{"id":407360,"date":"2026-01-13T23:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T23:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/407360\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T23:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T23:02:09","slug":"two-reasons-nico-hoerner-is-a-great-fit-for-yankees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/407360\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Reasons Nico Hoerner Is a Great Fit For Yankees"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though he’s a free agent after this season, the New York Yankees<\/a> should still explore a trade for Nico Hoerner.<\/p>\n

Infield isn’t necessarily the Yankees biggest offseason need, but if they’re in the market for Bo Bichette, they can certainly add Hoerner to the mix. <\/p>\n

The longtime Chicago Cubs player may be traded in due time<\/a>, and the Yankees would be an ideal destination for a guy coming off arguably his best season to date.<\/p>\n

Hoerner has been in the big leagues since 2019 and put up a career high 6.1 WAR last year. He played in a career high 156 games, marking the third consecutive season he’s played in 150+. Knowing the Yankees are looking for a few things to improve their lineup, Hoerner certainly fits the build.<\/p>\n

Nico Hoerner Doesn’t Strike Out<\/p>\n

Brian Cashman has talked about adding a low strikeout, high contact bat to the bottom of the Yankees order in 2026.<\/p>\n

Hoerner fits that billing. He is 99th percentile in both K% & Whiff%. pic.twitter.com\/R79CAjlLE9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Everything Yankees (@eyyankees) January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s hard to find someone in the majors with as good of an eye as Hoerner. Somehow, he keeps getting better. His 12.1 K% in 2023 was in the Top 4% of the league, and he managed to get it down to 10.3% the following year. That year, he was in the Top 1%, but somehow he put forward an even better number last season.<\/p>\n

Hoerner’s 7.6 K% in 2025 is a number that doesn’t even seem real. In his 599 at-bats, he struck out just 49 times. For reference, James Wood saw 598 at-bats and led the league with 221 strikeouts. In one fewer at-bat, he struck out 172 times.<\/p>\n

If the Cubs decide that a Hoerner trade is worth exploring, that number is a strong indicator why the Yankees should make a move. That said, it’s not the only spot where Hoerner is in the 99th percentile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hoerner’s Whiff% Is Second To None<\/p>\n

Nico Hoerner\u2019s last 4 seasons:<\/p>\n

2022: 105 OPS+ | 20 SB | 4.3 fWAR
2023: 102 OPS+ | 43 SB | 4.5 fWAR
2024: 101 OPS+ | 31 SB | 3.9 fWAR
2025: 114 OPS+ | 29 SB | 4.8 fWAR<\/p>\n

As consistent as they come. I need Hoerner at shortstop now pic.twitter.com\/D8ci9BdVwH<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/5d26Hwv9kw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AT (@YankeeWRLD) January 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Being in the 99th percentile for K% wasn’t enough so Hoerner had to one-up himself. The 28-year-old finished in the same percentile for his Whiff%, and he was also in the 98th percentile for xBA and OAA.<\/p>\n

There are so many things Hoerner brings to the table, and these are two of the key reasons the Yankees should explore bringing him to New York.<\/p>\n

Hoerner is set to earn just $12 million<\/a> this season which seems like a steal for a player of his caliber. Currently tied up in the Cody Bellinger contract dispute<\/a>, this trade would put that to rest and bring in a guy who’s younger and can seemingly do everything better. <\/p>\n

Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more!<\/a><\/p>\n