The Cubs have no business trading this beloved Gold Glove winner

Even with the Chicago Cubs in the middle of what appears to be a two-year contention window, there remains the chance that the Cubs trade from their Major League roster this offseason. With a cap on what they are willing to spend this winter, and a number of players entering the final year of their contracts, it would make sense.

It's a layered conversation, for instance, the Cubs aren't going to be trading players for the mere purpose of getting value for them before they hit free agency next offseason. However, if trading Ian Happ or Seiya Suzuki would help them land a cost-controlled starting pitcher, Jed Hoyer and Co. likely would entertain the idea.

Even that is a complex conversation, considering both Happ and Suzuki have no-trade clauses. One player who almost certainly won't appear in trade rumors is Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner. Hoerner was the subject of some trade rumors last offseason, and MLB.com's Mark Feinsand pointed to him as a potential trade candidate from the Cubs' roster this offseason.

Nico Hoerner has emerged as a leader in the Cubs' clubhouse and is a clear extension candidate, not a trade chip.

Feinsand's premise is that the Cubs could move Hoerner, slide Matt Shaw over to second base, and leave third base open for a potential offensive upgrade this winter. It's the type of rationale that is to be expected from someone quickly skimming over a team's roster.

The reality is that Shaw isn't preventing the Cubs from upgrading at third base, and that remains an option if the market stalls for one of Alex Bregman or Eugenio Suarez. A scenario that could see the Cubs pursue when of the veteran third basemen while shifting Shaw into a utility role. That is far more likely a scenario for the Cubs than the idea of them trading Hoerner.

Outside of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Hoerner is the obvious extension candidate for the Cubs this offseason. Considering the potential ceiling of each player, Hoerner would likely be an easier extension for the Cubs to get done.

Beyond being one of the best defensive second basemen in all of baseball, Hoerner's 2025 season proved the value he brings to the Cubs' starting lineup. He posted a 109 wRC+, and in a lineup that was boom or bust, Hoerner's bat-to-ball skills were desperately needed. Not to mention, he emerged as one of the leaders on the team during their playoff run last season. Trading him would likely do more harm than it would solve the issues that currently plague the Cubs' 2026 dreams.