When news broke late Saturday night that Alex Bregman was joining the Chicago Cubs, it sent shockwaves through MLB. It was even more devastating for the Boston Red Sox. A reunion with their third baseman from 2025 was what a lot of people thought was going to happen. It didn’t happen.
Now, Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow is left scrambling, looking to find a way to replace Bregman. Bo Bichette is still a free agent, but there are several suitors for the Toronto Blue Jays‘ infielder. The Red Sox could get in the mix for Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, but if they are not going to pay Bregman, then they won’t pay either outfielder.
Aside from Bichette, the free agent options are few and far between. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report urged Boston to trade for a Cubs infielder who might be expendable after Bregman signed.
Boston Red Sox Urged to Trade for Nico Hoerner
Boston needs another bat and an infielder with Bregman off the board. They could move Ceddanne Rafaela to second and Marcelo Mayer to third. That won’t solve their need for offense. Instead, Reuter suggested a Red Sox deal with the Cubs for Nico Hoerner.
Reuter’s trade proposal has Hoerner coming to Boston for young left-handed pitcher Connelly Early.
“The Cubs could simply hold onto Hoerner and use Matt Shaw in a super-utility role, but they now have a high-value trade chip who could be on his way out the door anyway with free agency awaiting next winter. Early, 23, had a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 19.1 innings over four starts as a September call-up, and showed enough in that audition to start Game 3 of the ALWC against the Yankees. He would give the organization much-needed depth with Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon both ticketed for free agency next offseason,” Reuter wrote.
Hoerner slashed .297/.345/.394 with just seven home runs and 61 RBIs in 156 games. His power numbers are not going to replace Bregman’s. Hoerner did hit 29 doubles and won a Gold Glove at second base for the second time in his career in 2025. Acquiring Hoerner would leave Rafaela in center field and move Mayer to third.
Boston Red Sox Would Pay Steep Price for Nico Hoerner
Sending Early to Chicago for Hoerner would be a steep price to pay. It could have been avoided by just signing Bregman. However, when you play with fire, you get burned. Breslow and the Red Sox got burned by Scott Boras and Bregman.
Early was a surprise, late in the season, for manager Alex Cora in the starting rotation. An injury to Lucas Giolito forced the 23-year-old to start the deciding Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series in Yankee Stadium. He is someone who will battle for a rotation spot in spring training.
Now that Bregman is no longer an option, Breslow needs to pivot to his next option. What that is remains to be seen. The Cubs could simply hold onto Hoerner and have a deep infield for 2026 with Bregman, Matt Shaw, and Hoerner. Chicago knows Breslow is desperate, and adding a young arm like Early would give them depth for after 2026 when Imanaga and Taillon likely hit free agency.
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