Cubs deal for Alex Bregman could help Guardians nab Gold Glove-winning contact savant

Alex Bregman’s contract with the Cubs has plenty of ramifications throughout MLB. It confirms the Cubs are set to be a contender in 2026 while also seemingly eliminating them from a Kyle Tucker reunion.

It reopened the wound that Red Sox fans got when the team traded Rafael Devers midway through the 2025 season. 

It also means that All-Star second baseman Nico Hoerner could be available in trade talks.

And if that is the case, Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti should be one of the first people to call Jed Hoyer about Hoerner’s availability. 

The Guardians should try to wrangle Nico Hoerner away from the Cubs 

While Hoerner is a valuable player in today’s MLB landscape,his chances of being traded went up exponentially after Chicago signed Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal — the third-largest deal in Cubs history.

While Bregman is set to play third base, Chicago’s deal with Bregman could still impact Hoerner, who is the Cubs’ everyday second baseman. 

The 28-year-old Hoerner is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, as he hit .297 with seven home runs, 61 RBI and 29 steals in 156 regular season games. He followed that up by hitting .419 in the postseason (13-for-31) while also providing Gold Glove defense.  

Although he’s set to be a free agent after the season and is making $12 million next season (two things that would likely give the Guardians pause in acquiring him), the right-handed hitter would be a great fit in Cleveland’s lineup. He finished last year in the 99th percentile in whiff and strikeout rate along with being in the 98th percentile in expected batting average (.292). 

Imagine a Guardians lineup with Steven Kwan, Hoerner and José Ramírez hitting at the top of it. It’s a starting pitcher’s nightmare. 

Even if he wouldn’t provide the Guardians with the kind of power they desperately need, it’s like he has the kind of profile that Cleveland’s front office covets. 

He’d also immediately become the Guardians’ top middle infield option, which could allow for the team to trade one of Gabriel Arias and/or Brayan Rocchio to try to recoup whatever prospect capital they’d need to trade away to acquire Hoerner. 

Even though Hoerner’s status as an impending (and expensive) free agent would limit the amount of prospect capital the Cubs could ask for, it would likely still take multiple top-30 prospects to acquire Hoerner. 

Adding Horner would be a bit out of character for a Guardians team that hasn’t added a veteran to its middle infield picture since they signed César Hernández in free agency (twice), it’s the kind of move that would make them bonafide contenders in 2026.