The Boston Red Sox have been connected to the Chicago Cubs' pair of infielders, Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw, ever since Alex Bregman escaped from Boston's grasp and landed in Chicago.
There are plenty of reasons why acquiring Hoerner, in particular, would be the perfect final move for the Red Sox this offseason, and reporting from The New York Post's Joel Sherman this week indicated that Hoerner might still be available for the taking.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the same elements attracting them to Hoerner could also be on the mind of their rival's front office. Sherman called Hoerner "an ideal candidate" for the New York Yankees as they continue to look for one more impact move themselves amid what's been a generally quiet offseason (subscription required).
Despite emerging victorious in the tiresome Cody Bellinger sweepstakes, the Yanks have an ongoing need for another right-handed bat. The righty Hoerner hit .369 last year against lefties with an impressive 5.4 strikeout rate, as noted by Sherman.
Yankees connected to Red Sox target Nico Hoerner in trade buzz
He's also a two-time Gold Glover, which would surely appeal to a Yankees front office that went out and got third baseman Ryan McMahon at the 2025 deadline, mostly for defensive reasons.
Hoerner ending up in pinstripes would be a nightmare scenario for Red Sox fans, and at this point, they should simply be happy to see him remain in Chicago.
A Hoerner trade for Boston, while still possible, feels like more of a long shot than ever as spring training approaches. There's a reason alternative options like Isaac Paredes keep popping up in connection to the Red Sox.
If indeed Boston ends up without Hoerner, there'll be some solace in the fact that it wouldn't have given up any significant assets for just one season of the 28-year-old, who becomes a free agent following the upcoming campaign.
This might also prevent the Yankees from pursuing Hoerner at full tilt. Sherman named five more realistic right-handed bats for New York to pursue, insinuating that Hoerner will ultimately stay put. That's a good angle for Red Sox fans to latch onto, as it'd pain them beyond belief to see the Cubs hand over a difference-maker to the Yankees just a few weeks after poaching Bregman.
Though their offseason has been decent, it does feel like the Red Sox have always been one more move away. Keep in mind that there's still the in-season trade deadline for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to work some magic and put the final touches on this roster.