The Kansas City Royals likely are not done making moves this offseason. Kansas City has been mentioned as a possible destination for a number of position player trade candidates. Chicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner is now being mentioned as a potential trade candidate, and he could be someone the Royals develop interest in. In fact, Preston Farr believes Hoerner’s fit with the Royals makes plenty of sense.
“If the Cubs are fielding calls on Nico Hoerner, he instantly becomes the absolute best target for the Royals in the trade market,” Farr wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Enters final year of his deal in 2026, much like (Kris) Bubic. Thing that’s a better match than Boston or St. Louis.”
Advertisement
So, should the Royals seriously consider making a Hoerner trade pursuit?
Horner, 28, will enter free agency after the 2026 season. The Cubs will likely look to move him if they don’t plan on signing him to a contract extension. For the small-market Royals, acquiring Hoerner could work as a one-year rental. However, Kansas City has displayed willingness to extend young stars in recent seasons, so perhaps they could discuss a long-term deal with Hoerner as well.
A versatile fielder, Hoerner has experience at shortstop, second base, third base and in the outfield. In 2025, he primarily played second, but Hoerner is capable of moving around the diamond if necessary. For the Royals, second base or outfield would be his best fit, as the team’s left side of the infield is set for years to come with Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop and Maikel Garcia at third base.
Advertisement
In 2025, Hoerner earned the second Gold Glove of his career. He also finished 19th in National League MVP voting after slashing .297/.345/.394 to go along with a .739 OPS. He doesn’t offer much power — he’s never hit more than 10 home runs in a single season — but Hoerner is a steady offensive presence who has hit .282 for his career. Additionally, he is a threat on the base paths, as he stole 29 bases in 2025 and his career-high mark is 43.
Hoerner is also quite durable, having played in at least 150 games in each of the past three seasons. He set a new career-high in 2025 with 156 games played.
The Royals should at least inquire about Nico Hoerner and gauge the Cubs’ asking price. If it’s reasonable, Kansas City could look to acquire the versatile star.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source sports.yahoo.com ’
