Giants Eyeing Nico Hoerner as Potential Answer at Second Base
The San Francisco Giants appear to be actively exploring ways to shore up second base this offseason, and one name that continues to surface is Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner. The 26-year-old is coming off a strong campaign in Chicago, and while prying him loose won’t be easy, the fit is hard to ignore-for both sides.
A Career Year for Hoerner
Hoerner’s 2025 season was his most complete yet. He slashed .297/.345/.394, chipped in 7 home runs, drove in 61 runs, and swiped 29 bases. That blend of high-contact hitting, speed on the basepaths, and defensive excellence-he earned his second Gold Glove at second base-makes him one of the more well-rounded middle infielders in the game right now.
He’s not a power bat, but that’s not what makes him valuable. His game is about putting the ball in play, pressuring defenses with speed, and anchoring the infield with elite glove work. That’s the kind of profile that doesn’t just fill a lineup spot-it sets a tone.
A Natural Fit in the Bay
There’s also a local connection that makes this potential move even more intriguing. Hoerner was born in Oakland and played college ball at Stanford, just a short drive from Oracle Park. A return to the Bay Area would be a homecoming of sorts, and it’s not hard to imagine Giants fans embracing a local product with his style of play.
From a roster-building standpoint, Hoerner checks a lot of boxes for what president of baseball operations Buster Posey seems to be targeting: contact hitters who can play clean defense and bring a bit of versatility. Hoerner fits that mold to a tee.
Giants Clearly Targeting Second Base Help
The Giants’ interest in Hoerner isn’t happening in a vacuum. They’ve also been linked to Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan, another versatile second baseman with a high-contact approach. That trend tells us something: the front office isn’t satisfied with the current options at second.
Casey Schmitt held down the position for much of 2025 and showed flashes, but his .237/.305/.401 line left room for improvement. He brings value defensively and has some pop, but the consistency just wasn’t there. If the Giants want to compete in a deep NL West, they’ll need more out of that spot.
What Would It Take to Get Hoerner?
Here’s where things get tricky. The Cubs aren’t necessarily in sell mode.
They’re fresh off a playoff appearance and are looking to build on that momentum. But Hoerner’s name has come up in trade discussions, which signals that Chicago is at least open to listening.
The Cubs are reportedly in the market for pitching, but that’s also an area of need for the Giants. San Francisco is still looking to bolster its own rotation, so parting with someone like Robbie Ray doesn’t make much sense-it would just open up another hole.
That leaves prospects as the most likely trade chips. A package built around 2025 first-round pick Gavin Kilen and right-hander Hayden Birdsong-an Illinois native-could get Chicago’s attention.
But even that might not be enough. The Cubs would likely want a player who can step in right away, which could mean including Schmitt in the deal to give them a serviceable replacement at second.
Bottom Line
The Giants are clearly in the market for an upgrade at second base, and Nico Hoerner fits the bill in just about every way. He brings contact, speed, defense, and local ties-all things that align with the team’s current direction. Whether the Giants can put together a package that satisfies the Cubs is the big question, but one thing’s for sure: if Hoerner ends up in San Francisco, he’d be a major boost to a lineup that needs more consistent contact and infield stability.