Cubs suddenly look like Red Sox’s best hope to fix latest free agency disaster

Eugenio Suárez is back in the National League Central, and with his return, he may have increased the chances of the Chicago Cubs trading Matt Shaw to the Boston Red Sox. Before Suárez signed with the Cincinnati Reds, there was an expectation that he would be the Boston Red Sox's response to Alex Bregman signing with the Cubs.

Ever since losing Bregman, there's been a shift within Boston's front office. While the stated focus was on adding another impact bat, they have doubled down on upgrading their pitching staff. The Red Sox signed Ranger Suarez after previously trading for Sonny Gray, but reports over the weekend suggested they weren't a serious bidder for the slugging third baseman before he returned to the Reds.

The Red Sox reportedly remain in trade talks for an infielder, but they are said to be prioritizing defense over offense. While they have been connected to former Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes, Shaw may be the best target remaining.

Matt Shaw to the Red Sox trade rumors pick up after Eugenio Suárez signs with Cubs' division rival.

While Red Sox fans think Nico Hoerner could be an option, there remains no indication that the Cubs are planning to trade their starting second baseman. Jed Hoyer was recently on The Rekap with David Kaplan and significantly downplayed the idea that Hoerner would be moved.

Shaw may be a different story.

No, the Cubs don't have to trade Shaw, and there are a myriad of baseball reasons why it makes sense for Chicago to keep their former first-round pick. Hoerner is a free agent next offseason, and even though Shaw was replaced by Alex Bregman this offseason, he flashed enough during the second half of 2025 to suggest that he still has a high ceiling as a regular in a starting lineup.

Not to mention, improving the bench has been something needed from the Cubs, and Shaw serving in a utility role would certainly check that box.

For those reasons, the Cubs aren't going to trade Shaw to the first team that comes their way. That being said, if there's a trade available that improves the long-term outlook of the Cubs, moving Shaw is a realistic possibility.

Between prospect graduations and the trade of Owen Caissie, the Cubs' farm system isn't exactly the bright spot it once was. Not to mention, after Jaxon Wiggins, the Cubs don't really have a blue-chip pitching prospect. That could be problematic, considering Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga are all free agents next winter.

If a team is desperate enough to trade for Shaw that they offer a package centered around top-level pitching prospects, the Cubs are going to listen. After losing Bregman and avoiding Suárez, the Red Sox might be that team. Boston has a number of pitching prospects they could use in a trade for Shaw, and it starts with 23-year-old Connelly Early.

The Cubs certainly would need more, but if Early is an attainable target in trade talks with the Red Sox, the framework of a deal involving Shaw may already be in place.