With Nico Hoerner locked up, the Cubs solidify their infield for years, creating a dominant lineup poised for contention.
The Chicago Cubs' infield is now set for the foreseeable future.
After the Cubs extended Nico Hoerner for six years on Thursday afternoon, the four infield spots are set for the next few years. Chicago will have the same infield for at least the next four seasons.
Hoerner is the latest player that the Cubs have locked down for the future. His six-year extension will keep him in Chicago through the 2032 season, and he will remain the team’s second baseman for the next seven years (including the 2026 campaign).
The Cubs simply couldn’t afford to lose a player like Hoerner. He was in the final year of his deal with the team and was set to become a free agent next offseason. The move to keep him around past the 2026 season was a must for the North Siders.
“The guys who go out there day in and day out and perfect their craft, those are the people you want on your squad,” former MLB player Todd Frazier said on Foul Territory.
Now that Hoerner is locked up through the 2032 season, the Cubs won’t have to worry about addressing their infield for the next few offseasons. Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Alex Bregman, and Michael Busch are all under contract for the future.
Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million deal with the Cubs before the 2023 season. That means he won’t become a free agent until after the 2029 season and will be Chicago’s primary shortstop in each of the next four seasons.
Bregman will not become a free agent until after the 2030 season. He signed a five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs this past offseason and isn’t going anywhere. The 32-year-old will be the team’s third baseman during this contract.
Then, there’s Busch, who is under team control through the 2030 season. The Cubs traded for him before the 2024 season, and he has emerged as a top first baseman in the National League. He is still on his rookie deal, so the team could decide to extend him at some point.
Having Hoerner, Swanson, Bregman, and Busch all locked up through at least the 2029 season is a job well done by the front office. This group is a big part of the Cubs' future and should help the team remain competitive over the next couple of seasons.
The Cubs are in a good position after extending Hoerner.