The Cubs have secured their second baseman for the long haul.
Nico Hoerner and the Cubs agreed to a six-year extension to keep him in Chicago until his age-35 season, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported on Thursday.
Exact details, including the total salary of the contract, are still unknown.
The deal comes as Hoerner, who turns 29 in May, was previously expected to enter free agency following this season.
Hoerner’s signing also comes just days after the Cubs locked up outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong with a six-year deal worth $115 million.
A large part of Chicago’s lineup is now locked up long-term, with shortstop Dansby Swanson under contract until 2029, third baseman Alex Bregman not hitting free agency until 2030 and corner infielder Michael Busch under team control through the 2029 season.
“I love our chances right now, I love that we’re in a place where we have a lot of people that are very consistent and a lot of people that have high upside,” Hoerner told reporters before their 10-4 opening-day loss to the Nationals, according to the Chicago Tribune. “When you combine that with experience, it’s a special thing, and I think our group is in a really strong place.”
Hoerner is coming off a career year with the Cubs, posting a slash line of .297/.345/.394 with 29 doubles and a 6.2 WAR, as he earned his second Gold Glove award.
Even with his impressive numbers last season, Cubs skipper Craig Counsell said he believes Horner can do even better.
“Nico can grow, I think Nico can be better, and I really am optimistic he’s going to be better,” Counsell said Thursday. “Nico still has the ability to drive the ball a little more, and that’s in a good place and really ready to show up.
“But I want Nico to be himself, and he’s going to be himself and just go take his at-bat and do good things, in the mold of how he does it.”
