Red Sox predicted to target Cubs' Nico Hoerner after losing Alex Bregman

3 weeks ago 13

After Alex Bregman signed a five-year declaration with the Chicago Cubs, the Boston Red Sox could usage an other summation to their lineup.

As presently constructed, Marcelo Mayer is projected to play 3rd basal for the Red Sox, with Romy Gonzalez astatine second.

But Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter suggests Boston could people a commercialized for 1 of the Cubs' emerging stars.

"A reunion with Alex Bregman was agelong viewed arsenic a foregone conclusion, and with that present disconnected the array aft helium signed with the Cubs, it's clip to pivot," Reuter wrote Tuesday.

"Bo Bichette to play 2nd oregon Eugenio Suárez to play 3rd are imaginable escaped bureau plays, but Nico Hoerner would springiness them an elite antiaircraft 2nd baseman and table-setting violative subordinate to slot adjacent the apical of the batting order."

What it mightiness instrumentality for the Red Sox to onshore Hoerner successful a trade

Last season, Hoerner completed his seventh twelvemonth with the Cubs, posting a vocation precocious 6.2 bWAR portion hitting .297/.345/.394 with 29 stolen bases successful 35 attempts.

Hoerner is reportedly highly desired by respective MLB clubs, but the Red Sox mightiness person a starting pitcher who could pique the involvement of the Cubs.

"Connelly Early is simply a steep terms to wage for a free-agent-to-be, but Hoerner is besides coming disconnected a 6.2-WAR season," wrote Reuter.

Early, a 23-year-old left-hander, showed moxie and committedness during his archetypal 19.1 regular-season innings with the Red Sox. He had a 2.33 ERA and 29 strikeouts successful 4 starts, and received the commencement for Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.

Boston's depth illustration connected FanGraphs lists Early extracurricular the apical 5 successful the rotation, but that's not to accidental that unexpected injuries are a predominant occurrence for starters. Would adding Hoerner marque up for lessening the Red Sox' pitching depth?