Cubs to extend second baseman Nico Hoerner

The Cubs reached an agreement to extend second baseman Nico Hoerner following Thursday’s 10-4 loss to the Nationals on Opening Day, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times.

Hoerner was set to reach free agency following the 2026 season and was going to be one of the premier names on the market. Hoerner batted .297/.345/.394 with a .739 OPS last season and a Gold Glove. He joins center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong , who signed a six-year, $115 million extension earlier this week, as Cubs to reach long-term agreements.

Hoerner debuted in the 2019 season as an emergency call-up for an injured Javier Baez. He played a bit role in the 2020-21 season before establishing himself as a major-league player in 2022, posting a 4.2-WAR season and batting .281/.327/.410.

As president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer dismantled the 2016 World Series core, Hoerner grew as a dependable and respected voice in the Cubs’ clubhouse. Hoerner said pregame he wanted to focus on the game and not his contract status, but the deal was reportedly agreed to after the game. He now joins Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman as foundational players with guaranteed contracts that last past the 2027 season.