As the Yankees settle into Tampa for spring training, the front office still has time-and reason-to make one more impactful move before Opening Day. While late-offseason additions are usually more about roster depth than headline-making trades, there’s one name that continues to stand out as a potential game-changer: Nico Hoerner.
According to reporting, Hoerner remains a viable trade target for teams in need of a right-handed bat-and the Yankees fit that bill. Joel Sherman recently highlighted the Cubs infielder as an “ideal” match for New York, and it’s not hard to see why. Hoerner brings a rare blend of elite defense, contact hitting, and speed-three tools the Yankees could use more of in 2026.
Let’s start with the glove. Hoerner is one of the best defensive second basemen in the game.
He’s quick, instinctive, and reliable-traits that don’t always show up in the box score but win games in October. He’s also no slouch with the bat, especially against lefties.
Last season, Hoerner hit .369 against southpaws while striking out just 5.4% of the time. In a lineup that leans heavily left-handed and has struggled with swing-and-miss issues in recent years, that kind of bat control is gold.
There’s one obvious complication here: the Yankees already have Jazz Chisholm Jr. penciled in at second base. But that’s not a deal-breaker.
Hoerner has experience at shortstop-he last played there in 2022 and posted an impressive 13 Outs Above Average. That’s elite territory.
Sliding him over to short would shore up the infield defense and open the door to a tough but necessary conversation about Anthony Volpe’s future role. It’s not an easy move, but it’s one that could raise the floor (and ceiling) of the Yankees’ infield.
And then there’s the speed. Hoerner has averaged 30 steals per season over the last four years, with a career-best 43 in 2023.
Pair that with Chisholm Jr., and the Yankees suddenly have a dynamic one-two punch on the basepaths-something they’ve lacked for years. In a league where aggressive baserunning is making a comeback, Hoerner gives them a real edge.
Some might argue that the Yankees already addressed their right-handed needs by re-signing Paul Goldschmidt. Others might say the focus should be on adding a righty-hitting outfielder.
But here’s the thing: they can do both. And while Goldschmidt still has value, he’s 38.
Randal Grichuk is 34. Neither is the kind of long-term solution Hoerner could be.
He’s 28, in his prime, and under contract for just one more season at $12 million. That’s not cheap, but it’s far from prohibitive for a player of his caliber.
The Cubs, for their part, may be more open to a deal than it seems. With Alex Bregman now in the fold and Matt Shaw waiting in the wings, Chicago has infield options-and incentive to move Hoerner if the return is right.
The Red Sox were reportedly one of the more serious suitors, but their recent acquisition of Caleb Durbin likely takes them out of the running. That could leave the Yankees with a clearer path and less competition.
Bottom line: Nico Hoerner checks a lot of boxes for the Yankees. He makes contact, plays elite defense, runs the bases like a threat every time he’s on, and adds balance to a lineup that needs it. He’s not just a complementary piece-he’s the kind of player who can tilt the field in October.
If the Yankees are serious about contending in 2026, this is the kind of move that could push them over the top. The opportunity is there. Now it’s just a matter of whether they’re bold enough to take it.