would be J.P. Crawford and Kim. Crawford is a decent player but his glovework has been poor in recent years and he’ll be going into his age-32 season in 2027. Kim could bounce back from an injury-marred 2025 but he has a similar profile to Hoerner and is a year older. Kim will be 31 in 2027. Hoerner will turn 30 in May of that year.
Perhaps Hoerner expects to get paid big shortstop bucks next winter and the Cubs don’t see a path to keeping him with Swanson signed through 2029. They have been connected to free agent third basemen Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suárez. In that scenario, perhaps Matt Shaw becomes available on the trade market or he could move to second with Hoerner traded. Shaw mostly played third in the majors this year but has second base experience. He got six big league innings at the keystone in 2025 and has close to 300 minor league innings there in his career.
Trading Hoerner and moving to Shaw to second would be a defensive downgrade. That’s not really a knock on Shaw, who graded out well at third this year, just a reflection of Hoerner being arguably the best defensive second baseman in the game today. But adding a big bat like Bregman or Suárez could make up for the Cubs losing Kyle Tucker to free agency. Whether that upgrades the club in 2026 would be debatable but it would certainly help in the long run if the Cubs don’t expect to retain Hoerner beyond 2026.
It’s unknown whether the Cubs have any interest in such a scenario. It also doesn’t seem like the Giants are primarily focused on second base. Slusser writes that pitching and the outfield are the club’s current priorities. Since Donovan can also play the outfield, the Giants probably have him above Hoerner on their target list. With the number of moving pieces in the second base trade market, perhaps someone needs to blink and knock over the first domino. If the Cardinals pull the trigger on Donovan, for instance, teams could then pivot to the other options.
Photo courtesy of Sergio Estrada, Imagn Images
Sign em all!
Go show interest somewhere else. Nico needs to stay on the North side.
Nico is the type of hitter the Cubs lineup needs to keep. Trading Shaw for something that would help, is fine with me. But the Cubs do need to sign another good RH Bat.
No brainer
Nico to Giants
Snell to Cubs
Snell is on the Dodgers
You are showing you have no brainer. Well done.
Just outside the box thinking by keysox—Giants get an upgrade and take something away from Dodgers.
That’s a perfect strategy, honestly. 🙂
Even if Snell was on the giants. I wouldn’t.want him. I wouldn’t want him when he was with the Rays tbh
Trading Shaw would hurt the Cubs.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have Cam Smith now.
He would be in the minors
And also . . . IMHO, I’d try to get Happ to accept a trade, foregoing his NTC. Then try to package Happ and Shaw for a solid 3B. I wouldn’t care if that was a proven 3B or a young guy on the rise. I’d even include another ‘sweetener’ to the deal if the player they received in return, was a stud.
I’m not convinced a proven young stud 3B is available on the trade market. I’m on board with potentially trading Ian Happ and Matt Shaw but I’d guess Jed Hoyer would try to parlay that package into a starting pitcher who can miss bats.
Under that scenario, Hoyer would then turn to the free agent market, likely a younger Alex Bregman over Eugenio Suárez. The latter offers a more potent power bat but whiffs way too much. Bregman is the superior defensive 3B and a much better overall hitter when it comes to BA and OBP, all skills that that the Cubs front office prioritizes.
I could see the Giants dealing Casey Schmitt and a top pitching prospect to the Cubs for Hoerner, especially if SF could work out an extension before hand. And, yes, the extension would be sizeable b/c Nico probably has been waiting for his Free Agency. Cubs would get a potential Gold Glove 3b and a rotation piece for Nico’s one remaining year.
Shaw appears to be a young guy on the rise. Have you watched him play? Excellent fielder. Bat got better as season went on.
2025 WAR
Nico Hoerner 6.2
Eugenio Suarez 3.6
Alex Bregman 3.5
Cubs need to keep Hoerner and ideally extend him
Not all “WAR” is created the same.
BS.. He’s arguably the MVP of that team. 2 Gold Gloves and one of the highest BAs in the league with RISP. The kind of player you could build a championship team around- if Ricketts wasn’t the smallest minded large market owner in the game.
@fivepoundbass:
That’s true to some extent. As an example, Alex Bregman’s 2025 WAR was limited due to his extended DL stint. For him to virtually tie Eugenio Suárez in WAR pretty much proves that Bregman is the better 3B candidate if the Cubs look to add at the hot corner this offseason.
Anytime Suarez is a plus 3 war it shows the system is flawed alotlfor war. Hoerner is an top batter in the game though.
Actually it gives me some confidence in WAR. Eugenio hit 46 or 49 homers last year and he was still only 3.6 WAR which for him was a good year. It tells you that the rest of his game is not plus.
please no
Hoops site is glitching again
Thanks for the intel. We’ll get on that!
If I had a dollar for every time the Giants showed interest in a player and did nothing. 😏
you wouldn’t be able to buy much. 20 bucks a year or so isn’t a lot
I’d take half that and buy a six pack
@drilliams Sounds like my mating behavior!
TMI
At least they’re interested, the reds only wanted schwarber
drilliams88 —
That’s true of every team and comes from writers. Not a Giants specialty/
Why would the Cubs move Hoerner if they want to stay competitive?
Kingdome Mariners, Did you read the article. It says why. If Nico is going to be looking for big SS money as a FA, they can maximize his value by trading him now, since the return should be much better than any comp pick.
Hoerner had 2015 WAR of 6.2.
Cubs should want Bryce Eldridge AND Robbie Ray to deal Hoerner. SF should then laugh and hang up the phone. And since they don’t need Eldridge they would likely flip him.
Cubs are likely to add a one year guy, not subtract.
Seriously, the Cubs would love to acquire Logan Webb, but Hoerner does not move the meter on Webb. Hoerner is over 6 WAR, the cost should be extraordinary.
But you could use Eldridge at 1B and move Busch to 2B. He’s athletic enough to man the position and has before. I believe they should run it back with Shaw at 3B instead of Bregman. I’ve never been a fan of Bregman.
No, Busch is not capable of playing 2B or 3B well on a regular basis or the Dodgers never would have traded him.
2025 not 2015
MLB Top 100 Commenter—
Eldridge and Robbie Ray! Put down the pipe.
Yes I read the article and still feel that it would hurt the Cubs to trade him this year. I believe he makes the Cubs better in 2026. What are you doing? Coming on here and looking to give people crap? It is my opinion that it would hurt the Cubs to trade him in 2026. Happy Holidays. Be better. Be Nicer.
Calm down. I’m not looking to give anyone crap. But your post asking why they’d trade him was stated clearly in the article. I’m just posting my opinion as you are.
I agree, trading Nico would make the 2026 team weaker. But trading him now for a big return could make them better in the long run. They’re losing Tucker, and perhaps they think a 2026 WS is out of reach, and a retool, aiming for 2027, could be a reasonable strategy.
Kingdome
My experience is that Jean is a straightforward and polite poster here.
I do think he is wrong in this instance. Cubs have a slight edge over Giants in 2026 WC race (Cubs also have a chance to win division if Milwaukee trades Freddy).
Cubs are absolutely the type of team looking for a one year boost not trading away a one year boost. Cubs also have a good farm. Zero chance to trade Nico for prospects. Nico could get traded for an experienced frontline starting pitcher (presumably also with only a year left) and not much else.
Extending Nico would be better and cheaper than Bregman.
Jean, if I told you that Giants should trade Robbie Ray to the Cubs so that Giants can get a prospect and retool for 2027, what would you think?
Cubs are all-in competing in 2026, just they have an owner who is not fully willing to spend like a big market team. Keeping Nicofits their MO even if they have zero chance of extending him, let alone if they are open to extending him.
Top 100, That’s a reasonable take. But your opinion, just like mine, is all supposition. I actually wasn’t advocating for Nico to be traded, only exploring the reasons they might. IMO it is a reasonable option, but it would depend greatly on them getting a haul in return.
I don’t think the Giants trading Ray is a good comp for the Cubs trading Nico. One, because the Giants and Cubs spend differently.
Two, the main reason for the Cubs to explore a Nico trade is the possibility of him wanting to cash in big as the best SS on the FA market next year. It would be different if they didn’t have Swanson. If he is chasing prime SS dollars, the Cubs aren’t re-signing him, while Ray re-signing with the Giants is much more likely.
And three, they don’t compare positionally. A team needs multiple pitchers, but teams don’t really want any more than one highly paid SS.
Extending Nico should’ve been their top offseason move. He’s absolutely been their MVP. Unfortunately, they have an owner who should sit outside the next owner’s meeting with a shoe shine box and a tip jar.
Nico is not going to get big SS money after 2026 season. He’s an excellent 2B.
Because he’s an excellent 2B doesn’t mean he won’t get SS money. He’s played 210 games at SS. He’ll be a FA at age 29. Top SSs are being paid over $30M per season. Most 2B make less than $20M per.
Do you think he’s going to say forget the big money some team will pay me to play SS, I’ll be happy at 2B for considerably less money.
Last four years Nico has 19.6 in WAR and Bo Bichettte has 11.7. Nico should get paid better than Bo.
Let’s say Cubs offer Nico an extension five years at $100 million. And he responds no way, even at four years older, I want Willy Adames’ money of seven years and $182 million. No reason for Cubs to trade him this year. Cubs made a deal to rent Tucker for one year last year. Think of it as Cubs making a deal to rent Nico this year.
I’m confused. Who’s 4 years older? Adames will be 30, and Nico 29 next season. So they both reach free-agency at the same age.
But anyway, last season they had both Nico and Tucker. Unless the totally unexpected happens, Tucker is gone, and their WS odds have to be less this year.
I liked them taking the gamble with Tucker and going for it. It cost them a bit in prospect capital. Holding on to Nico would cost them additional prospect capital.
If they decide to do that, I have no problem with them taking the gamble and going for it again, even though as currently constructed, the team has worse odds this year.
Again, not knowing the package they could get I’m not advocating for them to trade him. It would have to be very good for me to do that. I just believe that it’s a viable avenue to improving the team down the road, and they shouldn’t reject the idea out of hand.
I meant that Nico will be older signing as a FA in December 2026 than Adames was when he got his current deal with SF
Not really, or at least the difference in age is insignificant. Adames turned 29 in the September before his signing. Nico will turn 29 in this coming May.. Adames reached free-agency at less than 4 months younger than Nico will. In baseball they’ll be considered the same age reaching free-agency.
My mistake, I thought Adames was younger
Alec Bohn is no Nico Hoerner.
It makes no sense for the Cubs to trade Nico if they are hoping to contend next season.
Hoerner is a complete ballplayer. They should extend him rather than flirt with paying older Bregman a fortune for his twilight (already got my titles) years. Pretty backwards thinking if they go that route and move a maybe okay Shaw to 2B.
You mean they should try and extend him. It’s not entirely up to the Cubs, As written in the article there are good reasons for them to maximize his value on a big return. No one knows if Nico is looking for big SS money as a FA, but if he is then maybe they should trade him.
Right-he’s probably worth in the ballpark of what they paid Swanson a few years ago. Less power but better hitter. It’s on them to assess if he is worth it for their budget.
What are the Giants willing to give up? Buster Posey for Jed?
Ownership is the greater issue.
What prospects/suspects does SF have?
Beyond Eldridge, not much.
Not sure about that. I watched some independent guys who knew all about the prospect game. Giants top 10 is good according to their research.
How deep have you looked into it ?
actually a ton but none in the upper levels
Not true. Giants top pitching prospects are close or ready, top position prospects are at A and AA, but they’re there and burning up the minors.
I should say – no real high level in the upper minors. the vast majority of the higher expectations are guys in A, ACL, etc there are some guys in the upper minors but none of them are what you would consider centerpieces of a trade package
The Giants haven’t utilized the run game much in the recent past. A Hoerner trade would perhaps signal a willingness to steal bases.
Hey Giants, we have Jeff McNeil for you lol
the giants’ backup infielder is better than mcneil already
Never going to happen. Jed actually values D and he will more likely extend his 2B
How is Hoerner an upgrade over Schmitt? Sure, Hoerner’s OPS+ for 2025 was about 13 points higher than Schmitt but Hoerner’s career OPS+ isn’t much different than Schmitt in 2025. Seems like a waste of prospects to trade for a guy with a marginal upgrade. Giants should focus more on pitching than piddling increases at 2nd base.
Perhaps check their war differences
I could not disagree more. Nico would be a big upgrade. Compare their Statcast pages:
Nico baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/nico-hoerner-…
Schmitt baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/casey-schmitt…
With all due respect Mrs. Schmitt I respect the heck out of your son as a professional athlete, but please let’s get back to drinking the egg nog straight and not enhancing it with that flavor bottle you pulled out of the cabinet.
Baseball77—
Schmitt should be at 3b. He’s got a cannon for an arm and he’s Gold Glove quality there and has some pop. But he’s blocked in SF. Hoerner at 2b in the Giants lineup is EXACTLY what they need. If SF wants him they just have to add a top pitching prospect along with Schmitt to the Cubs.
Schmitt is not GG quality anywhere. in 70 games at 3B for the Giants he has 0 DRS and 2 OAA. Capable but clearly not GG level of D. I agree he’s better suited to 3B but I doubt many teams have much interest in playing him there.. Plus teams want better hitting from the corner positions, and Schmitt hasn’t been able to provide that so far.
Giants and probably 27 other teams have shown interest in Nico Hoerner. That’s just every day due diligence. (and the Cubs are probably doing the same in reverse)
Question is—have they shown interest in trading Logan Webb as part of a deal for him?????
Nico, even in the final year of his deal, is probably the asset that could bring back an immediate need and impact player. Not suggesting that he moves, but a definite sell high position for him right now.
Webb isn’t going anywhere. Lol
Exactly my point—–Nico isn’t going anywhere either.
That’s why I threw the article into an all inclusive due diligence read as everyone would have interest in Hoerner (as they would with Webb).
Trading Webb, like Ray mentioned above isn’t really comparable to trading Nico. If Nico wants premium SS money, do the Cubs bring him back and carry 2 highly paid SSs?
But the Giants, like almost every team every year, always seem to be looking for pitching. So while the Cubs may not want to pay Nico SS money to play 2B, the Giants would undoubtedly want both Webb and Ray in the rotation.
Now if the Giants had a valuable asset, like Nico, on the final year of his deal, looking to cash in big next year, and the Giants had to pay him to play a different position, not suited to that salary, then you’d have something comparable.
I would say trading webb would make no sense but it makes a lot less sense than that,
A team isn’t interested in trading a player and another team has shown no interest in acquiring the player. I get a site needs to churn articles, but that is next level wheel spinning.
Tyler Fitzgerald’s versatility and pop and speed are useful tools. If they want to move on from him, I’m sure there’s takers.
Fitzgerald is behind Schmitt and almost certainly available for trade. I would be surprised if there is much interest in him.
He’s not only behind Schmitt, he’s behind Koss as well.
Yes.
And funny enough I like his potential better.
Hoerner isn’t going anywhere
Desk job near home?
Was that a attempt at being funny?
Just logical. MLB players are required to travel to lots of places.
The scenario of the Cubs signing or trading for a third baseman and then trading Hoerner and moving Shaw to second…is one of those ideas that sounds plausible, but absolutely isn’t going to happen. Right or wrong, Hoyer never does things like that.
Agree. Hoerner is cheap for 2026 and makes them much better.
The Cubs may be foolish and not extend Hoerner, but he is not getting traded.
He’d be a great get for us. Cubs can have anyone other than Eldridge
I think Whisenhunt, Ramos, and a couple other guys should stick around too. Agree he’d be a nice pick up. Schmitt would be fine though too.
Giants are interested in every body but don’t sign anyone is the same song and dance every year
If you have been in a coma. Sure.
Guayacon — When you say mindless things in public people tend to discount your voice.
They’ve only added three $100+ million contracts in the past year. Whah!
If they trade Nico it needs to be for someone like a bichette or bregman.
Won’t happen. I see Imai getting the payroll not a bat.
Fans are just going to have to deal with growing pains. Only way to compete with the Dodgers and not spend like them is allow your farm to develop.
If Jed would have traded PCA at this point last year fans would have gone insane. Time to allow the next one to pop up.
I’d say Nico is more valuable than either of them. I’d want more in a trade.
Bold prediction
Hoerner and Ballestroes will be battling for the batting tital in 2026. Fans will forget about Tucker and his 400M deal pretty fast
I’ve forgotten about Tucker already.
But I haven’t forgotten about Cam Smith.
I still think it’s worth looking at trading Nico since this is about as good a year he could have. Someone should be able to coax a few more home runs from him, but the rest of his game is valued by all teams. He should bring back pitching and some prospects at a minimum. The Cubs seem content to keep running the same group out there each season and expect them to be better. Maybe they’re gun shy since the bold Tucker move didn’t deliver a championship. I’m not expecting anything bold from this crew.
I agree, good strategy. Trade him!
Go for Bo!
We need a leadoff man. But that might be old NL thinking on my part. Schwarber leadoff types are the new rage. Ohtani as well. And Lee did his best hitting in the 3 hole. I’d hate him there again, But scoring runs is the name of the game. And having great pitching.
G’s need a second baseman who can hit and defend. Get it done !
But are any of those players interested in helping the Giants rebuild while sharing a division with the Padres and Dodgers?
No surprise.
Nobody should be untouchable especially one who may walk away in a year!
I like what the white Sox are doing but not so much with the cubs taking their base of fans for granted. Cubdom will surely be infuriated by those comments.