Cubs insider reveals the steep price it would take to trade Nico Hoerner

The Nico Hoerner trade rumors likely won't be silenced until Chicago Cubs fans see his name penciled into the Opening Day lineup against the Washington Nationals on March 26. Every indication is that the Cubs expect to go over the luxury tax in 2026, and as such, keep Hoerner for a season where their chips are pushed to the middle of the table.

Still, the Cubs, no matter the player, are always going to listen when a team calls. Given that Hoerner is a free agent after the season, there remains a chance that the offer they receive from an interested team exceeds the value that Hoerner can provide. It's why the caveat of "only if they are blown away" remains applicable.

Here’s what it would take for the Cubs to actually trade Nico Hoerner

Even that can be left up to interpretation. Thankfully, The Athletic's (subscription required) Sahadev Sharma just answered that question. The Cubs' beat writer reports that the Cubs would need to receive a return similar to the one they gave up for Kyle Tucker last offseason.

In trading for one season of Tucker, the Cubs sent an All-Star third baseman who was under control for three more seasons in Isaac Paredes, their top prospect in Cam Smith, and a controllable starting pitcher in Hayden Wesneski.

There certainly are interested teams lining up for Hoerner. The San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners are all teams that have expressed interest in Hoerner this offseason. After Alex Bregman signed with the Cubs, the Boston Red Sox could also have interest in Hoerner.

Even if trade talks for Hoerner reach the point where the Cubs are playing teams against each other, it's hard to imagine a team offering a package of prospects and major league-ready players that tops what was given up for Tucker last winter.

It's unlikely that a team reaches that level of interest. Hoerner remains one of the most valuable players on the Cubs' roster, but his lack of power likely will cap the offers the Cubs receive. It speaks to the desire that Jed Hoyer and Co. have to keep Hoerner on the roster for the 2026 season.

Along those lines, it may not be easy, but the best course of action for the Cubs would be to engage Hoerner in contract extension talks before Opening Day. Given the weak free-agent class next winter and the fact that he could sell himself as a shortstop, Hoerner likely will be pushed to hit the open market. But the Cubs do have clean books after this season, and of all their free agents, Hoerner may be the most affordable.