What it will take for SF Giants to land coveted Cubs 2B Nico Hoerner

The SF Giants have been linked to Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. The speedy infielder is coming off a career year so it would not be cheap for the Giants to acquire him.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle recently connected the Giants and Hoerner, saying his name came up in trade talks between San Francisco and Chicago. Others have reported that Hoerner’s name has come up in trade discussions so Chicago seems to at least be entertaining the notion of dealing him.

SF Giants connected to speedy Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner

Last season with the Cubs, Hoerner slashed .297/.345/.394 with 7 home runs, 61 runs batted in, and 29 stolen bases. He also won his second Gold Glove award for his defense at second base so he is an above average fielder as well.

Hoerner is someone who would make sense as a Giant. He was born across the Bay Bridge  in Oakland and played in college just down the road at Stanford. Not only does he have those Bay Area ties, but his profile as a high contact hitter with solid defense seems to fit what president of baseball operations Buster Posey is looking for in the lineup.

The team’s rumored interest in St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan along with the Hoerner rumor suggests the Giants really are looking to upgrade at second base. 

Casey Schmitt did good things at second base in 2025, but the Giants could definitely find more consistent production than the .237/..305/.401 slash line he put up.

So what would it take to land Hoerner in a deal? The Cubs are reportedly in need of more pitching but the Giants do not have a ton of pitching to give. They themselves are looking to make another addition or two to the starting rotation so it seems unlikely that they would deal someone like Robbie Ray because that would just create another hole in the rotation.

The Cubs are in a win-now mode after making it to the playoffs after last season, but prospects may be the best that the Giants could offer. Maybe a package of 2025 first-round pick Gavin Kilen and Hayden Birdsong, an Illinois native would get Chicago’s interest. However, the Giants may have to include Schmitt in a deal like that so the Cubs at least felt they were getting a serviceable replacement out of the deal.

No matter what, it does seem clear the Giants are very interested in upgrading at second base. If they could land either Hoerner or Donovan, both players would be a welcome addition to a lineup that needs to make contact more often.