Landing Alex Bregman is easily one of the biggest highlights of the Cubs’ offseason. The move clearly shifts the balance of power, but it didn’t come cheaply. At $35 million per year over five seasons, Chicago is pushing right up against the CBT threshold.

And with all the buzz surrounding Bregman’s arrival, the obvious follow-up question is: what comes next? According to MLB insider Peter Appel, adding Bregman could ultimately force the Cubs’ hand. To avoid crossing the CBT line, Chicago may have to trade one of its veteran players. A move that could ease the financial pressure, but also runs the risk of disrupting the team’s roster balance.

“I know Ricketts is seeing that $800,000 and $20,000 salary, with plenty of years of control, and saying he doesn’t want to trade him. I want to trade the guy who’s making 12 million dollars this year and is a free agent next year. Nico Hoerner… I’m also double worried that they’re not only going to trade him, but they’re gonna trade him for Prospect, so they can recoup some of what they gave away in the Edward Cabrera trade, and they don’t have to take on any more money,” Appel shared via X.

Well, Hoerner has been with the Cubs for seven seasons and was a major piece of the lineup last year, hitting .297 with 178 hits and 61 RBIs. Matt Shaw, on the other hand, batted .226 with 13 HRs in his rookie MLB season. So moving on from him now would be a real gamble. Hoerner is also a two-time Gold Glove winner and is entering the final year of his contract, which has naturally led people to wonder whether the Cubs might try to cash in on his expiring deal to bring back longer-term assets.

If you remember, last season, Hoerner handled second base while Shaw settled in as the everyday third baseman. With Bregman now locked in as the Cubs’ third baseman, and still a strong defender with an impact bat, Shaw is the odd man out at that position in the short term. That said, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs trading Shaw so early in his career. He’s also logged time at second base, which opens up another path.

Now, if Shaw shifts over to second, that’s where Hoerner’s name starts popping up in trade rumors.

Moreover, the Cubs’ CBT threshold for 2026 is $244 million, and they are currently just shy of $243 million, putting them close to the first luxury tax threshold. So, moving Hoerner would clear roughly $35 million from the Cubs’ books, all but guaranteeing they stay under the CBT threshold. From a financial standpoint, it makes sense.

But dealing away established veterans in favor of prospects could hurt the team’s on-field production, even with Bregman in the fold.

The Cubs might join the Yankees for a trade

If the Cubs do decide to move Hoerner, getting prospects back would be the priority, and that’s where the Yankees could make a lot of sense. New York has several intriguing young names, from Spencer Jones to Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez, and a deal like that could give the Cubs’ farm system a real boost.

For the Yankees, Hoerner could help soften the blow of missing out on Cody Bellinger. Hoerner is an elite defender, a real speed threat, and one of the toughest outs in baseball. Notably, his 7.6 percent strikeout rate ranked in the 99th percentile league-wide, making him exactly the kind of hitter contact-first fans love to point to.

And when you zoom out, the overall value is comparable: Hoerner posted a 4.9 WAR last season, the same mark Bellinger reached, according to FanGraphs.

Top Stories

MLB Refuses to Come to Blue Jays Star’s Aid as Ross Atkins Refuses to Budge Amid Disagreement

Boston Threatens “Mutiny” Against Red Sox as Roman Anthony left to Dry After Alex Bregman Exit

3 Reasons Bo Bichette’s Offseason Market Seemingly Collapses After Blue Jays’ Sudden Shift

Mets Give Up Tatsuya Imai Pursuit as David Stearns Targets $200M Free Agent Ace: Report

Bo Bichette’s Toronto Return Fades Fast as Blue Jays–Red Sox Face Fierce Threat From AL East Rival: MLB Rumor

So, all of that makes a Hoerner trade feel like a potential win-win.

The Cubs improve their long-term outlook with high-end prospects, and the Yankees land a reliable, well-rounded player. The trade-off, of course, is that Chicago would lose the advantage of having both Hoerner and Bregman anchoring the infield at the same time.