Injuries during Spring Training are forcing teams to look at options that they had either already considered during winter or new fits that could help them in the upcoming regular season. Here’s taking a look at two such developments.
Red Sox Linked to Cubs’ Nico Hoerner as Trade Option
After the Boston Red Sox saw Alex Bregman sign with the Chicago Cubs, they prioritized acquiring players with strong defensive upside. They traded for Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals at first base and Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers to slot in the hot corner. Now, they are being linked to the Cubs’ Nico Hoerner.
According to Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, in his Tuesday column, the Red Sox could keep upgrading their infield with the Hoerner signing.
“If they’re going to lean even further into it, Hoerner should be their next target,” he wrote. “He’s a two-time Gold Glover at second base, where his arrival would give Boston plus defenders at three out of four infield spots.”
Nico Hoerner will be approaching his walk year in 2027. He has earned two Gold Gloves at second base in the last three seasons. In 2025, Hoerner hit .297 with seven home runs and 61 RBIs with 29 stolen bases and a .739 OPS and 114 wRC+. He earned MVP votes after recording a 6.2 bWAR for the club.
With the Cubs signing Bregman, it has put fellow infielder Matt Shaw’s place in the lineup in question. He only made his debut in 2025 and has been looked at as an alternate option to Hoerner in the middle of the diamond. The Red Sox currently have Marcelo Mayer at second base but he has yet to prove himself in the big leagues.
Blue Jays Could Sign Marlins Ace Sandy Alcantara
The Toronto Blue Jays have a strong five man rotation in place currently. New addition Dylan Cease is expected to lead the starters with Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage rounding out the top of the rotation. In the back end, they currently have José Berríos and Cody Ponce.
But their depth is hit as Bowden Francis reportedly requires surgery for a UCL injury. Shane Bieber, who had forearm fatigue last October, will start on the Injured List on Opening Day. They re-signed veteran Max Scherzer to a one-year deal on Wednesday night.
According to BR’s Rymer in the same column, the Blue Jays should be interested in signing Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, signed to a five-year, $56 million contract.
“[The Blue Jays] should be in on Alcantara just because he’s a horse who could give them 180 innings or so,” he wrote. “Even better, he’s a proper ace if he can rediscover his 2022 form—which seemed to come back alive in the final weeks of last season.”
Alcantara has been attached to a trade out of Marlins for a long time. In 2022, he earned himself the National League Cy Young award after pitching 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA. He had a decent follow up season in 2023, but Tommy John surgery curtailed his 2024 campaign. Last year, he pitched to a 5.36 ERA in 31 starts and is expected to earn $17 million in 2026.
