The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a six-year contract extension with second baseman Nico Hoerner, pending a physical, according to reports. The deal, which keeps the 28-year-old star off the free-agent market, comes days after a similar pact with center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Chicago has not yet confirmed the agreement.
Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is set to remain with the team long-term after agreeing to a six-year extension, sources reported following the Cubs' 10-4 Opening Day loss to the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The financial terms were not disclosed, and the Cubs have not officially announced the deal, which is pending a physical and expected over the weekend, as first reported by ESPN and MLB.com sources. This marks the second extension for Hoerner, who previously signed a three-year, $35 million deal ahead of the 2023 season. Drafted 24th overall out of Stanford in 2018, Hoerner debuted in 2019 and has become a cornerstone of the Cubs' core. In 2025, he hit .297 with a .345 on-base percentage and .394 slugging percentage, finishing second in the National League batting race. He posted baseball's third-lowest strikeout rate at 7.6% among qualified hitters, with an 89.8% contact rate, seven home runs, 29 doubles, 61 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases, leading the team with 6.2 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference. Defensively, the two-time Gold Glove winner (2023 and 2025) at second base recorded 15 outs above average, tying for fifth overall. Hoerner went 0-for-4 in Thursday's loss. 'I think the Cubs are going to have incredibly strong teams for years to come,' Hoerner said before the game. 'It’s an incredible place to play.' Manager Craig Counsell added, 'Nico can grow... I really am optimistic he’s going to be better.' The extension pairs Hoerner with Pete Crow-Armstrong, whose six-year, $115 million deal was signed earlier this week, and shortstop Dansby Swanson, locked in through 2029, securing Chicago's up-the-middle defense.
