The Boston Red Sox continue to look for ways to upgrade their infield ahead of opening day. Team officials previously made Alex Bregman their top priority of the offseason. The star third baseman, however, opted against returning to Fenway and instead signed with the Chicago Cubs. Bo Bichette then instantly became a plan B, but the former Blue Jay also rebuffed Boston.
While moving on to other alternatives is frustrating for the club, the Red Sox have options. Boston could still make a move in free agency by signing Eugenio Suarez to replace Bregman at the hot corner. The slugger is now the top power hitter remaining on the board. Nevertheless, the team could also explore a trade to revamp their infield. They have plenty of avenues if they choose to go this route.
The Red Sox have been linked with several trades throughout the offseason. Ketel Marte, Isaac Paredes, and Brendan Donovan are just a few of the players Boston has been interested in acquiring. Although a deal for one of these infielders remains possible, a new potential target has emerged.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden is now claiming that the Red Sox are a solid potential trade partner with the Washington Nationals for C.J. Abrams. The shortstop has been heavily linked with the San Francisco Giants, but a deal has not yet been ironed out. Abrams, a former All-Star, was recently rated as one of the top 10 offensive shortstops in the game by FanGraphs.
Boston Red Sox Would Move C.J. Abrams to Second Base
GettyDespite his offensive output, C.J. Abrams has struggled at shortstop in recent years.
If the Red Sox were to land Abrams, he would almost certainly move over to second base. The switch is due to two specific reasons. First of all, Boston already has their everyday shortstop in Trevor Story. The star is currently in the middle of his six-year, $140 million contract with the club.
On top of this, Abrams is a below-average fielder at the position. In fact, his 39 errors over the last two seasons only trail Elly De La Cruz during this span. Because of this, as Bowden points out, he is likely to transition to second base in the near future. Boston had similar plans with Bichette as well.
Second base is a particularly weak link for the Red Sox at the moment. Kristian Campbell, Romy Gonzalez, and David Hamilton all underperformed in the role throughout 2025. Campbell is still rated within the organization, but the team is clearly looking for an upgrade at the position.
Red Sox Have the Right Pieces to Facilitate Trade
If the Red Sox are interested in Abrams, they will have to fend off several other suitors. Along with the Giants, the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners have also been named as potential fits for the infielder. Boston, however, could put together an attractive trade package for the Nationals.
According to Bowden, Washington is looking for “either major-league-ready players back or prospects in the upper levels.” The Red Sox currently have a surplus of MLB outfielders and are looking to offload at least one before the 2026 season. They also have multiple highly-rated prospects that are close to the big leagues.
Ultimately, Abrams would be a solid option, especially if other deals fail. While he has already made an All-Star team, the infielder has not yet reached his ceiling or even entered his prime.
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