Cubs' dynamic duo did something nobody besides Bobby Witt Jr. accomplished in 2025

Just in case the Chicago Cubs' front office needs another reason not to trade Nico Hoerner, allow me to present to you the company he found himself in last year in terms of baserunning and defensive value.

Like Witt, both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Hoerner took home Gold Gloves in 2025. The center fielder tied Witt for the major-league lead in Outs Above Average (+24), while Hoerner cruised to a first-place finish in Defensive Runs Saved (+17) at second base.

Likewise, the Cubs' dyanmic duo led the team in steals with 35 (Crow-Armstrong) and 29 (Hoerner). Kyle Tucker and Dansby Swanson were the only other players on the roster to exceed 20 last season.

Joining Witt — who has finished top-five in AL MVP voting in back-to-back campaigns — in any company is impressive enough, but it's a testament to their all-around skillsets that PCA and Hoerner were so far above other players in the league in the value they brought to the field and basepaths.

Cubs' 2026 floor is high thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner's all-around contributions

Of course, those two didn't just have banner years outside the batter's box; both players posted career-best metrics at the dish as well.

Crow-Armstrong notably joined the 30/30 club in his age-23 season, and adding his 37 doubles to the mix gave him a statline that's never before been accomplished by any player in Cubs history. Some offensive regressions may be expected after he slowed down hard in the second half — his wRC+ fell by nearly 60 points after the All-Star Break — but, by virtue of being perhaps the best defensive center fielder in the league and a perennial 30-steal threat, PCA gives Chicago a star who can easily be penciled in for 4+ WAR on an annual basis.

Hoerner, meanwhile, had his best season ever in terms of wRC+ (109) and fWAR (4.8). He was also brilliant in the postseason, slashing .419/.424/.548 (170 wRC+) in eight games. Just 28 years old, the second baseman should be a fixture on the North Side for the foreseeable future, not trade bait.

Beyond that tandem, the Cubs have gone to great lengths to build a team with a high floor. The pitching staff is as deep as ever following the addition of Edward Cabrera, while the position-player core is defined by well-rounded stars like Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, and Michael Busch.

The team must prove on the field that they're capable of raising the ceiling to that of a World Series contender, but with PCA and Hoerner leading the charge, the Cubs should be October fixtures.