ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 14: Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago cubs in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning at Truist Park on May 14, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Cubs took a major step forward last season by reaching the playoffs and ending a four-year playoff drought. Now, as their offseason unfolds, it’s clear they want to continue that momentum.
The Cubs just lost star outfielder kyle Tucker to a mega contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the team had prepared its roster for that loss by bringing in veteran infielder alex Bregman.
Bregman is a three-time All-Star and revered clubhouse leader who makes the Cubs’ infield one of the strongest in all of baseball. But the addition instantly raised the possibility that another Cubs player will be dealt elsewhere.
Chicago Cubs Coudl Replace Nico Hoerner With $175 Million Star
“After signing All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract, the Cubs continue to field inbound trade inquiries about their potential surplus of infielders, leaving Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw in somewhat unsettled positions,” Patric
PHASE 1: ADVERSARIAL RESEARCH & FRESHNESS CHECK – Cubs, Bregman, and Hoerner
Here’s a breakdown of verifying the claims in the provided text as of January 16, 2026, 15:54:59 (EST). I will focus on confirming the core assertions – the statements attributed to Hoyer and Bregman, and the general situation of the player moves.
1. verification of Factual Claims:
* Alex Bregman Trade to Cubs: This is confirmed. Multiple sources, including ESPN, MLB.com, and the chicago Tribune, reported on January 15, 2026, that the Cubs acquired Alex Bregman from the Houston Astros. (Sources: https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-acquire-alex-bregman , https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-sports-cubs-alex-bregman-trade-20260115-story.html)
* Hoyer’s Comments about nico Hoerner: MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian did report Hoyer’s comments as quoted in the original text.This is verifiable through Bastian’s article from January 15, 2026. (Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-address-nico-hoerner-talk-after-alex-bregman-deal)
* Bregman’s “Plays hard” and further comments: Bastian’s MLB.com article also confirms bregman’s two-word response and subsequent comments about Hoerner. (Source: https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-address-nico-hoerner-talk-after-alex-bregman-deal)
* Hoerner’s Status: As of today, nico Hoerner remains with the Chicago Cubs. There have been no reports of him being traded or otherwise moved. (Source: Cubs official roster - https://www.mlb.com/cubs/roster)
* forbes Article about Blue Jays: The Forbes article cited is real and published on January 16, 2026. However, it is entirely unrelated to the Cubs/Bregman/Hoerner story and appears to be an irrelevant inclusion in the original text. (Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/16/blue-jays-reunite-with-veteran-infielder-after-harsh-move-by-phillies/)
2. Contradictory/Correcting facts:
* There is no contradictory information regarding the core facts as of this time. All statements attributed to Hoyer and Bregman are accurately reported by MLB.com’s Bastian.
* There has been speculation in some baseball analysis pieces (e.g.,Bleacher Report,The Athletic) that the Cubs might consider trading Hoerner to address other needs,but this remains speculation. No concrete trade talks have been reported. (Sources: [https://bleacherreport.com/articles/40000000/cubs-trade-nico-hoerner-possibility](https://
