Nico Hoerner injury may make Pete Alonso a priority of the Chicago Cubs' offseason

With Nico Hoerner's status to open the 2025 season in jeopardy after undergoing flexor tendon surgery, the outlook of the Chicago Cubs' offseason has dramatically changed.

Hoerner figured to be at the center of the Cubs' offseason decisions. A trade of Hoerner was never among the likeliest of possibilities for the Cubs this winter but it was move that was inevitably going to be discussed. The idea being that the Cubs would potentially move Hoerner in a trade to address a different need on their Major League roster while creating added flexibility for the type of position player they can target this offseason.

With there now being a chance that Hoerner may miss the opening month or two of the regular season, the idea of a trade of the second baseman this offseason can probably be discarded. But, if there is a silver lining, Hoerner's injury does give the Cubs added flexibility in free agency.

Nico Hoerner's injury adds even more intrigue to the Chicago Cubs' offseason.

The general timeline for recovery for the surgery Hoerner is usually between 6-9 months. That timeline is often used for pitchers but could provide a general sense of the update that the Cubs will have when Spring Training starts in February. In theory, for a position player, it could be closer to six months than it is nine months. However, even if Hoerner is able to resume baseball activity in six months, there's no guarantee he will be cleared for fielding. With that in mind, the Cubs may need to be creative with second base at the start of the 2025 season.

That creativity could see Michael Busch move from first base to second base, at least, for the start of the 2025 season. If that is the case, the Cubs may be back in play for free-agent Pete Alonso.

Alonso has been a rumored target of the Cubs over the course of the past two years. The recent speculation was that the Cubs' pursuit of Alonso this offseason may depend on if Hoerner were to be traded. While Busch's play at first base this past season may have lessened the logic of the Cubs targeting Alonso, Hoerner's injury changes that dynamic. In a scenario where Busch opens the season as the Cubs' starting second baseman, the idea of signing Alonso to not only address the team's power need but also play first base becomes within the realm of possibility.