Cubs, Nico Hoerner Reach Agreement on 6-Year Extension

It would have been nice to get the news after a win, but it’s hard to imagine a better way to get over that stinker of a loss on Opening Day. Per multiple reports, the Cubs have reached an agreement with Nico Hoerner on a six-year extension. Details have not yet been announced, but it’s safe to assume the new money will start next year.

Since Hoerner debuted in 2019, his 20.0 fWAR is the highest mark of any Cubs player, easily surpassing Ian Happ‘s 17.8 over 701 more plate appearances. Hoerner’s 131 steals are the most on the team in that time, with Pete Crow-Armstrong‘s 64 coming in second.

Hoerner does just about everything well, other than hitting for power. His .102 ISO is the lowest among any Cubs with at least 1,000 PAs over the last seven seasons, and it’s roughly 60 points below the league average over that same span. He’s a throwback in that regard, as even his positional peers have averaged a .142 ISO since 2019.

That lack of pop might have kept him from getting uber-premium dollars on the open market, which is part of why sticking with the Cubs made sense. He’s also a consummate glue guy who seems to be a better fit with this roster than he would have been elsewhere. I had previously estimated a deal of five years and around $105 million, which seems light when you think about how good he’s actually been.

Maybe something like six years and $130 million, plus escalators for Gold Gloves and other accomplishments. I could see it stretching to $150 million depending on how it’s structured, but I’m open to the distinct possibility of being quite wrong.