The New York Yankees have been connected to multiple infielders this offseason, and a recent trade proposal has them landing a Gold Glove defender.
MLB analyst Zach Pressnell of FanSided suggested a trade in which the Yankees would acquire Nico Hoerner from the Chicago Cubs, adding a premier defensive infielder to their roster.
Yankees acquire: Nico Hoerner
Jorbit Vivas
The proposed trade between the Yankees and Cubs is an interesting one that could benefit both teams. New York would solidify its infield by acquiring Nico Hoerner, while Chicago would gain two young prospects to bolster its future.
Hoerner, who won the Gold Glove at second base in 2023, would take over the position for the Yankees, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to remain at third base. In 2024, Hoerner hit .273 with seven home runs and 48 RBIs for the Cubs. He is currently in the second year of a three-year, $35 million contract.
In return, the Yankees would send right-handed pitcher Brock Selvidge and second baseman Jorbit Vivas to Chicago. Selvidge, a 22-year-old third-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, posted a 7-6 record with a 4.25 ERA in 16 starts at the Double-A level last season. Vivas, 23, played 93 games in Triple-A, hitting .225 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs, making him a potential replacement for Hoerner in the Cubs’ infield.
Analyst Explains Yankees-Cubs Trade
The trade proposal makes sense for both teams, but it hinges on the Cubs successfully signing Alex Bregman. According to Pressnell, Chicago would only trade Nico Hoerner if they are able to land Bregman, who would take over second base, making Hoerner expendable.
Bregman is the top free agent remaining, and the Cubs have been eyeing him as a potential addition. However, they haven’t yet offered him enough to secure his signing, which is why Hoerner remains with the team for now. If the Cubs do manage to sign Bregman, they could free up salary by moving Hoerner, replacing him with Bregman, and in turn, acquiring two promising prospects from the Yankees.
For New York, the deal would address a need at second base, allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to stay at third while Hoerner solidifies their infield. It’s a move that would help both teams fulfill their objectives—New York adding a key starter, and the Cubs getting prospects while setting up a potential future with Bregman. However, the trade would only happen once Bregman is officially signed by the Cubs, as Pressnell points out.
Yankees Owner Says Team Can’t Spend Like Dodgers
After losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, the New York Yankees have been active in the offseason, but owner Hal Steinbrenner acknowledges the challenges of spending money at the level the Dodgers do.
“It’s difficult for most of us owners to be able to do the kind of things that they’re doing,” Steinbrenner said in an interview with YES Network. “We’ll see if it pays off.” While the Dodgers have made moves in the offseason, Steinbrenner points out that spending alone doesn’t guarantee success.
“They still have to have a season that’s relatively injury-free for it to work out for them,” he noted. “It’s a long season as you know, and once you get to the postseason, anything can happen. We’ve seen that time and time again. We’ll see who’s there at the end.”
Despite this, the Yankees remain strong contenders with the third-best odds to win the World Series this year.
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