Though they've alleviated a lot of the negative emotions by signing Ranger Suárez to a blockbuster contract, it's still hard to come to terms with the Boston Red Sox whiffing on Alex Bregman.
The whole saga reeked of arrogance — the team reportedly wasn't willing to increase their "best offer," figuring that Scott Boras and Bregman were bluffing that they had something better on the table. Likewise, the front office's unwillingness to include a full no-trade clause in the contract may have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Now, with at least one gaping hole open on the infield (assuming Marcelo Mayer can take over one of second or third base), the team is reportedly looking back toward the trade market for answers. Isaac Paredes has become an oft-mentioned solution to the third base conundrum, though a strong list of keystone options have emerged as well.
Unfortunately, it appears one of the best second basemen on the market may get sniped by a faraway source: the San Francisco Giants.
The San Francisco Giants are aggressively pursuing a second baseman and have been engaged with Chicago on Nico Hoerner and St. Louis on Brendan Donovan, sources tell ESPN. An infield of Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Donovan or Hoerner and Rafael Devers would be among MLB's best.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 13, 2026
Giants could keep Red Sox from getting Nico Hoerner or Brendan Donovan
Of course, the Giants' infield is led by Rafael Devers, who moved over to first base to accomodate Matt Chapman, something he famously was reluctant to do for Bregman in Boston. He was also the Red Sox's long-term answer at the hot corner before getting traded last June.
They also have Chapman at third base and Willy Adames at shortstop, giving San Francisco a ridiculously talented (and expensive) core of infielders to build around. Second base remains their lone opening, with utility man Casey Schmitt currently pencilled in as the starter.
Of course, had the Red Sox simply signed Bregman, they'd have no need to get involved in a bidding war for an infielder (and Hoerner wouldn't be on the market at all). Alas, the two-time champ is in Chicago now, and the team must respond.
The Red Sox have been mentioned as suitors for Donovan in the past, as well as for Hoerner as recently as the morning of the Suárez signing. Either player would add a top-of-the-order bat to the mix, as well as a superlative glove up the middle. They'd also enable Mayer to focus all of his time at third base, the position he handled most in his rookie season while filling in for an injured Bregman.
Even with Suárez in tow, there are a lot of moving parts left to be settled before spring training kicks off. Hopefully, the Red Sox can jump the Giants and the rest of the market for their preferred infielder.