The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to extend their standout second baseman Nico Hoerner. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Hoerner will ink a three-year deal that is valued at $35 million.
By giving Hoerner an early deal, Cubs have bought out one of his free-agency years. The 25-year-old was previously set to have two arbitration-eligible years after 2023 and was set to hit free agency before the 2026 MLB season.
The deal helps the Cubs lock in one of their most exciting young players and someone that they believe is the future of the franchise. The franchise has allowed several high-profile players to depart in recent years and is probably looking to change that trend.
Hoerner, on the other hand, gets financial security in the coming years while still positioning himself to enter free agency in the prime of his career. This was likely the key factor for the player, as he struggled with injuries earlier in his career and failed to play more than 50 games in the majors until 2022.
Nico Hoerner made his debut in MLB in 2019, one year after being selected in the first round by the Cubs. He played a total of 247 games in the past four seasons, batting .277 with 13 home runs and 101 RBIs.
