Alex Bregman’s decision to sign with the Cubs left the Red Sox with some uncertainty within their infield picture, as both second base and Bregman’s old third base position remain unsettled heading into Spring Training. Top prospect Marcelo Mayer seems to be penciled into one of the two spots, with Mayer likely playing third while the collection of Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, and/or Kristian Campbell will handle the playing time at the keystone.
A new acquisition could certainly change this picture, and such free agents and trade targets as Isaac Paredes, Brendan Donovan, and Eugenio Suarez remain available. Plenty of other players remain on Boston’s radar, as Alex Speier of the Boston Globe writes that the Red Sox “are among the many teams that have checked in about” Cubs infielders Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw.
There would be some irony if a trade came together between Bregman’s new and former teams, though there is no sense that a deal is anywhere close between Boston and Chicago. Trade speculation swirled around Hoerner and Shaw even before Bregman arrived in Wrigleyville, with the Yankees, Giants, and Mariners all reportedly showing interest in Hoerner. While the Cubs may be at least open to hearing offers for Hoerner out of due diligence, however, there isn’t much indication that the team has any real interest in moving the two-time Gold Glover.
The Bregman signing solidified Chicago’s starting infield alignment as Bregman at third, Hoerner at second, Dansby Swanson at shortstop, and Michael Busch at first base. Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki line up as the starting outfield trio, and the open DH spot could be a revolving door for several players to get partial rest days. This in turn would open up playing time for Shaw or another top prospects in Moises Ballesteros and Kevin Alcantara, and give these youngsters some semi-regular at-bats in the majors without the pressure of a true everyday role on a contending team.
Trading Hoerner or Shaw would immediately alter the Cubs’ plans for the coming season at least, and moving Shaw would have a longer-term impact since he only just made his MLB debut in 2025. Hoerner is a free agent next winter, and with Bregman now locked into the hot corner, the thought has been that Shaw could take over from Hoerner as second base. (The Cubs are also considering Shaw as an outfield option to expand his versatility.)
Even with Hoerner nearing the open market, it would take a lot for the Cubs to part ways with a proven veteran who is probably the best defensive second baseman in baseball, not to mention an above-average hitter (106 wRC+) over the last five seasons. It would take even more for Chicago to deal a top prospect like Shaw who comes with so much team control, yet Boston’s pitching depth could at least get the Cubs to take notice. Since Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd will also be free agents next season, bringing aboard a Payton Tolle or a Connelly Early would be an intriguing way for the Cubs to bolster their rotation over the longer term. It is safe to say that Tolle or Early would only be on the table (if at all) for Shaw, as the Sox aren’t likely to move either of those arms for one year of Hoerner.
While Shaw has the prospect pedigree to interest any team, it would be quite a pivot if the Red Sox traded from their high-level pitching depth to acquire a young infielder, given how Boston (in theory) already has plenty of position-player building blocks in place. If Mayer is able to stay healthy and break out as a big leaguer, that provides a ton of stability at either third base, second base, or at shortstop if Mayer is ultimately the heir apparent to Trevor Story. In this sense, bringing in Hoerner as a somewhat overqualified stopgap for the 2026 season might be a better fit to give the Sox more time to see what they have in Meyer or Campbell.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been very active on the trade front since taking over Boston’s front office in October 2023, though the Garrett Cooper-for-cash considerations deal in April 2024 remains the only deal swung between Breslow and his former team. For the 2019-23 seasons, Breslow worked in the Cubs front office, and he was promoted to an assistant GM role during the 2020-21 offseason after Jed Hoyer was promoted to president of Chicago’s baseball operations.
They aren’t getting traded
Save Cub money: Ricketts is dealing with biblical losses
What does checked in on actual mean?? How’s your day going, what do you like to do??
The scene from Moneyball where Bean goes to Cleveland and asks about guys only to be told “we like ” and Bean ends up empty (besides finding Peter Brand).
“Hey Jed, Nico still on your team? Yep, good to know good to know.”
Are you considering trading Nico ?
No.
K, Bye
You want HOW MUCH STILL for one year of Hoerner? Call us back if you lower your sights before we make another move. CLICK.
How much really is one year of a premier second baseman but one who provides little power actually worth? Obviously, it’s what another club will pay and right now there is no match.
It’s different in my book with Duran and others who have multiple seasons left before hitting free agency. In Duran’s case, there is real value even if others on this site believe some of us are over-evaluating his worth. Last share showed injuries can happen and Boston might not have made the playoffs if they dealt Duran at the deadline.
I’ve said it many times, Suarez should be signed as a DH only and the club needs both Story and Mayer to stay healthy (Casas is a forgotten man but this team can go far if they have him hitting like his rookie season and they get Suarez; injuries and deals will take care of playing time).
Did they check into the Motel 6 also?
Reds – At least the light was left on for them.
I have lost all interest in dealing with the Red Sox where we add a large package Issac Paredes for one player like Duran or Abreu. I would rather keep Paredes than say deal Paredes, Janek, and Matthews for Wilyer Abreu.
By the way, I’m pretty sure a Nico Hoerner trade would mirror a Kyle Tucker one, and Matt Shaw would be very expensive. Good for the Red Sox, Cubs, though. Squeeze the value!
It seems a Hoerner deal would involve player(s) from the Crawford, Harrison, Sandoval ilk. Inning eaters with potential beyond upside.
Cubs could likely get what they gave up for Tucker for Hoerner. I wouldn’t be surprised if they demand Early/Tolle.
I like Hoerner as much as the next guy…but he’s not in Tucker’s neighborhood. There’s no way the trade package comes close to what the Cubs gave up for Tucker.
A trade for Hoerner is for sure an overpay. The suggested Mike Sirota for Nico Hoerner is a severe underpay.
1 top prospect, one hitter, and one pitcher. Could Hoerner yield that. Okay, maybe not on Tucker’s level, but Wesenski was a throw in piece.
Ummm what? How could you possibly think Hoerner would net a similar return?
More like Early/Bedtime, amirite?
Checking in on them isn’t much of a story…I am waiting for a signing or trade for ANYONE at this point
clarke – The Sox are waiting for Geno’s price to drop enough, nothing will happen until he is off the board.
I long for the days when the Red Sox had a plan for free agency and executed it. They didn’t have to pivot because they kept failing at getting their main targets.
Sigh…
Really? Because they’ve made multiple trades and one large dollar signing already this winter and you’re still apparently looking for more. Not sure any moves would really satisfy many of the more complaint prone fans. They currently sit in the second tier of CBT penalties with their current payroll and some still act as if they’re in the bottom half of the league.
Send Duran and Harrison to the Astros for Pena. Move Story to 2B.
That’s not getting Pena.
What do you think it takes? Duran and Pena have pretty even value with Duran having one more year of control. I think Duran and a SP prospect not named Tolle or Early is far as the Sox go.
Pena probably has more value than Duran. He is coming off a career-best season and he plays a premium position.
You use BTV. Don’t you? Duran+Early would be what starts the conversation.
In Houston Duran would play a premium position as well as he’d likely be in CF.
Yeahhhh gonna cost a bit more than that. But I do love the fit here in Boston.
Hoerner is not getting traded unless it is part of a huge package for Skubal.
Cubs will have Wiggins in 2027 so flipping Shaw for a prospect pitcher seems unlikely since it is not certain that the Cubs will extend Hoerner but rather will keep him in 2026 to make their best play.
If Breslow offered Tolle I guarantee Hoerner would be on the next flight to Beantown. Nico is in his final year of control and Cubs aren’t planning on signing him as they will slide Shaw to 2B.
If the cost was Tolle or Early straight for Shaw it makes sense for both teams. I suspect the Red Sox were looking to star Mayer at 2B and then move him to SS once the Story contract was up. Shaw is going to get plenty of ABs. Bregman is going to go on the DL at some point. The Cubs should resign Hoerner.
These big market clubs, Cubs, Red Sox and Yankees have been acting more like small market teams than big market teams.
No it doesn’t. Apples to oranges
This article sucks. And I never say that. But seriously, of course the Red Sox checked in and so have a bunch of teams.
But what happened when they checked in.., what was the result?
Did the Cubs request for players coming back in a trade way too high or did they say they’re not trading these guys?
The writer here guesses, but we receive no answers. Thus a meaningless article. And I love this website and rarely say something that negative.., but give me something factual. They checked and what happened?
The “rumor” was given to them. I doubt a “check in” took an investigative team. As an MLB rumors site, kinda seems as though they are obligated. I’m sure they would prefer articles with more substance as well.
Am I missing something… Nico is a ‘NICE’ player but he’s closer to Manny Trillo than Ryan Sandburg ….
Close to Augie Ojeda than Roger Hornby
I can’t take any more David Hamilton on the Sox roster. He’s AAAA.
Hard pass. We already have question mark infielders in our minor league system. Def not interested if it costs a young arm.
I checked in on Livvy Dunne.
Dont fear the creeper
LOL
Doesn’t make sense to trade Nico unless they are getting a starting player somewhere else in the lineup
Why would a team that has WS aspirations even consider trading a winning player that’s a great defender and plays the the game right?
You Red Sox fans kill me. Nico had a higher WAR than anyone on your team last season.
I would be ok moving Shaw for Tolle or Early only if Cubs sign Hoerner to an extension first. Maybe 5/100MM gets it done. Then you can make that trade and sign someone like IKF to be your super utility guy.
Gezz, I think the Chicago options are no longer. I think we have to make a move, cause Meyers seems to be injury prone. Eaton was also an option at third, not a starter by any means but can give us some decent AB’s. While you’re mentioning PT players.