Yankees Eye Trade for Cubs' Nico Hoerner Amid Anthony Volpe Struggles

The New York Yankees are facing significant challenges with third-year shortstop Anthony Volpe, who has struggled both offensively and defensively during the 2025 MLB season. Volpe recorded a substandard .663 OPS, struck out 150 times, and led the American League with 19 fielding errors, raising concerns about his viability as a starter. Despite the support from Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman, analysts are questioning Volpe's future with the team.

Newsweek

In light of Volpe's performance, the Yankees are reportedly considering a trade for Nico Hoerner, a middle infielder for the Chicago Cubs. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden indicated in an MLB Radio interview that the Yankees are "linked" to Hoerner, who has been identified as a potential replacement for Volpe. Yankees correspondent Ryan Garcia highlighted that acquiring Hoerner could significantly improve the Yankees' offensive output, noting his on-base percentage (OBP) of .330-.340 compared to Volpe's sub-.300 OBP.

Newsweek

Hoerner, a two-time Gold Glove winner and the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2018, is under a three-year, $35 million contract that expires after the upcoming season. The Cubs may be incentivized to trade Hoerner to avoid losing him to free agency without compensation. The Yankees could offer their 2024 second-ranked pitching prospect, Will Warren, who had a successful rookie season with a 4.44 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings.

Newsweek

While the Yankees are exploring options to improve their roster, some analysts argue that simply acquiring Hoerner may not fully resolve the issues stemming from Volpe's performance. Critics suggest that the Yankees need to address broader roster deficiencies rather than relying on a single trade to fix their problems.

Newsweek

Garcia noted, "Time will tell if the Cubs end up moving him, but the Yankees would love to add another right-handed bat and potentially someone who can upgrade over their worst everyday bat." This sentiment reflects the Yankees' ongoing search for solutions to enhance their lineup.

Newsweek

• “Going from a sub-.300 OBP to a .330-.340 OBP hitter is a massive upgrade, and while the Cubs are not locks to trade him, the Yankees could get a massive upgrade if Nico Hoerner were to don the pinstripes.” — Ryan Garcia, Yankees Correspondent

Newsweek

• “Will Warren is a player who interested the Cubs last winter when these two teams held trade talks about Cody Bellinger, and the Yankees inquired about Hoerner that winter as well,” — Ryan Garcia, Yankees Correspondent

Newsweek

As the offseason progresses, the Yankees will likely continue to evaluate their options regarding Volpe and potential trades for Hoerner. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact the team's strategy heading into the next season.

Newsweek