Nico Hoerner talks 6-year contract extension with Cubs

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Rahimi & Grote Show 13 min 5 speakers 8 chapters transcribed 6 months ago
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What is the significance of Nico Hoerner's six-year contract extension with the Cubs?

Unknown 0:00
It's now the Cubs 6, Nationals 2 here in the 5th.
Leila Rahimi 0:27
That is Zach Zaidman on the call. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score. That was Nico Horner's two-run double from Saturday in the Cubs win that they did have where things looked like I think we expected. Cade Horton showed out. The offense showed up in that game scoring 10 runs, but they end up dropping two of three to the Nationals. It wasn't the biggest news, though, over the weekend. that the Cubs had. They had a lot of news, whether it was Pete Crow Armstrong officially talking on Friday about his extension to the tune of $115 million, and then Sunday morning before the game, we got the news about Nico. The Cubs gave Nico the graphic treatment.

How does Nico Horner's performance impact the Cubs' defensive strategy?

Leila Rahimi 1:07
They posted the official Nico Horner extension at six years, $141 million. Given all of the other spending the Cubs had in the offseason, It is a total of $488 million. That's a big deal, especially for this team. And Nico, now that center of the defense, the spine of the defense that we talk about, Dansby Swanson, Nico Horner, and then Pekor Armstrong backing it up in center, I think the Cubs had a pretty defined direction that they wanted to go in, and they continue to do so with the, I think, extension and making Nico a career Cub, essentially, for the terms of the contract.
Unknown 1:48
For so many years, as we watch so many teams, we see fan bases beg ownerships and front offices to pick a direction. Like, that's been a thing. You can look around town right now and be like, hey, y'all want to pick a direction? The Cubs have finally, it seems like, picked a very specific direction they want to go. And we were coming to a crossroads after this season before we got this extension with Pete Corarmstrong, who we assumed would get an extension beyond his arbitration years.

What does the no-trade clause in Horner's contract mean for his future with the Cubs?

Unknown 2:23
But now knowing that Nico Horner, not only is he not getting traded, but he's basically a Cub for life because of the no trade clause that's in this contract. They have picked a very, very clear direction now. And with some other contracts coming off the books at the end of the season, most notably Ian Happ showed him a Naga. They're going to have money to be able to, have other players that kind of complement this new core for the Cubs. And I'm here for it. I love it. I think they've done the right thing with these players that they have selected to be their core going forward. And I'm very interested to see where it goes this season specifically because of the work stoppage that we're all assuming is going to happen next season.
Unknown 3:01
But for years beyond, at least you know who are strong, as Layla said, up the middle, which is so important defensively.

How does Nico Horner compare to other second basemen in terms of contract value?

Mark Grote 3:07
And although Nico Horner handled the questions about potentially being traded over the last year and change very professionally when asked here on The Score, when asked by other reporters out of Wrigley Field, tells me he hated that. He hated the idea of not having control. And no player, every player would love a no-trade clause in Major League Baseball. But it's pretty cool that it was important to him. to be here in Chicago to be one of us he's earning bears very quickly by the way for his desires to be here and it's such a unique situation I was very curious to see what a guy in the modern era who does not have slug would get in this era but 36 home runs in six plus years. Forget that. Two gold gloves, 282 career average, which is above average in this day and age, as we know.
Mark Grote 4:02
And he's always hovering around four as his war. That was above that last year.

What are the implications of the Cubs' spending strategy this offseason?

Mark Grote 4:06
I think it was what? So around six or so. Over six. So you do have to look a little bit more deeply into the numbers to see where Nico's value is. But general managers take that very seriously.
Well,
Leila Rahimi 4:18
What you mentioned is unconventional, Mark. What you mentioned is Nico's a bit of a throwback. Yes. Here's a guy hitting for average.

How does Nico Horner's playing style reflect the evolving nature of baseball?

Leila Rahimi 4:26
Here's a guy whose value is also courtesy of his glove. It is up the middle. Second base is a position that we've seen some teams mix and match at, but the Cubs didn't want to do that.

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