Nico Hoerner And Cubs Claim Prestigious Defensive Awards
The Chicago Cubs had one of the finest defensive seasons in Major League Baseball in 2025. In the eyes of one publication, they were the best.
The Fielding Bible has been presenting awards for the league’s top defensive players for the past 20 years. In 2023, the publication added a defensive player of the year. This season, it added a defensive team of the year. The Cubs earned the team award, while second baseman Nico Hoerner was also selected for a position award.
The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 by claiming a National League wild card berth. They defeated the San Diego Padres in the wild card round before losing a five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers in the division series. The Brewers went on to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
In winning the site’s first team-based award, the Fielding Bible pointed out that the Cubs had 84 total defensive runs saved. The only team better in the category was the Texas Rangers at 89. The Rangers set a Major League record for fielding percentage in a season.
In giving the award to the Cubs, Fielding Bible’s editorial lead Mark Simon wrote that Chicago was the only team with a positive DRS from eight of its nine defensive positions. Right field was the only one not in the positive.
That included Hoerner, who led all second basemen in DRS. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, was second in DRS at his position. Left field Ian Happ and starting pitcher Matthew Boyd were third in DRS at their positions while third baseman Matt Shaw was fourth.
That balance won out over the Rangers’ historic fielding percentage and league-leading DRS.
"Cubs management built a team that prides itself in defensive excellence and that showed up all over the field," Simon wrote. "They were especially strong up the middle and at some of the game's most important positions.”
Not surprisingly, six Cubs are finalists for National League Gold Gloves, with the awards to be announced next month. Chicago finalists include Hoerner, Shaw, Happ, Boyd, Crow-Armstrong and catcher Carson Kelly,
In selecting Hoerner, he became the second Cubs second baseman to win the award, along with Darwin Barney in 2012. Hoerner had 17 DRS to lead all second baseman and charged an MLB-best 15 plays saved better than the average second baseman on balls hit to his right, per Fielding Bible.
Broncos' Evan Engram could have tight end competition amid trade rumors
The Denver Broncos are currently atop the AFC West, and their defense remains one of the best, if not the best, in the NFL through seven weeks. After two incredible wins over the
But, there's still room for improvement. The Broncos are 5-2, but still can add to their offense at the trade deadline. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are a strong running back duo, but the rest of their offense could see improvements.
Denver has been linked to wide receiver help ahead of the trade deadline, and now, the Broncos are reportedly interested in adding competition for Evan Engram in the tight end room.
Broncos eyeing tight end help at the trade deadline
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, "The Broncos are monitoring the tight end market."
Engram signed a two-year deal with the Broncos for $23 million, but if Denver wants, they could save some cap space if they move on from him after the 2025 season.
He's not locked into the team for a while, and with Courtland Sutton and others in the wide receiver room locked up for a few years, the tight end room is uncertain for the future.
So far this season, in six games, Engram has had 22 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown. He's not incredibly involved in the offense, and with his future in Denver uncertain after 2025, adding a tight end for 2025 and beyond isn't out of the question.
Backing up Engram are Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman, two tight ends who aren't heavily involved in the offense. Adkins has six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Trautman has seven catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.
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Denver eyeing tight end help could add competition for Engram in the receiving game, or it could even open up Engram to move to a more wide receiver-centric role as a big-slot, like he was at times for the
Looking around the NFL, there aren't a ton of tight end trade options who could be available. But, Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews, Tennessee Titans' Chigoziem Okonkwo,
The Broncos, with Bo Nix and Sean Payton, have a chance to go on a deep playoff run, but they do need improved offensive personnel if they want to capitalize on this window.
With a stellar defense and strong offensive foundation, adding more weapons for Nix and Payton could make winning the AFC West a reality for the Broncos.
Russini reports the Broncos are monitoring the tight end trade market, which could add competition for Engram in one of the more uncertain position rooms on the Broncos.
