Chicago Cubs: Where should Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal play?

Chicago Cubs: Hoener should probably stick at second base; but will he?

I don’t know how aggressive the Cubs will be in adding this offseason, but the plans surrounding Hoerner and Madrigal probably hinge on what the club does in free agency. In fact, that’s pretty much what you could deduce from Jed Hoyer’s statements regarding where Hoerner will fit in next year.

On one hand, the positional flexibility Hoerner represents allows the team to go upgrade virtually any position and let Hoerner fill in where needed. On the other side of the coin, if you don’t allow a player to stick where they are comfortable and most valuable, aren’t you doing a disservice to the team and player, as a whole?

Hoyer has already said Madrigal is probably the team’s starting second baseman next year, which means that Hoerner will be the shortstop… if the Cubs don’t go out and sign a better one. So, whether they go back after Baez, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, or someone else will determine Hoerner’s ultimate position next year. Whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen.

Regardless of where the two play, Cubs fans should hope that both are getting on base and putting the ball in play effectively in addition to being defensive strengths.