The Chicago Cubs made a splash by landing Alex Bregman, snatching him away from the Red Sox and shaking up the infield market in the process. But while Boston lost a cornerstone in Bregman, the Cubs may have just opened the door for the Sox to fill that very void-if they play their cards right.
Bregman's arrival creates a bit of a logjam in Chicago’s infield, and that’s where things get interesting for Boston. There’s been buzz for a while that Nico Hoerner could be available, and with Bregman now in the mix, those whispers are turning into louder conversations.
But here’s the twist-Hoerner isn’t the one directly displaced. That would be Matt Shaw, the former top prospect who had an up-and-down rookie campaign and now finds himself without a clear path to playing time.
Shaw spent most of last season manning third base, but scouts have long viewed him as a better fit at second. If the Cubs choose to move on from Hoerner-who’s entering the final year of his deal-it opens the door for Shaw to slide into a more natural role at second, giving Chicago a young, cost-controlled infield core to build around.
That’s exactly the kind of player Boston has been targeting lately: young, controllable, and high-ceiling. Pairing a talent like Shaw with the likes of Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer would be a tantalizing long-term play. But for a Red Sox team that’s clearly trying to win now, that move might not make the most sense.
Here’s why: while Shaw’s upside is real, the risk is just as high. His rookie season was a rollercoaster.
He opened the year cold, got sent down to Triple-A to regroup, and even though he rebounded in the second half, he still finished with a .226/.295/.394 slash line. His post-All-Star break surge (.839 OPS) showed promise, but he faded again in September, hitting just .222 with a .375 slugging percentage.
That kind of inconsistency is tough to bet on when you’re trying to keep pace in the American League East.
Hoerner, on the other hand, brings exactly what Boston needs: stability, versatility, and a proven track record. The 28-year-old doesn’t offer much in the power department, but his speed, contact skills, and defense make him one of the more underrated middle infielders in the league.
He’s swiped 20-plus bags in each of the last four seasons, topping out at 43 in 2023. Last year, he hit .297 with a .345 on-base percentage and struck out just 7.6% of the time-elite numbers in today’s game.
And defensively, he’s as steady as they come, with two Gold Gloves at second base and the ability to handle shortstop if needed.
He’s also been a 4-plus fWAR player four years running, which speaks to his all-around value. That’s the kind of reliability Boston could use as it tries to navigate the minefield that is the AL East.
Because let’s face it: the division isn’t getting any easier. Toronto is going all-in with a win-now mentality.
Baltimore is making serious moves to climb back into contention. Tampa Bay is always a tough out.
And while the Yankees have been quiet so far, they’re never out of the picture for long.
Boston’s recent moves-adding Ranger Suárez, trading for Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, and locking up Garrett Crochet-signal that they’re ready to contend. But contending in this division means minimizing risk, and that’s where Hoerner stands out. He won’t come cheap, but his price tag is likely more manageable than Shaw’s, especially considering the years of team control left on the younger infielder.
Any deal for either player is going to start with a young, big-league-ready arm-think Payton Tolle or Connelly Early. But the cost to land Shaw, given his age and upside, will be steeper. And for a team trying to win now, that’s a gamble Boston can’t afford to take.
The Red Sox need certainty, not a project. Hoerner gives them that.
If they can swing a deal and potentially extend him beyond 2026, they’d be locking in a key piece for both the present and the future. Shaw might develop into something special-but right now, Boston’s window is open, and they need players who can help them climb through it today.
If the Cubs are the key to Boston’s infield fix, Hoerner-not Shaw-is the one who fits the lock.