There are 2 very different ways Nico Hoerner could provide value to the Cubs in 2025

As my wife got our two-year-old down for a nap and I sat in the Culver's drive-through waiting to pick up lunch, I was listening to the latest episode of the Baseball America podcast - a deep dive on all things Chicago Cubs prospects and, in that, Geoff Pontes opined that he fully expects Nico Hoerner to be playing elsewhere by this time next year.

That isn't, by itself, surprising. Trade rumors have surrounded the former Gold Glover for much of the offseason - but were complicated by a flexor tendon surgery early in the offseason that put his status for Opening Day in question. Even now, there's still no concrete timeline for his return, but Hoerner is already working out in Arizona - an encouraging sign.

With top prospect Matt Shaw penciled in as the starting third baseman and questionable bench depth in the form of Jon Berti, Vidal Brujan and Gage Workman, a trade of Hoerner in the immediate future seems like a long shot, at best. Losing Hoerner and shifting Shaw over to second leaves a chasm at third base, barring an unlikely, last-minute signing of All-Star Alex Bregman.

Pontes and JJ Cooper dug in on the Cubs' infield picture, pointing out there's a decent chance Hoerner plays the 2025 season in Chicago - if for no other reason than that lack of clear infield depth ready to step up and fill the void left by a potential Hoerner trade.

Berti is the surest of the bunch, but he is in his mid-30s and is coming off a season shortened by several major injuries. The shine has long worn off Brujan, a former top prospect, and it took Workman, a Rule 5 selection by the Cubs this winter, three go-rounds at Double-A before he finally figured out how to produce offensively.

Hoerner does so many things right - and he's one of the most reliable members of this Cubs roster. Even playing at less than 100 percent with the wrist issue last year, he still put up 3.7 bWAR, appearing in 151 games. He possesses elite bat-to-ball skills and is a superb defender alongside Dansby Swanson up the middle.

All that said, it seems safe to say that, one way or another, the Chicago Cubs are going to benefit from Nico Hoerner in 2025: either through his valuable on-field contributions over the grind of 162 games or as a valuable trade chip that could bring back an impact arm it looks like this team could surely use.