Local insider floats Chicago Cubs trade idea that is more likely than fans think

Something has to give with where things stand between the top prospects in the Chicago Cubs farm system and the positions currently filled at the Major League level.

Of the eight Cubs' prospects who were listed among MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects at the end of the season, there are infielders. Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and Cam Smith all figure to be at the center of the Cubs' offseason plans in terms of constructing their 2025 Major League roster.

Shaw and Triantos finished the 2024 season at Triple-A Iowa while Smith finished the year in Double-A despite being drafted by the team in July.

All three figure to be knocking on the door of the Major League roster next season and is something that needs to be factored into the Cubs' offseason plans. As of this writing, there is a strong likelihood that one of the three will be traded before Spring Training. But, there is another move that may be more likely than Cubs fans want to believe.

In his latest for The Athletic (Subscription Required), Patrick Mooney talked through different scenarios for the Cubs this offseason and one of those was the trade of Nico Hoerner.

A Nico Hoerner trade may be a likely move for the Cubs' offseason.

It should be noted that Mooney was merely asking the question of if the Cubs would trade Hoerner as opposed to citing sources but it is a move that the Cubs may be forced to do.

If the question is playing Triantos at the Major League level or moving forward with Hoerner at second base, Hoerner is the easy answer. Both Hoerner and Triantos have a similar profile in terms of being pure hitters but come up short in the power department.

Where things become interesting for the Cubs is if the question is Smith or Shaw compared to Hoerner. One advantage that both Smith and Shaw have over Hoerner is that there is more home run potential in their offensive profile.

Given that the Cubs need to improve their power this offseason, they may consider trading Hoerner to open a spot for a different style of hitter to be added to the starting lineup. For those out there calling for Shaw or Smith to play, just note that you can't have that without sacrificing someone at the Major League level. Hoerner may be that sacrifice.