Chicago — For months, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw have been constantly at the center of trade rumors, as if their future with the Chicago Cubs was already sealed. But with Spring Training just days away, the picture is becoming clearer than ever: all signs point in one direction — the Cubs will keep both Hoerner and Shaw.

Not because of a lack of offers. Not because the Cubs are afraid to change. But because at this point, keeping them is the most logical decision for a team seeking stability and identity.

Throughout the offseason, both Hoerner and Shaw were mentioned in trade discussions. Hoerner was entering the final year of his contract, while Shaw was predicted to have his role diminished after the Cubs signed the blockbuster contract with Alex Bregman. With two different circumstances, both became “worthwhile” targets for many MLB teams.

However, when the Cubs prepared for their first full-squad practice on February 16th, both Hoerner and Shaw were present at the training camp, without any hesitation or ambiguity. This was the first sign that things might not go as the market speculated.

For Hoerner, the San Francisco Giants were once the most talked-about name. The connection was very logical: Hoerner was born in Oakland, attended high school there, and then went to Stanford in Palo Alto. A return to the Bay Area sounded perfect—on paper.

The Giants did indeed call the Cubs. Sources indicated that the interest from San Francisco was very serious.

But then, things stopped.

The Giants’ signing of Luis Arraez completely changed the situation. Arraez was identified as their official second baseman, making Hoerner redundant in their plans. Since then, the Hoerner–Giants rumors have practically died out.

Meanwhile, Hoerner has continued to train regularly at the Cubs’ training camp and even shown remarkable strength in batting practice—a small detail but one that holds great significance for the coaching staff.

If Hoerner is a contract story, then Matt Shaw is a position story.

The Cubs’ signing of Alex Bregman has effectively closed the door on Shaw’s third-base starting position for the upcoming season. This has made him the clearest trade candidate, especially for teams desperate for a third-baseman.

The Boston Red Sox were the team most closely following Shaw. After losing Bregman to the Cubs, Boston needed a replacement and contacted Shaw last month.

But then, once again, the market shifted.

The Red Sox just traded Caleb Durbin from the Brewers, solving their third-base needs for the near future. That officially ended Boston’s pursuit of Matt Shaw — and almost certainly put an end to the “serious interest” group.

As Spring Training approached, the number of teams willing to make a big trade decreased. This wasn’t just because the roster was stabilizing, but also because teams didn’t want to make too many drastic changes right before the season.

Currently:

Hoerner no longer has a team that genuinely needs a second baseman.

Shaw no longer has a team that urgently needs a third baseman.

And in that context, the Cubs have no reason to sell him cheaply.

The Cubs are sending a clear message.

The fact that the Cubs allowed both Hoerner and Shaw to be present at training camp, with Hoerner continuing to focus on his infield role and Shaw starting to learn outfield play, shows one thing: the team is looking to keep them, not to let them go.

Shaw learning outfield play isn’t because the Cubs have lost faith in him — but because they want to maximize his value and add depth to the roster for a long season.

Meanwhile, Hoerner remains the heart and soul of the Cubs’ defense and discipline, a type of player they’d be hard-pressed to replace immediately—even with their contracts nearing expiration.

Hoerner and Shaw represent two different generations, but share one thing in common:
discipline, hard work, and the Cubs spirit.

Keeping them isn’t a safe decision—it’s a practical one.

The Cubs are entering the season with:

a big star (Bregman)

a promising young roster

and a greater need for internal stability than ever before.

The Chicago Cubs might still change something this season. But at this point, everything points to a very clear scenario:

Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw will enter the new season in a Cubs uniform.

Not because the Cubs can’t trade.

Because keeping them is the best way to start the 2026 season.

And sometimes, in a volatile sport like baseball,
keeping the “heart” of the team is just as important as finding new stars.