3 players the Cubs should approach with an extension before the end of the season

If the Chicago Cubs want to begin mending fences with their fan base, inking some contract extensions may not be a bad place to start.

Given how the front office behaved at this year's trade deadline, it's clear that the Cubs' brass is focused on the long-term health of their team. With this in mind, there are some intriguing options for contract extensions as we head into the final weeks of the regular season. This is not typically a time where extensions are locked down, but the Red Sox just made a big move by locking rookie Roman Anthony into an eight-year deal, so it's not unheard of.

The Cubs also have a lot of payroll flexibility. They are $30 million below the competitive balance tax threshold and are set to shed even more this offseason with the salaries of Kyle Tucker ($16.5 million), Ryan Pressly ($11 million), Justin Turner ($6 million), and others potentially coming off the books. Here are three players that I think the Cubs should consider locking up before the season ends.

1. RHP Cade Horton

If anything, this trade deadline emphasized how much the Cubs believe in Cade Horton's future. If they are seriously banking on him becoming an ace-level starter, then they should put their money where their mouth is and lock him up.

Extending Horton now could save the Cubs money in the long run, and give them an extra few years of team control on the back end. It would certainly be a gamble considering Horton is a 23-year-old rookie, but every contract and trade is a gamble to a certain extent. Plus, Horton has displayed the maturity and poise of a big league starting pitcher since he made his MLB debut in May.

Horton has looked sharp recently, lowering his season ERA to 3.18 in his first 79 1/3 Major League innings. He has the talent, arsenal of pitches, and demeanor to be a good pitcher for a long time. It's a matter of him staying healthy and continuing to progress.

2. UT Willi Castro

This may be seem like a weird one, but not really. The Cubs instantly gained a ton of flexibility when Castro came to the team from Minnesota. He can play every position on the field except for catcher, which give the Cubs the ability to rotate days off for their starting players. This is something the previous iteration of the team's bench was unable to give, since Vidal Brujan and Jon Berti have been abysmal at the plate this year, and Justin Turner is really only effective against lefties.

Castro can play good on defense everywhere on the diamond, and give a competitive at-bat at the plate as a switch-hitter. Castro is only making $2 million in 2025, which is pretty fair for a bench guy. A little extension of two years at $6 million would go a long way in solidifying the bench for the next couple seasons to avoid the horrendous production the Cubs got in the first half.

3. IF Nico Hoerner

I would argue that Nico Hoerner has been the Cubs most consistent player for four straight seasons. The second baseman has masterful control of the strike zone. He has a .280 career batting average, and he is striking out less than anybody else in the big-leagues in 2025 (7.7% of the time). Hoerner is also a strong defender at second and a great baserunner, making him a four-tool player.

Hoerner turns 29 next May, and he is signed through the 2026 season. The Cubs have already extended Hoerner in the past, when they inked him to a three-year deal before the 2023 campaign. The guy is clearly a gamer who loves to play as much as he can, and he's a fan-favorite at Wrigley. This is a no-brainer to me given how consistent Hoerner has been (back-to-back seasons of leading the team in hits).