As Spring Training approaches, the New York Yankees are still waiting for the free-agent market to unfold. While the destinations of top free agents like Alex Bregman and Jack Flaherty remain uncertain, the Yankees are unlikely to pursue those players. Instead, they could explore the trade market, which may provide an opportunity to make significant roster improvements.
One team reigniting interest in Alex Bregman is the Chicago Cubs, who may move their top prospect, Matt Shaw, to second base and consider trading Nico Hoerner. The Yankees had shown interest in Hoerner earlier in the winter, but the Cubs’ trade of Isaac Paredes to the Astros seemingly removed that option. If the chance arises again, the Yankees should seize the opportunity to enhance their infield.
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The Cubs’ bullpen is a weak spot, and the Yankees could assist with this by offering controllable relievers. One potential trade candidate is Ian Hamilton, whose sinker-slider combination and ability to generate groundballs would fit well with the Cubs. With a solid 3.10 ERA and high strikeout rates over the past two seasons, Hamilton offers an affordable, effective upgrade for Chicago’s bullpen. Another intriguing option for the Cubs is pitching prospect Will Warren, who could be used as a reliever or a long-term rotation piece. Despite a rocky MLB debut, Warren has the potential to improve in a bullpen role for the Cubs. The final piece in this potential trade is Cam Schlittler, a promising pitcher whose performance in 2024 has drawn attention. His improved fastball velocity and strong repertoire could make him an exciting addition to the Cubs’ pitching staff.
In return for these three pitchers, the Cubs would get good value for Hoerner, who has two years left of control at a reasonable cost. Acquiring Hoerner would address a significant hole in the Yankees’ infield. While not a star hitter, Hoerner has been a solid performer offensively with a wRC+ of 100 or better over the past three seasons. He also brings excellent baserunning and is an elite defender at second base, where he would further strengthen the Yankees’ infield. Additionally, Hoerner’s ability to fill in at shortstop if needed makes him a versatile asset for the team.
Though there are concerns about how his bat would fare in Yankee Stadium, Hoerner’s profile may actually be better suited for the ballpark compared to Chicago’s Wrigley Field, which has been a challenging hitter’s park. Projections for 2025 indicate that Hoerner would provide significant value to the Yankees, with projections of a 4-5 WAR and solid offensive production. Adding him would help the Yankees compete more closely with the Los Angeles Dodgers and solidify their standing in the American League.
If the Cubs land Alex Bregman, it could benefit the Yankees by weakening the AL competition, while the Cubs would improve their bullpen and potentially become a more dominant team in the National League Central. A win-win situation for both teams could be on the horizon.
