Infield free agents and trade candidates are flying off the board as spring training inches closer. The Boston Red Sox are still searching for the final puzzle piece in their lineup and landing it won’t be easy. <\/p>\n
The Red Sox have been linked to Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes and Chicago Cubs teammates Matt Shaw and Nico Hoerner<\/a> in the final weeks of the offseason (subscription required). There has been little reported movement on a deal for any of them, not for Boston’s lack of trying. <\/p>\n The Cubs have reportedly listened on both Hoerner and Shaw, but they’re not exceedingly motivated to move either. Luckily, a February 3 report from New York Post MLB insider Joel Sherman suggests<\/a> that a Hoerner trade could still be possible this winter (subscription required). <\/p>\n “The Cubs were open to moving [Hoerner] at points during this offseason, especially after the signing of Alex Bregman that could allow Matt Shaw to shift to second base,” Sherman wrote. “…he is due $12 million for 2026 before becoming a free agent, and the Cubs would have to get a strong return to consider dealing him.”<\/p>\n Joel Sherman reports that Cubs could still be open to Nico Hoerner trade as Red Sox’s desperation for an infielder grows<\/p>\n