The New York Yankees have been involved heavily in the MLB rumor mill over the last couple of weeks. Most of those rumors and reports have had to do with the team’s pursuit of a new contract with star outfielder Cody Bellinger.
While the Yankees would like to re-sign Bellinger and he has been the teams No. 1 priority in free agency, the discussions have not progressed well. Right now, there is a very real chance that Bellinger will walk to another team.
That being said, more rumors have started coming up about New York and potential targets.
According to a report from Pat Ragazzo of On SI, the Yankees have shown interest in trading for Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. After the Cubs signed star infielder Alex Bregman, Hoerner has been brought up as a potential trade candidate.
“Sources: Yankees reached out to the Cubs about infielder Nico Hoerner after the Alex Bregman signing and have legitimate interest,” Ragazzo wrote on X.
Hoerner would be a very intriguing pickup for New York. However, a new update has been shared that is bad news for the Yankees’ chances of trading for him.
The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma has reported that Hoerner will likely stick around with Chicago.
“There are no indications that the Cubs are looking to move Hoerner, but other teams have come calling, and this organization won’t hang up when others ring,” Sharma wrote. “The Cubs will listen, and if they’re blown away, they may decide it’s the right thing to do.”
Nico Hoerner Is a Perfect Target for the New York Yankees
On the outside looking in, Hoerner would be an ideal trade candidate for New York.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Cubs, Hoerner played in 156 games. He hit seven home runs to go along with 61 RBI, while also producing a slash line of .297/.345/.394.
At 28 years old, Hoerner would be a potential long-term pickup. He will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season.
If things worked out with the Yankees, the team could work on a long-term extension with him. That would be an ideal scenario. Adding Hoerner would also be an elite defensive addition for New York.
What Else Could the Yankees Do This Offseason?
Other rumors have come out about the Yankees in recent days.
Bo Bichette has become a player of interest for New York. However, the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox appear to be the potential front-runners and the Toronto Blue Jays remain in his market.
Kyle Tucker has continually been mentioned as a possible option for the Yankees. He would be a high-priced target, but New York’s offense would take a huge step forward if he were signed.
Bellinger remains the team’s apparent top priority. If the two sides can make progress on a deal, the Yankees would likely do everything they could to lock him up.
Expect to continue hearing rumors about the team as the offseason progresses forward. Hoerner would be an ideal trade target for New York, but it sounds like he is more likely to remain in Chicago for the 2026 season.
Yankees Receive Bad News Regarding Potential Nico Hoerner Trade