Nico Hoerner, Cubs Reportedly Agree to 6-Year, $141M Contract Extension on MLB Opening Day

Shortly after the Chicago Cubs locked up Pete Crow-Armstrong with a contract extension, they reportedly agreed to a deal with another of their foundational players.

Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation reported Thursday that Chicago agreed to a contract extension with second baseman Nico Hoerner. ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported it is a six-year deal, pending a physical.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Hoerner's contract is worth $141 million and is the fourth-largest contract ever for a second baseman. According to Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there are deferrals in the deal that take the current day value into the mid-$130 millions.

The 2026 season, which started Thursday for Chicago with a loss to the Washington Nationals, was set to be the final year on Hoerner's previous extension he signed with the Cubs in 2023.

While the campaign didn't start like the National League Central club wanted, coming to terms on two extensions in a matter of days is an indication the front office believes it has created a window of contention with the team's core that includes Crow-Armstrong, Hoerner, Alex Bregman, Cade Horton, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki, among others.

Chicago reached the playoffs last season and won a series over the San Diego Padres before losing a back-and-forth Division Series to the Milwaukee Brewers.

It is looking to take the next step this season after adding Bregman during the offseason, and Hoerner figures to be a major part of those efforts. After all, he won his second Gold Glove in three years last season and finished in the top 20 in National League MVP voting.

Hoerner finished the 2025 campaign slashing .297/.345/.394 with seven home runs, 61 RBI and 29 stolen bases while being responsible for 17 defensive runs saved above average at second base, per FanGraphs.

He and Dansby Swanson make up one of the best defensive infields in the league, and his ability to hit for average and get on base in a lineup that features a number of other power hitters plays well for a team with realistic playoff aspirations.

That Hoerner is just 28 years old means he should remain a peak performer during much of the contract extension and, ideally for the Cubs, help the team maximize its chances to compete during this window.