The Boston Red Sox still have work that needs to be done this offseason if they want to be a serious contender in the American League during the upcoming 2026 MLB season.
Losing Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency was a tough blow for the Red Sox. They still need to find a way to replace him.
With that in mind, Boston has been linked to a few different options. Most of those options would require the Red Sox to make trades with other teams.
According to a report from MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Boston has registered trade interest in two players. Both Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes have come up as potential targets.
What Would the Boston Red Sox Be Getting in Hoerner, Paredes?
Hoerner is obviously the bigger name between the two. He has been one of baseball’s elite second basemen for years with the Cubs.
Last season in Chicago, the 28-year-old infielder played in 156 games. He hit seven home runs, drove in 61 RBI, stole 29 bases, and produced a slash line of .297/.345/.394. Those numbers would go a long way towards replacing Bregman.
On the other hand, Paredes is not nearly as attractive of an option. The Red Sox would still be upgrading, but it wouldn’t be close to as much as a trade for Hoerner would provide.
During the 2025 MLB season with the Astros, Paredes hit 20 home runs to go along with 53 RBI and a slash line of .254/.352/.458. Paredes does bring more pop to a lineup, but Hoerner is superior in every other aspect, especially defensively.
That being said, Paredes is likely more attainable than Hoerner. Reports have come out that the Cubs are planning to keep Hoerner around. Boston could still try to acquire him, but Chicago will have a high price tag on him.
Boston’s Big Move This Offseason Has Been for a Starting Pitcher
So far during MLB free agency, the Red Sox have been rather quiet. They have made one big move, which was signing free agent starting pitcher Ranger Suarez.
Suarez is coming off of another quality season in 2025 with the Philadelphia Phillies. In the 26 starts he made, Suarez compiled a 12-8 record to go along with a 3.20 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, a 4.0 K/BB ratio, and 157.1 innings pitched.
Adding a talented starting pitcher was a nice step for Boston. However, the Red Sox need infield help. Either Hoerner or Paredes would be an upgrade over what the team currently has to work with.
At the end of the day, losing Bregman is an irreplaceable loss. His production on the field was great, but his presence in the clubhouse was equally as important.
Expect to hear more rumors about Boston in the near future. For now, both Hoerner and Paredes are names worth keeping an eye on.
Red Sox Trade Plans Take Shape With Two Options Emerging