As we approach Spring Training and the opening of a new season, the New York Yankees must continue to wait out the market. While it is uncertain where some elite free agents, such as Alex Bregman and Jack Flaherty, will go, the Yankees are unlikely to pursue such options. They’ll go to other teams and make significant upgrades over their internal choices, but this might present an opening for the Yankees to sign someone in the trade market as all of these free agents hunt for homes on the market.
The Chicago Cubs are one of the teams re-igniting their chase of Alex Bregman, who would move top prospect Matt Shaw to second base and maybe begin trade discussions for Nico Hoerner. The Yankees expressed interest in the well-rounded infielder this winter, according to Jacob Zanolla of Cubs Insider, but the Cubs’ trade of Isaac Paredes to the Astros eliminated that possibility. If the opportunity happened again, the Yankees should jump at the chance to significantly improve their infield.
Yankees Send 3 Players To Cubs And Land Nico Hoerner in This Mock Trade
One of the places where the Cubs’ roster needs help is in the bullpen, which the Yankees can assist with because they have numerous controllable relievers. Ian Hamilton strikes me as the type of arm the Cubs would like to add to their roster because he misses a lot of bats and can keep the ball on the ground thanks to his sinker-slider combination, which is paired with a decent four-seam fastball that can miss shots at the top of the zone.
Hamilton has a 3.10 ERA and 27.4% strikeout rate in two seasons with the Yankees, creating groundballs at a 50.4% clip and demonstrating an excellent ability to miss bats at a high rate. With four years of control, Chicago is landing him in his early 30s, and they’ll acquire him when he’s still in pre-arbitration, giving him an incredibly affordable boost to their underwhelming bullpen. The Cubs now have the fifth-worst projected bullpen WAR on FanGraphs (1.4), and Ian Hamilton is projected for 0.6 WAR, which would move them up five spots on his alone.
Another player I believe the Cubs would like is right-handed pitching prospect Will Warren, whom they reportedly expressed interest in while negotiating with the Yankees for Cody Bellinger, according to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated.
Will Warren failed during his brief MLB experience last summer, but his stuff and upside are real, and the Cubs might start him as a reliever before moving him into the rotation. Given their lack of bullpen depth, he might be a valuable asset, providing long relief innings while also bolstering a pitching staff in need of firepower. They do not appear to be looking for top-tier starters, so a manageable young alternative like Warren might appeal to the Cubs, who would have six years of control to deal with.
On FanGraphs, he’s predicted for 0.2 WAR over 35 innings with a 3.67 ERA, adding to the Cubs’ projected total and maybe more important in Chicago, where his path to the team is much clearer. As for the third piece in this deal, the Cubs may be interested in another arm in the Yankees’ organization with a unique repertoire, as Cam Schlittler had a strong 2024 season with significant improvements in his fastball velocity and movement.
He had a 3.36 ERA and 3.60 FIP in his age-23 season, reaching Double-A last year and appearing like a future big-leaguer with his powerful arsenal. His four-seamer averages 94 MPH with 15 inches of IVB, and he possesses a sweeper and gyro slider that he can use to get whiffs against righties or lefties. Baseball America named him a breakout prospect for the 2025 season, and there is some real enthusiasm about how his success in 2024 will translate into 2025.
With these three pitchers, I believe the Cubs would be getting good value for a man with two years of control at around $11 million per year. Perhaps another team makes a more aggressive offer, but here is my best prediction for what might get Jed Hoyer talking to Brian Cashman about a deal. As for why the Yankees could employ Nico Hoerner, he is just one of baseball’s best second baseman.
