Red Sox Show Interest In Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw

This article takes a closer look at the Boston Red Sox’s infield conundrum after Alex Bregman’s surprising jump to the Chicago Cubs. We’ll dig into Boston’s current thinking, the possible rise of top prospect Marcelo Mayer, and their reported interest in two Cubs infielders—Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw—as the team scrambles to patch up their middle infield.

Boston’s search for answers just shows how one player move can shake up a whole roster strategy.

Red Sox Infield Shake-Up: A Post-Bregman Reality

Alex Bregman’s move to the Cubs left the Red Sox with a glaring hole at second and third base. It’s a twist that’s forced Boston to rethink both their immediate plans and their bigger picture.

Prospects Stepping Up to the Plate

With Bregman out, Marcelo Mayer suddenly finds himself in the spotlight. Most folks expect him to take over at third, considering his strong defense and pop at the plate.

Second base looks like it’ll be handled by committee—Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, and Kristian Campbell might all get their shot, maybe rotating through. Boston seems determined to give their own guys a real chance.

The Cubs Connection: Hoerner and Shaw on Boston’s Radar

But the Red Sox aren’t just betting on homegrown talent. Alex Speier of the *Boston Globe* reports that Boston has asked about two Cubs infielders: Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw.

They’re clearly not waiting around—they want proven or high-ceiling help now.

Nico Hoerner: Gold Glove and Clutch Hitter

Nico Hoerner stands out as a pretty appealing option for Boston. He’s picked up two Gold Gloves at second, so his defense would be a big boost.

He’s no slouch at the plate, either, with a 106 wRC+ over the past five years. The tricky part? The Cubs don’t seem eager to let him go.

He’s a big piece of their infield puzzle right now, which includes:

* Third Base: Alex Bregman
* Second Base: Nico Hoerner
* Shortstop: Dansby Swanson
* First Base: Michael Busch
* Outfield: Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Seiya Suzuki

Other teams—like the Yankees, Giants, and Mariners—have their eye on Hoerner, too. Since he hits free agency after this season, the Cubs would want a pretty big haul for him.

If Boston did land him, he’d probably be more of a temporary fix while they figure out Mayer’s future and the rest of their lineup plan.

Matt Shaw: A Young Talent with Versatility

Matt Shaw, who broke into the majors in 2025, offers something different. Maybe he’s Hoerner’s future replacement at second, or maybe the Cubs see him as an outfielder down the line.

Shaw’s still under team control, so the Cubs would want a lot in return, even though he doesn’t have much big-league experience yet.

Trading Chips: Pitching Prospects for Infield Solutions

The Red Sox have a pretty valuable asset that might catch the Cubs’ attention: pitching depth. Top prospects like Payton Tolle or Connelly Early could end up in a package to land either Hoerner or Shaw.

But Boston probably won’t give up those key arms for just one year of Hoerner. They seem to want more than a quick fix, especially when it comes to their best young pitchers.

Their interest in Shaw, who’s a controlled prospect, sounds like more of a long-term play. I guess we’ll see soon whether the Red Sox go all-in to shake up their infield.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Red Sox “Checked In” On Nico Hoerner, Matt Shaw