Trade rumors surrounding the Chicago Cubs and Nico Hoerner have been circulating, although several teammates, including Dansby Swanson, have publicly expressed their belief that the organization will keep Hoerner, praising his leadership, work ethic, and all-around value to the team.
Swanson emphasized the respect that Cubs management, including president Jed Hoyer, has for Hoerner, calling him an irreplaceable presence both on and off the field due to his competitive spirit, consistency, and winning mentality.
However, speculation persists that Chicago could explore trade opportunities. FanSided’s Mark Powell suggested a potential deal with the New York Yankees, proposing that the Yankees acquire Hoerner in exchange for prospects Henry Lalane and Kyle Carr.
Kyle Carr,
The logic behind the proposal is that the Cubs may want to maximize Hoerner’s trade value while they still can, especially since Chicago appears to be planning for the future with players like Matt Shaw projected as a long-term option at second base and the free-agent addition of Alex Bregman strengthening the infield.
From a roster construction standpoint, Chicago’s farm system could benefit from acquiring more starting pitching depth, particularly beyond Cade Horton. In this scenario, Lalane could develop into a top-100 level prospect, while Carr is viewed as a potential future rotation arm despite being somewhat overlooked in a talent-stacked Yankees system.
Although receiving only two prospects in return might seem underwhelming, the Cubs may ultimately decide that converting a valuable major-league player into controllable young pitching assets could support their long-term competitive window.
