Cubs Avoid Full No-Trade Clause in Nico Hoerner Contract

Chicago's front office stood firm on not granting the star second baseman complete trade protection.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.The Cubs' strategic contract negotiations with Nico Hoerner reflect the team's commitment to roster flexibility and managing player value.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs and second baseman Nico Hoerner agreed to a six-year, $141 million contract extension over the weekend. While Hoerner and his representatives pushed for a full no-trade clause as part of the deal, the Cubs' front office ultimately refused to include that provision, according to reports.

Why it matters

No-trade clauses are typically reserved for the game's elite superstars, and the Cubs were unwilling to grant Hoerner that level of contractual control despite his status as a two-time Gold Glove winner and core piece of the team. This decision reflects the Cubs' negotiating strategy and their belief in Hoerner's value without needing to provide him ironclad trade protection.

The details

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer stated that a full no-trade clause was a major demand from Hoerner and his representatives during contract negotiations. However, the Cubs refused to include that provision, with Hoyer indicating there would have been no agreement without the Cubs standing firm on that point.

  • The contract extension was agreed to over the weekend of March 25-26, 2026.
  • Hoerner, 28, has been with the Cubs since making his MLB debut in 2019.

The players

Nico Hoerner

A two-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman who has been a core player for the Chicago Cubs since 2019.

Jed Hoyer

The President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs, who led the contract negotiations with Hoerner.

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What they’re saying

“Cubs President of baseball ops Jed Hoyer said one of the major demands by Hoerner and his agency was a full no-trade clause. Hoyer said there would not been an agreement without it.”

— Bruce Levine, Reporter

What’s next

The Cubs will look to build around Hoerner as a key part of their roster over the next six seasons after locking him up with this long-term deal.

The takeaway

The Cubs demonstrated their willingness to stand firm in contract negotiations, refusing to grant Nico Hoerner a full no-trade clause despite his status as a core player. This decision reflects the team's strategic approach to managing player contracts and maintaining roster flexibility.