Potential Red Sox Trade Target Needs 'Change Of Scenery'

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Potential Red Sox Trade Target Needs 'Change Of Scenery' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Could the Boston Red Sox actually benefit from third baseman Alex Bregman signing with the Chicago Cubs? You betcha.

As we all know, Bregman traded Beantown for the Windy City. And the three-time All-Star is underwhelming the North Side, hitting just .250 this season with six home runs an OPS of .690.

But Bregman's five-year, $175 million contract ensures he's not going anywhere. The same goes for infielder Nico Hoerner, who signed a six-year, $141 million extension with the Cubs in March.

So when the music stops, infielder Matt Shaw could be left without a chair in Chicago. If that is the case, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow would be wise to inquire about the Cubs' super utility man.


"With both second and third base locked up for the foreseeable future, Shaw appears to be a player without a home on the diamond," MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports while listing eight players who need a change of scenery. "If the Cubs view him as an outfielder, there could be a spot for him after this season with both Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki headed to free agency, but he’s a natural infielder best-suited for either second or third.

"The Cubs figure to be in the market for a starting pitcher this summer, and given that their farm system has fallen from MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 ranking two years ago to No. 23 prior to this season, Chicago may have to deal from its big league roster to acquire an impact arm.

"Switch-hitting infielder Pedro Ramírez -- Chicago's No. 2 prospect -- has filled in during Shaw's stint on the injured list, giving the Cubs a built-in replacement if Shaw was to be dealt," Feinsand adds.

The Red Sox have several top-shelf arms to trade, including Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and Jake Bennett, who are impressing in Boston. Down on the farm, the Red Sox are stacked with right-handers Anthony Eyanson, Kyson Witherspoon and Juan Valera.

On top of that, Shaw isn't even eligible for arbitration until after the 2028 season, so he's under team control for years to come.

Oh, and Shaw is from Massachusetts, so why not bring home Springfield's native son?

More MLB: Trade Rumor Links Red Sox To All-Star Infielder, Power Bat

Continue reading...