Ranger Suarez, Nico Hoerner Floated as Potential Fits For Boston Red Sox

[Matthew Lenz]

The Boston Red Sox need to shift their sights after losing Alex Bregman to free agency. They have their work cut out for them as they try to rebuild some trust with a rightfully frustrated fan base. Ken Rosenthal has identified two different plan B options.

Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that "some in the Red Sox organization are high on free agent LHP Ranger Suarez".

Suarez, 30, has had a very productive stat to his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2025, he made 26 starts while throwing 157 1/3 innings. He posted a 3.20 ERA (3.21 FIP) and a 17.4% K-BB rate. MLBTR projected him to earn $115 million over five years in free agency this year.

Additionally, Rosenthal speculated that Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs could be an Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette alternative.

Hoerner, who will be a free agent following the 2026 season, may be available after the Chicago Cubs won the Bregman sweepstakes. Rosenthal speculates that it would take "a young pitcher such as Connelly Early or Payton Tolle" and is uncertain whether Red Sox brass would be willing to part ways with either asset for one year of Hoerner. Across 665 plate appearances, Hoerner carried an OPS of .739, a 109 wRC+, seven home runs, and 29 stolen bases. Though he primarily played second base in 2025, Hoerner has spent time at all positions aside from catcher, first base, and right field.

Do you think the Red Sox should add either player? Let us know in the comments!

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[moonslav59]

Trading for Hoerner and signing Ranger would do it for me.

[notin]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Trading for Hoerner and signing Ranger would do it for me.

I like Hoerner, who is an excellent all around 2b.  Breslow, the former Cubs farm director, might have stronger preferences for Massachusetts native Matt Shaw, who was the Cubs first round pick in his final year with the organization…

[mvp 78]

Trading Early or Tolle for one year of Hoerner is beyond stupid. He puts up a lot of WAR, but it's only because of his glove. A 4 fWAR glove guy isn't as highly valued in the market place as a 4 fWAR bat guy. If they were, people would be knocking down the door trying to get Rafaela. 

[moonslav59]

3 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Trading Early or Tolle for one year of Hoerner is beyond stupid. He puts up a lot of WAR, but it's only because of his glove. A 4 fWAR glove guy isn't as highly valued in the market place as a 4 fWAR bat guy. If they were, people would be knocking down the door trying to get Rafaela. 

I would not give Tolle o Early for Hoerner, either.

[UtahSox]

I like the Horner deal for sure…. Fits the mold defensively. 

[mvp 78]

Like trade for Hoerner, but it's Jake Bennett instead of Early/Tolle. 

[UtahSox]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I would not give Tolle o Early for Hoerner, either.

We have so many pitchers. But I agree I wouldn’t put either of them in Hoerner deal because it looks like a 1yr rental. 
Maybe like a Kyle Harrison+ K Campbell+ Bennett type deal?

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, UtahSox said:

We have so many pitchers. But I agree I wouldn’t put either of them in Hoerner deal because it looks like a 1yr rental. 
Maybe like a Kyle Harrison+ K Campbell+ Bennett type deal?

Harrison, Campbell AND Bennett? That's crazy for only 4 WAR. 

[UtahSox]

Just doing quick math this 40 man looks ready for some trades.

SP:

1. Crochet

2. Suarez

3. Gray

4. Bello

5. Oviedo 

6. Sandoval

7. Crawford

8. Tolle

9. Early

10. Harrison

11. Sandlin

12. Uberstine 

all could see MLB time this year… time to make 1 or 2 trades.

1. Campbell

2. Casas 

3. 4th OFer as well, one of these 3. (JD, Ceddane, Wilyer)

Casas and Campbell both look blocked for foreseeable future, might be ways to improve 2026 team. Point is we have a lot of trade pieces

[UtahSox]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Harrison, Campbell AND Bennett? That's crazy for only 4 WAR. 

Point is we can afford to get him. If we can get him for less great. But we have such a logjam we need to trade (less proven) quantity for (proven) quality. 

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, UtahSox said:

We have so many pitchers. But I agree I wouldn’t put either of them in Hoerner deal because it looks like a 1yr rental. 
Maybe like a Kyle Harrison+ K Campbell+ Bennett type deal?

It's hard to know how other GMs value Campbell.  His contract can look like a big risk or a big opportunity. BTV accepts just KC for 1 year of Hoerner. I'd probably do that. Maybe add Mullins.

I might give Crawford (22 value) for Hoerner (16). Now that we have Ranger, I'd feel safer trading a little SP depth.

BTV accepts Crawford, Campbell & Bennet for Matt Shaw.

[UtahSox]

Crawford + Sandlin/Uberstine/Bennett I’m all over that for Hoerner. 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

His contract can look like a big risk or a big opportunity. BTV accepts just KC for 1 year of Hoerner.

I wouldn't trade Campbell, unless he was part of a package for a really good pitching prospect or a 2B/3B with some control.  One year of Hoerner is something we could regret for the next 9 years.

[Behindenemylines]

On 1/14/2026 at 3:27 PM, moonslav59 said:

I would not give Tolle o Early for Hoerner, either.

Unfortunely, Cubs are going to want one of them in any trade for Hoerner.

[Duran Is The Man]

7 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Unfortunely, Cubs are going to want one of them in any trade for Hoerner.

no way. not for a 1 year rental.

[moonslav59]

13 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Unfortunely, Cubs are going to want one of them in any trade for Hoerner.

I wouldn't for one year of Hoerner. See if they can do better.

[mvp 78]

Over on our sister site North Side Baseball, it's floated that the Cubs want to trade Shaw instead of Hoerner.

https://northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/chicago-cubs/6-suitors-for-matt-shaw-and-the-players-cubs-might-target-in-trades-with-them-r2472/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

Potential targets:

Bello is a good young pitcher, but not a frontline guy, and the team-friendly extension to which the team signed him has so much meat left on the bone (four years, $50.5 million, with an option for 2030 that would earn him another $20 million) that the Cubs might be wary of taking it on. Crawford is an interesting arm with three years of club control left, but in order to accept him as the pitching help in a Shaw deal, Hoyer would have to get a pretty good second piece, which is unlikely. Tolle or Early would be a great return for Shaw, allowing the Sox to fill the hole left in their infield by their failure to re-sign Bregman while netting the Cubs a high-upside left-handed hurler. That would be a fun challenge trade—but Boston covets the depth and flexibility both lefties provide.

[mvp 78]

Does Shaw fit what the Sox need at 3b? 

 

[mvp 78]

Compare to the younger Mayer who has the better exit velo and defense that the Sox value. If they tried to go with Mayer and Shaw, it could create a very high ceiling, low floor IF for this year and the Sox may just need something a little more stable.

[moonslav59]

It's not really Shaw vs Mayer: it would be Shaw AND Mayer.

[mvp 78]

49 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

It's not really Shaw vs Mayer: it would be Shaw AND Mayer.

No, don't want. There is a floor that would be really rough for the '26 Sox. Both guys have good gloves, but haven't figured out MLB pitching. There's a chance they never do. You can't have both of them along with Rafaela at the bottom of the lineup. 

[moonslav59]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

No, don't want. There is a floor that would be really rough for the '26 Sox. Both guys have good gloves, but haven't figured out MLB pitching. There's a chance they never do. You can't have both of them along with Rafaela at the bottom of the lineup. 

I like other options over Shaw, too. I'm not that high on 2 years of Donovan, but he's more of a sure bet and can play 2B or 3B, so if Mayer struggles, he can play 3B and Romy 2B.

I'm still highest on Paredes. The Astros are looking for OF help, and we have a logjam there. It makes too much sense. Get it done!

[mvp 78]

49 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I like other options over Shaw, too. I'm not that high on 2 years of Donovan, but he's more of a sure bet and can play 2B or 3B, so if Mayer struggles, he can play 3B and Romy 2B.

I'm still highest on Paredes. The Astros are looking for OF help, and we have a logjam there. It makes too much sense. Get it done!

Paredes would be my first choice too. He'd hit bombs like TON, Renfroe and Duvall did. 

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Does Shaw fit what the Sox need at 3b?

The EV and bat speed are worrisome.  The fact that the Cubs chose to spend $32M or so on Bregman, instead of minimum wage on Shaw, raises the question of why.  I lean heavily on understanding the other guy's motivation.  Maybe my favorite line in The Big Short is when the guy says 'sure I'm interested in the deal.  But first you have to tell me how you're going to frack me'.

[JoeBrady]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Paredes would be my first choice too. He'd hit bombs like TON, Renfroe and Duvall did. 

Jason Bay-the dude's swing was perfect for Fenway.

[mvp 78]

14 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Jason Bay-the dude's swing was perfect for Fenway.

Cody Ross did well

[moonslav59]

4 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Paredes would be my first choice too. He'd hit bombs like TON, Renfroe and Duvall did. 

The hold up on a trade w HOU is likely that we (as well as BTV) values our OF'er more than the value of Paredes, and we are either asking for another piece (RP'er?) or offering a non OF'er of lesser value.

I think BTV undervalues Paredes, but I'm not sure by how much.

BTV says it is a major overpay to offer Duran for Paredes, B King (RP) and Janek (decent C prospect.) It accepts Abreu or Rafaela for the same. It also accepts K Campbell for Paredes and one of the other two players mentioned.