The Alex Bregman Reason Why Nico Hoerner Trade Doesn’t Make Sense For Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox officially may be in trouble after losing Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. The front office isn’t giving up just yet, though, and in a unique turn of events, Bregman’s decision to sign with the Cubs could open the door for the team to pull off a trade with Chicago for its second baseman, Nico Hoerner.

With Bregman on board, reports have indicated the Cubs could be open to trading Hoerner, who would be a strong fit with the Red Sox. In 2025, Hoerner hit .297 with seven home runs, 61 RBIs and 29 stolen bases, while also earning the second Gold Glove Award of his career.

If Chicago is open to trading Hoerner, Boston should hop on the line immediately and try to get a deal done. According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, though, the team’s recent experience with Bregman in free agency could prevent them from dealing for Hoerner.

“Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner would be a near-ideal fit, just as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte would have been,” Rosenthal reported. “The Cubs would need to be overwhelmed for Hoerner, but the Red Sox could tempt them with a package that includes a young pitcher such as Connelly Early or Payton Tolle.

Of course, the Sox might consider that too high a price for one year of Hoerner. And then if Hoerner departed, it would be Alex Bregman all over again.”

Giving up a big package for Hoerner, only to potentially lose him for nothing in free agency, would be a nightmare scenario for the Red Sox, given what just happened with Bregman. While handing him a long-term extension seems like an easy solution, the front office’s lack of spending has to be taken into account when calculating whether these moves are worth it.

Boston still has options available when it comes to replacing Bregman, but it’s going to require the team to get uncomfortable, whether that results in giving up top prospects, spending money, or both. The longer they stand pat, though, the bigger the risk is that they tank the 2026 season before it even gets underway.