Nico Hoerner’s Contract Extension: More Changes Coming for the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs officially have a new core in place, as Nico Hoerner’s reported six-year contract extension cemented it. The new deal, which was revealed the same day the Cubs officially announced Pete Crow-Armstrong’s extension, also means more changes are coming around the field for the team.

First, the entire infield is locked up through at least the 2029 season.

1B Michael Busch – under team control through 2029
2B Nico Hoerner – signed through 2032
SS Dansby Swanson – signed through 2029
3B Alex Bregman – signed through 2030

Matt Shaw’s Future

Naturally, that leads to the first major question, looking at the rest of the roster, and you have to wonder about Matt Shaw’s future. Some fans have been quick to put Shaw back into trade talks, which could come up again as soon as this summer if the Cubs need to add a major piece for the stretch run. Shaw played pretty good defense at third base in 2025, and for a few years, he appeared to be the eventual replacement at second base if Hoerner moved on in free agency. That thought became much more prevalent after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman this past offseason, which meant Shaw was no longer the third baseman.

However, it doesn’t really seem like Shaw will be the odd man out. He was instructed to learn outfield defense this offseason, and right now he’s filling in for Seiya Suzuki in right field.

What Corner Outfielder Stays, If Any?

Shaw seems much more likely to stay with the Cubs and continue his career in either corner position in the outfield, which means Ian Happ or Suzuki won’t be returning to the team in 2027.

Happ and Suzuki are both headed to free agency following the 2026 season, and Happ’s previous comments suggest a player who knows what’s in his future. Happ is currently the longest tenured player in the organization, but he hasn’t had any extension talks with the Cubs, and neither has Suzuki.

Both are corner outfielders that are 30+ years old. There’s a good chance that the Cubs will look into possibly re-signing one of the two outfielders, but they’ll let them test free agency and circle back to see if the market works in the team’s favor.

Right now, I’m projecting Shaw as the Opening Day left fielder for the Cubs in 2027, with Happ on a different team. I don’t have a strong feeling about how the Cubs feel about Suzuki.

What About the Prospects?

Heading over to infield prospects, Jefferson Rojas and Pedro Ramirez suddenly don’t have a clear path for everyday playing time in the majors. Rojas, more than Ramirez, currently has a higher potential as a prospect, but now that Hoerner is locked up at second base, Swanson isn’t moving, which makes it a lot harder for any upcoming infielders to be anything more than a bench player.

Yet I think we sometimes forget how young some of these minor leaguers are. Rojas has been a popular name in the Cubs’ farm system for a few years, and you might be surprised to learn that he’s still 20-years-old. The right-handed hitting shortstop finished last year at Double-A, and after some struggles there, Rojas still has room to grow, as he continues his development.

However, as we saw throughout spring training, Rojas has immense talent, and many of us thought he’d be lined up to contribute in the majors soon. Now? Well, Rojas’ timeline probably gets delayed, but then you have to wonder if the Cubs would use him in a big trade if he continues to raise his stock as a prospect.

We talked about these things and had more fun reacting to the Hoerner extension news that broke after Opening Day on Thursday. Check out the latest Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast.