Welcome again to the 2025-26 version of Smash or Pass, wherein we study potential free agent and commerce targets to find out whether or not the Purple Sox ought to pursue them and what it will take to land them. Immediately we take a look at a Gold Glove infielder.
Who’s he and the place does he come from?
He’s Nico Hoerner and he’s at the moment a member of the Chicago Cubs, a group that, as Dan Secatore put it, simply handed out a bad contract, a notion I agree with, albeit with disappointment for the lack of a clubhouse chief. The 2018 first spherical draft decide (two picks forward of Triston Casas) has been on a Main League roster since 2019 (two years longer than Casas, which isn’t an indictment on Triston as Hoerner is nearly three years older). He’s primarily performed at second base, logging 500 video games on the place, although he’s dabbled at brief, too, having performed 210 video games at that place.
If you happen to lamented Bregman’s departure from the group on account of his defensive potential, you then would possibly like Nico Hoerner. In truth, he’s the reigning Gold Glover at second, having additionally received in 2023, and his 2025 Outs Above Common (15) positioned him within the prime 98th percentile within the league. If you happen to’re apprehensive about the potential of Ceddanne “Nuff Cedd” Rafaela overlaying second base regardless of being a world class heart fielder, the acquisition of Hoerner will make you breathe simpler.
Plus, Hoerner, who turns 29 in Might, isn’t too dangerous on the plate both. He does lack energy, mashing simply seven house runs. However, I’m keen to forgive that since he will get on base to the tune of a .345 OBP and barely ever strikes out, as his profession greatest strikeout share of seven.6% in 2025 additionally ranked within the prime 98th percentile. Oh, and he stole twenty 9 baggage, so he’s fast, too. So, sure, Hoerner is de facto good. Which is exactly why he’s the valued starter on one other group.
TLDR; simply give me his 2025 stats.
.297/.345/.394, 7 HR, 61 RBI, 49 Ok, 39 BB, 29 SB, 4 FE in 156 video games
Why would he be a great match on the 2025 Purple Sox?
I have to once more state that, on a group that has been in shambles defensively for the higher a part of a decade and which has a steady infielder departing, Hoerner had ZERO throwing errors and simply 4 fielding errors. He additionally missed simply six video games. That’s some stability that the group hasn’t seen within the infield in a while. Hoerner’s fWAR final yr was 4.8. I’m under no circumstances evaluating Hoerner to Pedroia (until I’m?) however Pedroia’s common fWAR per 162 video games performed in his profession was 5.6. To be that near a just-shy-of-a-hall-of-famer’s numbers is a really, superb factor. And, at his worst, Hoerner in 2024 nonetheless hit .273 whereas coping with a hand damage
Why wouldn’t he be a great match on the Purple Sox?
There are just a few causes, the primary of which is the query of what the Cubs would need for Hoerner. They will surely strive for a high-end prospect like Tolle or Early, another appreciable names like Arias or Romero, and presumably one or two different lottery ticket prospects. Now, the Purple Sox have sufficient depth sufficient to soak up dealing these names for a potential All-Star. However, it might scare off the measured Craig Breslow a bit.
Furthermore, Hoerner will probably be a free agent subsequent season. Bo Bichette’s 3 yr, $126 million take care of the New York Mets drives up the value tag for all-star caliber infielders. Hoerner averted arbitration with Chicago in 2024 by signing a 3 yr, $35 million deal, however that was a Gold Glove and 5 factors on the strikeout share in the past. He’ll command a deal nearer to Bichette subsequent offsesaon (humor me with no lockout dialogue, please.)
Plus, the Purple Sox might merely wish to see what they’ve in Marcelo Mayer at one other place, and the outfield is already backlogged sufficient that we may even see Rafaela and even Kristian Campbell (left discipline chatter apart) in the course of the diamond sooner or later (or possibly each if, heaven forbid, the infield has any well being points). And, in case you’re on the lookout for a selected purpose why buying and selling property could be difficult, it’s that Hoerner lacks energy; Savant constantly has him within the lowest tenth percentile in barrel share and onerous hit share. If you happen to’re on the lookout for extra energy after the Bregman departure, you could not wish to herald a man who solely hit 36 house runs in a six (or 6.014) yr profession.
Present me a cool spotlight.
Right here he’s outsmarting the White Sox twice in about 5 seconds on an infield fly rule to show two by letting a baseball drop to the bottom. There’s additionally the truth that he has tremendous fast reflexes with that arm.
I’m smashing, however I believe he’ll begin the season as a Chicago Cub relatively than get dealt to a group that saddles up the property to amass him and is ready to increase Hoerner in brief order. The Cubs are in “win now” mode and they also may even see how the season goes with a stacked infield filled with studs. This Purple Sox offseason, the Ranger Suarez signing apart, has seen a return to the “curiosity kings” mode of operations, because the group has been tied to a plethora of notable names, solely to see them signal with another person. However the 2026 second base place largely stays a query mark, as it will have even with Alex Bregman returning. For that reason, it’d go well with the Purple Sox effectively to throw a little bit little bit of warning to the wind and get a confirmed All-Star caliber participant to affix their ranks. Whether or not they may? Effectively, that’s a special story… no pun supposed.
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