Nico Hoerner Extends Cubs Tenure with $141M Deal

Cubs lock up young star infielder through 2028 season

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:39am

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The Chicago Cubs have signed infielder Nico Hoerner to a six-year, $141 million contract extension, keeping the 25-year-old in Chicago through the 2028 season. Hoerner, a first-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2018, has quickly established himself as a core piece of the team's future, excelling with his elite defense, contact hitting, and baserunning skills.

Why it matters

Hoerner's extension is a significant move for the Cubs as they look to build a contending team around their young talent. His well-rounded skillset and team-first mentality make him an ideal fit for the Cubs' vision of playing elite defense up the middle to support their pitching staff. Locking up Hoerner long-term prevents him from hitting free agency and signals the Cubs' commitment to constructing a sustainable winner.

The details

After Hoerner impressed during a late-season call-up in 2019 and took over as the everyday shortstop in 2022, the Cubs moved him to second base this offseason to accommodate the signing of free agent Dansby Swanson. Hoerner willingly accepted the position change, showcasing his team-first attitude. The Cubs also added third baseman Alex Bregman this winter, further bolstering their infield defense around Hoerner.

  • The Cubs drafted Hoerner with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
  • Hoerner made his MLB debut in September 2019, called up from the minors.
  • Hoerner became the Cubs' everyday shortstop in 2022 and had a standout season.
  • Hoerner's six-year, $141 million contract extension was finalized on March 29, 2026.

The players

Nico Hoerner

A 25-year-old infielder who was a first-round draft pick of the Cubs in 2018 and has quickly emerged as a core player for the team with his elite defense, contact hitting, and baserunning skills.

Jed Hoyer

The president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, who was instrumental in drafting Hoerner and is now locking him up long-term as part of the team's plans to build a contender.

Dansby Swanson

The free agent shortstop the Cubs signed this offseason, allowing Hoerner to move to second base and form an elite defensive duo up the middle.

Alex Bregman

The third baseman the Cubs added this offseason to further strengthen their infield defense around Hoerner.

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What they’re saying

“There's so many ways to create value in our sport. There are more consistent ways that you see getting paid a lot of money. But I'm very proud of getting to this point by being myself. I still want to improve, I want to add to my game, I want to be the best version of myself. But I'm also proud that, in a lot of ways, my game hasn't changed from when I was in high school and college.”

— Nico Hoerner, Cubs Infielder

“It is the connective tissue of both those teams. We played incredible defense in '16 and I think we played amazing defense last year. I think we can be every bit as good if not better this year and going forward. It's cool knowing a lot of people in this building, not just the players but the coaches as well, take a lot of pride in that.”

— Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations

What’s next

The Cubs will look to build on their strong defensive foundation around Hoerner as they aim to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

The takeaway

Nico Hoerner's contract extension cements him as a cornerstone of the Cubs' future, as the team has made a clear commitment to constructing a winning roster around his well-rounded skillset and team-first mentality. His ability to adapt to position changes and willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed make him an ideal fit for the Cubs' vision of playing elite defense to support their pitching.