*Photo from FanGraphs Baseball*
We're not at opening day yet, so it's still extension season. The Chicago Cubs and SS/2B Nico Hoerner have agreed to a 3 year, $35 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Cubs have not confirmed the news.
After going through the arbitration process this year, the new contract for Hoerner avoids arbitration for his next two seasons of eligibility and delays his free agency by one year. This is the first extension the Cubs have signed a player to since Kyle Hendricks and David Bote agreed to extensions before the 2019 season.
Last season, Hoerner blasted past his previous career high in games played. He took the field in 135 games for the Cubs, compiling a .281 batting average to go with a .410 slugging percentage and .736 OPS. Hoerner added 10 home runs, 55 RBI's, and 20 stolen bases.
Hoerner also built up his strong defensive skills in the middle infield. Playing shortstop in 2022, he posted 13 outs above average, tied for second in baseball with Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets. Who led the league? His new teammate Dansby Swanson. His 10 defensive runs saved ranked him 20th amongst all baseball players last season.
With the signing of Swanson, Hoerner moves back over to second base, where he was a finalist for a gold glove in 2020. The former first round pick in 2018 will also serve as the Cubs leadoff hitter to start the season, ahead of Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini, and Swanson in the lineup.
Swanson said of Hoerner's hitting ability that "I feel like he's going to line the ball up everywhere. Whether it's struck down the right-field line and the left-field gap, you just never know where he's going to go. It's what makes him special. He's got great bat-to-ball skills. He's kind of always on go."
Since debuting in 2019, Hoerner has played in 3 full seasons and 20 games in that 2019 season. Hoerner has amassed a .277 batting average, .333 on base percentage, and .385 slugging percentage, hitting 13 home runs to go with 28 stolen bases and 101 RBI's in 247 games.
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