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CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 Nico Horner heard the same message over and over again from the Chicago Cubs: He was a favorite shortstop and a trusted second baseman.<\/p>\n
Matters were resolved when the Cubs acquired Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson out of free agency.<\/p>\n
Athletic’s Herner is back at second base after Swanson signed a $177 million seven-year deal with Chicago last month. Horner and Swanson should give the Cubs one of the best double play combinations in the majors.<\/p>\n
“It was a big move for the direction of this team,” said Horner. \u201cLast year we got an impact player who literally played every game. I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
A first-round pick in the 2018 Amateur Draft from Stanford, the 25-year-old Hellner has played second base in 68 big league games, including 53 starts. However, he spent all of last season at shortstop.<\/p>\n
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play shortstop in the major leagues,” Horner said Friday on the first day of the team’s fan convention. “We have to do a full season this year.<\/p>\n
“But our team’s needs are very clear and moving forward is not a problem at all.”<\/p>\n
Swanson’s move was part of an active winter for the Cubs, who went 74-88 on a two-game losing streak last year. They also added right-hander Jameson Tyrone, outfielder Cody Bellinger, first baseman Eric Hosmer, reliever Brad Boxberger and catcher Tucker Barnhart to free agency.<\/p>\n
Hosmer’s $720,000 one-year contract was completed on Friday, naming right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. Hosmer, 33, batted .268 with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 104 games last season playing in San Diego and Boston.<\/p>\n
Baseball operations president Jed Hoyer said Hosmer is likely to be the team’s starting first baseman.<\/p>\n
“It’s an opportunity to bring in a guy who’s had a really good year and a really good career,” Hoyer said. … I think we have good years left when we put him in our environment. “<\/p>\n